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Knowledge Enterprise
Research and innovation that matters to our communities.
Research with purpose. Research with results.
Driving discovery, innovation and solutions of public value
Knowledge Enterprise delivers direct benefits for the people of Arizona and all Americans through the power of discovery and innovation. ASU is one of the fastest growing research institutions in the U.S. and a leader in health care, advanced technology, national security, sustainability, space exploration and other critical areas. From detecting diseases faster to advancing next-generation microchips, our research makes a positive impact on individuals and our economy.
Research matters
Creating solutions that matter to you
There’s a reason research matters. It creates technologies, medicines and other answers to the biggest challenges we face. Learn more about tangible ways ASU research is making a difference in your life.
ResearchDiscoveryInnovationImpact
ResearchDiscoveryInnovationImpact
Our impact
Arizona State University is a global leader in interdisciplinary research, discovery and development. Our rapid growth and top rankings demonstrate our success at delivering new knowledge and solutions that support thriving people, a thriving planet and thriving societies.
2024 year in review
ASU researchers are harnessing DNA for data storage, helping rural residents manage dwindling groundwater supplies, accelerating local startups in the growing space industry, and establishing Arizona as a national hub for microelectronics research.
$904 million
ASU has expanded its research enterprise more than sixfold in the past 20 years, reaching $904 million in research expenditures in FY 2023.
250+ companies
More than 250 companies have launched based on ASU innovations, attracting $1.4 billion in external funding.
#1 in innovation
For the tenth year in a row, U.S. News & World Report named ASU the most innovative school in the U.S. in its 2025 college rankings, ahead of MIT and Stanford.
Spotlight: Space
How do planets form?
Researchers from ASU and two other universities will use the James Webb Space Telescope to probe the atmospheres of seven planets beyond our solar system. In conjunction with JWST, this project, called the KRONOS program, will use computers from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to create atmospheric models that could help us understand how planets form, evolve and possibly even harbor conditions favorable for life.
5 years of Interplanetary Lab
To celebrate its anniversary, the lab reflected on the student-powered, NASA-supported missions it successfully launched in the past five years. One such project, LightCube, is a small, standard-sized satellite that can be deployed to low-Earth orbit and commanded with a ham radio. Other satellites include the Phoenix, an infrared camera used to look at urban heat islands, and DORA, which uses lasers for inter-spacecraft communication.
A new explorer-in-residence
Meet Julia Tizard Hunter, Interplanetary Initiative’s latest explorer-in-residence. No stranger to adventure, the space visionary spent 10 months voyaging across the Pacific Ocean with her family and ran a marathon in the North Pole. Now, she’s ready for her next epic journey. In her new role, Hunter will be part of the initiative’s leadership team, giving her a platform to talk about important space topics on behalf of the university.
Explore our resources
Accelerate your research
Whether you need help finding funding opportunities, crafting a proposal or commercializing your discoveries — ASU supports researchers through the entire research cycle.
Partner with us
We can accomplish more together. Find out how you can create customized partnerships with ASU that help your organization thrive.
Gain career experience
Students are vital to our ecosystem of research, entrepreneurship and innovation. Find opportunities to apply your coursework to hands-on projects and real-world challenges.
Support discovery
Philanthropy plays an important role in creating knowledge, pioneering discovery and catalyzing innovation. Learn how your gift can advance our work.
Be a part of ASU Knowledge Enterprise
Advance your career while making a difference. Knowledge Enterprise employees support research and innovation that benefits our communities and our world. And they enjoy generous and broad benefits including health and life insurance, retirement, tuition reduction and much more.