Arizona State University has been named the "Most Innovative School" by US News and World Report for the second year in a row. ASU has launched several new programs and initiatives that support research in areas like climate change, biomedical science, and entrepreneurship. These programs, along with the opening of a new sustainable law school facility, position ASU for a potential third "Most Innovative" award next year. Some of the new projects include the Global Security Initiative, partnerships with Mayo Clinic for biomedical research, and an incubator program with Draper University to help students launch startups.

1. ASU wins “Most Innovative” award
for the second year in a row
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Prof. Tom Sugar talks with engineering senior Eddie Fernandez, as the Cooler Suit chills and circulates liquid, in the
Robotics Lab, on the Polytechnic campus. Photo courtesy of ASU Now.
Cue the drum roll, please: For the second year in a row, Arizona State University has been designated the
“Most Innovative School” by US News and World Report. The designation compares more than 1,500
public and private schools in areas as diverse as advancements in curriculum, prominent faculty, student
life, enhanced accessibility, promoting diversity and use of technology. The second and third place award
winners are Stanford University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Several new programs and initiatives have been launched or expanded this fall, setting ASU on target for
a potential third win next year. Some – but by no means all – of the university’s accomplishments since
the beginning of the fiscal year 2017 include:
 Founding the Global Security Initiative, a new program that supports research in climate change
and national security. The program brings together researchers from a wide range of academic
disciplines including computer science, decision science, engineering, public policy, law and
sustainability.
 Establishing a partnership with the Mayo Clinic to form three collaborative teams of research
scientists and clinicians that will offer innovation solutions in biomedical science. The two
institutions have pledged $2.7 million in new “Team Science” grants to fund biomedical sensing,
functional restoration and biomedical informatics themed projects. Each team will be co-
principled by one Mayo Clinic and one ASU researcher.

2.  Opening the new sustainable and state-of-the-art Beus Center for Law and Society on the
Downtown Phoenix campus. The facility houses the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law and
includes a law library, civic outreach center, the ASU Alumni Law Group and various other
centers and institutes. The Sandra Day O’Connor law program is ranked 25th overall in the
nation by U.S. News and World Report.
 Introducing Enterprise Partners, a revolutionary resource-raising model which combines ASU’s
not-for-profit affiliated fundraising, technology transfer, real estate, private partnerships and
special research organizations to create a more strategic and diversified revenue generation
structure to support the university. The Enterprise Partners model will be one of the first in
which a major academic institution’s development, research and entrepreneurial organizations
are integrated under a single board. It was designed over the course of a year with input from
experts in corporate and foundational governance, law, nonprofits and academia.
 Launching the ASU-Draper University Entrepreneurship Incubator Program, a nine-month
program designed in conjunction with Draper University of San Mateo, Calif., to help ASU
students successfully launch a startup business. The program, which is offered through the W.
P. Carey School of Business, provides opportunities for budding entrepreneurs to participate in
team competitions that emulate-world business challenges; to hear all-star entrepreneurial
speakers; and take business and engineering classes to establish a solid backbone for their
startup ideas.
The opening of the state-of-the-art Beus Center for Law and Society on the Downtown Phoenix campus this August was
one of ASU's most striking accomplishments for the Fall 2016 semester. Photo courtesy of ASU Now.
You can keep up with the university’s progress and accomplishments this year at research.asu.edu, and
follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
~ By Susan Beauchamp, a science writer for ASU Knowledge Enterprise Development.