MIT & Industry

Since its founding, MIT has encouraged researchers to work collaboratively across departments, fields, and institutional boundaries to solve problems. This has led to thousands of fruitful partnerships with industry and other leading research institutions.

Approximately 700 companies work with faculty and students in Institute-wide programs such as MIT Corporate Relations’ Industrial Liaison Program (the most inclusive and continuous conduit between corporations and MIT) and MIT Startup Exchange (which promotes collaboration and partnerships between MIT-connected startups and industry), as well as in many other collaborations.

Research sponsored directly by industry totaled $176 million in fiscal year 2023, or 21% of total MIT research expenditures. According to the National Science Foundation, MIT consistently ranks first in industry-financed research and development expenditures among universities and colleges without a medical school.

The Technology Licensing Office (TLO) collaborates with faculty, researchers, and entrepreneurs in academia and industry. TLO’s mission aligns with MIT’s goal of building a better world through education, research, and innovation. By protecting and commercializing groundbreaking technologies in areas focusing on climate crisis, manufacturing, healthcare, secure communication, and beyond, the TLO plays a critical role in MIT’s broader efforts.

MIT’s strong corporate connection also is reflected in its extensive business-oriented curricula, such as the Leaders for Global Operations program, System Design and Management program, Sloan Fellows Program in Innovation and Global Leadership, Supply Chain Management program, and other degree programs that offer an industry internship component.

MIT Sloan Executive Education offers custom programs for organizations, executive certificates, and more than 90 online and in-person short courses for individuals. Led by MIT Sloan faculty, executive programs provide business professionals with a targeted and flexible means to advance their career goals and position their organizations for future growth.

MIT Professional Education provides technology and engineering education for working professionals pursuing career advancement and for organizations seeking to meet modern-day challenges. Programs are offered through a variety of approaches to meet the needs of today’s learners.