2025 State of the University

BOSTON – Five months after Gov. Maura Healey signed the Mass Leads Act, UMass President Marty Meehan pledged to position the university for a leadership role in the critically important climate tech industry by making the university an economic and research partner in the state’s efforts, in his annual State of the University Address. 

President Meehan tasked chancellors at each campus with developing economic development strategies that will align with the Commonwealth’s Climate Tech Economic Development plan and the Mass Leads Act, which aims to make Massachusetts a leader in climate tech by leveraging state investment to catalyze private sector activity. 

“Through Mass Leads, the Healey-Driscoll Administration, President Spilka, Speaker Mariano, and the Legislature have set us on course for our climate tech future, and UMass, with the support of our Board of Trustees, led by Chair Steve Karam, will marshal our considerable resources to accelerate that progress,” President Meehan said during his annual address, which was filmed at UMass Boston, with Boston Harbor in the background.

“In concert with our state partners, and with both sustainability and global competitiveness in mind, UMass is helping to position Massachusetts in one of the largest industries in the coming decade – climate technology,” he added. 

"Massachusetts is so fortunate to be home to the incredible UMass System, which has continued to grow and thrive under President Meehan's leadership," said Governor Healey. "My administration remains committed to partnering with UMass to move forward on our shared goals of making Massachusetts the global hub for climate tech innovation, modernizing our college campuses through my BRIGHT Act, and supporting the UMass students and faculty who are making a positive difference every single day."

At a time when clean energy policies are being dismantled at the federal level, UMass is positioning itself to attract more private sector and philanthropic dollars from partners at the state, national, and international level. Last year in the United States, $272 billion public and private sector dollars were invested in the creation of clean energy, electric vehicles, building electrification, and carbon management – more than double the investment three years prior and more than triple five years ago. 

"As the climate crisis intensifies and sustainability itself is under attack, President Meehan’s call to double down on climate innovation is not only critical to Massachusetts—it’s essential to the world," said Senate President Karen E. Spilka. "The five University of Massachusetts campuses are proving that public higher education can lead the way—pioneering climate solutions while opening doors of opportunity for Massachusetts families. I thank President Meehan, the chancellors, the students, faculty, staff, and researchers across the system for their leadership, ingenuity, and resolve in building a better future for all of us."

Under President Meehan’s strategy, UMass will tap into its world-class research expertise across the five-campus system to support industry partners in every region of the state, and spur economic development in climate technology and sustainability while also educating the industry’s future workforce. The goal is to accelerate the Commonwealth’s efforts to make the state a climate tech hub, much like when Massachusetts positioned itself as a life sciences and biotech leader a decade ago.

“We will educate the climate tech workforce, cultivate technology development and commercial activity, help climate tech companies scale in our core research facilities, and our campuses will anchor the climate tech corridors outlined in the state’s strategy,” President Meehan said. “Through that work we will establish Massachusetts as a national model for how to integrate decarbonization, climate resiliency, economic development, and social mobility.” 

“UMass is uniquely positioned to lead Massachusetts toward a thriving climate tech economy, building upon our deep expertise in research and innovation across all campuses. President Meehan’s vision, supported strongly by our Board of Trustees, aligns seamlessly with the Commonwealth’s ambitious economic development goals outlined in the Mass Leads Act. Together, we will drive economic growth, develop a world-class workforce, and ensure a stronger future for the Commonwealth,” said UMass Board of Trustees Chair Stephen Karam.

"The Mass Leads Act signed last year by Governor Healey secured an unprecedented $1 billion, 10-year investment in Climate Tech, including resilience technologies.  Massachusetts understands that we can have a thriving economy as well as clean energy and community resilience—and Climate Tech is the key to unlocking that future,” Massachusetts Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer said. “Governor Healey proposed the BRIGHT Act because here in Massachusetts, we also understand the critical need to support our public institutions of higher education to power our knowledge economy.  And it would allow UMass to lead by example and save money by increasing building efficiency and transitioning to clean energy.  Our UMass campuses—each with unique competencies and distinguished faculty—are perfectly positioned to play a central role in driving growth of this already vibrant sector of our economy, with world class research capabilities, already strong industry relationships, and President Meehan’s visionary leadership. I’m excited to see the innovation that will be unleashed.”

A 2024 report by UMass Donahue Institute showed that Mass Leads climate tech investments are expected to generate $16.4 billion in economic activity and create 6,670 new jobs. 

The focus on climate tech is aligned with the groundbreaking research already being conducted at UMass campuses. For example:  

• At UMass Amherst, researchers at the Water and Energy Technology Center (WET) test new technology in water treatment and purification to combat future water challenges. 
   
• UMass Boston continues to lead climate resiliency efforts through research centers like the Stone Living Lab, which conducts research on nature-based resiliency strategies, including the installment of North America’s first-ever Living Seawalls in Boston Harbor. 
   
• UMass Dartmouth’s School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST) offers world-class marine science graduate programs designed to tackle today’s most pressing oceanographic challenges and works with industry to reduce ocean pollution, including through its Biodegradability Lab, which is highlighted in the speech. 
   
• UMass Lowell’s RIST Institute serves as the epicenter of climate, sustainability, and energy efforts at UMass Lowell, engages more than 85 faculty members across disciplines, and has delivered more than $120 million in external research and innovation funds.
   
• And UMass Chan Medical School educates future doctors and healthcare leaders on how to confront the disproportionate impact of climate change on vulnerable populations with a new climate change-focused curriculum. 

“If we want our state to become a global leader in climate technology, we need global partners, and we’ve been hard at work cultivating them,” President Meehan said. Last week, Meehan met with several prominent university and energy leaders in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

UMass Boston Chancellor Suárez-Orozco, through his role on the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, was the lead organizer of a global Climate Summit at the Vatican in May 2024. And last month, UMass Boston hosted the Resilient Mass Summit, which brought global climate leaders together.

Last October, UMass Lowell partnered with the Healey-Driscoll Administration and Boston University to launch the Clean Energy & Environment Legacy Transition, (CELT). CELT aims to enhance environmental equity and promote sustainable energy solutions and is backed by $5.7 million in state funding to establish a resource center focused on clean energy. The initiative stems from a partnership between UMass and universities in Ireland.

In his State of the University message, President Meehan also praised the Healey-Driscoll Administration for proposing the BRIGHT Act, which, if enacted, would provide $2.5 billion in capital funding for public colleges and universities over 10 years. Funding would enable UMass to modernize its campus buildings and infrastructure, improve energy efficiency, resiliency, and sustainability. 

“I want to thank Governor Maura Healey for her vision and commitment to public higher education in proposing the BRIGHT Act,” President Meehan said.

With most campus buildings constructed more than 50 years ago, UMass is one of the largest energy consumers in Massachusetts. Through the Bright Act, the university will be able to modernize buildings for the next 50 years and simultaneously address the state’s carbon reduction goals, “making Massachusetts more competitive and more sustainable,” President Meehan said. 

The annual State of the University address is distributed to nearly 400,000 UMass students, faculty, staff, alumni and supporters. 

Statements of Support

Ashley Stolba, Interim Secretary of Economic Development
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
“The Mass Leads Act provides historic funding to make Massachusetts the climate innovation lab for the world. UMass’s commitment to serving as a research engine and economic partner to the state is exactly the kind of collaboration we need. Through alignment with higher education, industry, and state investment, Massachusetts is positioned to innovate, compete, and lead in this critically important industry."

Brendan Tuohy, Chair
EirGrid plc Board
"We are very enthusiastic about exploring further collaboration with the University of Massachusetts working alongside like-minded Irish universities and others, as we are experiencing similar challenges on both sides of the Atlantic in our efforts to transition to a low carbon future and it is by collaborating that we will find solutions."

John O'Halloran
President of University College Cork (UCC)
"University College Cork is proud to collaborate with the University of Massachusetts on global opportunities in the climate, energy, and sustainability space. We look forward to deepening our partnership as we accelerate the transition to a sustainable future, create significant employment opportunities, and drive economic growth in Massachusetts, Ireland, and beyond."

Dr. Emily Reichert, CEO
Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC)
“Massachusetts is building a world-leading climate tech economy, and UMass is an indispensable partner in that work. As a top-tier public research university spanning from Amherst to Boston and Lowell to Dartmouth, UMass brings the talent, innovation, and regional reach necessary to scale climate solutions. Massachusetts Clean Energy Center is proud to collaborate with the university in implementing Massachusetts’ Climate Tech Economic Development Plan, and we look forward to deepening our partnership as we accelerate the transition to a clean energy future, create jobs, and drive economic growth.” 

Brooke Thomson, President and CEO
Associated Industries of Massachusetts
“Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) and the Massachusetts business community fully support President Meehan’s determination to make UMass a cornerstone of climate technology in the Commonwealth. New industries require broad collaboration among business, government and higher education and we look forward to working with UMass to make climate technology a key part of Massachusetts’ future.” 

JD Chesloff, President & CEO
Massachusetts Business Roundtable
“The state’s economic development plan, which the Roundtable helped develop through its participation on the state’s Economic Development Planning Council and leading of the Council’s Climate Working Group, states that “Massachusetts has the opportunity — and a moral imperative — to help the world respond to the climate crisis while creating equitable economic opportunities for its businesses, communities, and residents.” Creating a leading global climate tech ecosystem is a key component of the Commonwealth’s long term economic development strategy, and for it to be successful, it must have an aligned workforce development strategy.  The University of Massachusetts, under the leadership of President Marty Meehan, understands the essential role that UMass plays in developing this talent pipeline, applying critical research, and anchoring the ecosystem necessary for the industry to thrive.  The Roundtable is grateful for the UMass system’s leadership, the groundbreaking research occurring on its campuses, and the collaborative spirit it brings to the work. We look forward to continuing to partner with UMass and President Meehan to align economic development and workforce development strategies across industries as we work to make Massachusetts a competitive place to live, work do business.”

Joe Curtatone
President, Alliance for Climate Transition (ACT)
“The collaboration between UMass, the Healey-Driscoll Administration, and industry partners embodies what’s possible when we work together with purpose and urgency. I applaud President Meehan and the campus chancellors for their commitment to making Massachusetts a national model for climate innovation, driving economic development, jobs, and expanding opportunity across the state. “