ANN ARBOR—More than a third of this year’s awards from the state of Michigan’s 21st Century Jobs Fund have been given to the University of Michigan’s academic research, spinout companies and research collaborations.

U-M faculty were awarded $5.8 million for five projects on the Ann Arbor campus and one at U-M Dearborn.

Area companies founded by U-M faculty, or using licensed U-M technology, garnered another $16.4 million from the fund. Several other projects, totaling $8.4 million, include some collaboration with U-M researchers. Two U-M faculty, James Baker Jr. of the medical school and Erdogan Gulari of engineering, are involved in two projects each.

Two statewide, multiuniversity programs administered by U-M were awarded an additional $7.75 million from the fund.

The state estimates that these investments will result in more than 1,200 new jobs.

“These awards affirm our belief that University of Michigan research is a powerful economic engine for creating new ideas and new economic opportunities in the state,” said Marvin G. Parnes, U-M’s associate vice president for research and executive director of research administration. “We’re proud of our accomplishments and glad that we can contribute to re-tooling the state’s economy. “

“The breadth and quality of our research and tech transfer activities are evident in these awards,” said Ken Nisbet, executive director of U-M Tech Transfer. “With help from our business, government and community partners, it is very satisfying to see that our technology, talent and resources are making a significant contribution to the economic vitality of our state. “

The 21st Century Fund is part of a $2 billion, 10-year initiative administered by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to accelerate the diversification of Michigan’s economy. The commercialization component of the initiative devotes approximately $800 million for competitive-edge technologies in four targeted sectors: life sciences, alternative energy, advanced automotive materials and manufacturing, and homeland security/defense.

The 61 awards announced Sept. 6 included $47.5 million for Life Sciences, $37.3 million for advanced automotive materials and manufacturing, $9.3 million for homeland security and defense and $8.9 million for alternative energy.

Each of the awards is administered by MEDC staff, with individualized contracts that set conditions and mileposts for the receipt of funds. In many instances, the award is more like a long-term loan that will be repaid to the state.

A review process conducted by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) narrowed a field of 505 proposals to 179 finalists. Each of those finalists was then interviewed by the AAAS experts who made final recommendations to the SEIC board.