Three Big Initiatives

This past fall, the Institute announced three major initiatives that aim to change the world on several fronts.

A $100 million gift from Koch Industries executive David H. Koch ‘62, SM ‘63, will bring MIT scientists and engineers together under one roof at the David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research. Housed in a state-of-the-art facility scheduled to open in 2010, the new Koch Institute will build on the pioneering research of MIT’s Center for Cancer Research and “make possible a level of collabo­rative, cross-disciplinary research and training unparalleled in the world,” says President Susan Hockfield.

Novartis will invest $65 million in the Novartis-MIT Center for Continuous Manu­facturing, a 10-year research collaboration focused on transforming inefficient batch-based pharmaceutical production. By developing new technologies to enable continuous manufacturing, Novartis and MIT intend to improve the availability and quality of medicines and reduce the environmental impact of drug production.

A $50 million gift from Legatum, a private investment firm, will establish the Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship at MIT. The center will support aspiring entrepreneurs from developing countries and teach them the skills required for successful business development and civic leadership in their countries.