UW–Madison’s impact on the state of Wisconsin

For 175 years, UW’s life-changing research, innovation and education has served generations of Wisconsin families. We’ll never stop working to make our state — and the world — a better place.

Learn more about UW’s impact in your county

Can’t Stop a Badger

Biomedical engineering undergraduate students Josh Andreatta, Annabel Frake, Tim Tran, Samuel Skirpan and Roxi Reuter have taken a standard rowing machine and modified it so that it’s easily convertible for users in wheelchairs.

UW Innovation Badgers engineer solutions around the state UW–Madison engineers tackle real-world problems.

Eden Foster and her triplet siblings are among the first cohort of Bucky’s Tuition Promise recipients to begin graduating.

Access to UW–Madison Keeping Dreams within Reach UW–Madison is laser-focused on affordability.

UW undergraduate Jacob Zabel talks with recruiter Stacey McMorrow from Covance during the annual Spring Career and Internship Fair held at the Kohl Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison on Feb. 5, 2019. The fair featured 215 employers and was open to all current students and alumni. (Photo by Bryce Richter /UW-Madison)

Economic Impact Badgers are in demand after graduation. How UW makes it happen.

Serving Wisconsin Wisconsin Teacher Pledge addresses state shortage of educators

Find More Stories

$1Blocal and state taxes generated

$30.8BUW, affiliated organizations, and related startups' economic impact

92%Of UW economic impact benefits the private sector

232,000Jobs supported

400+UW-related startups in Wisconsin

8thin the nation in research expenditures

UW research tackles real-world problems

From advanced materials aimed at making athletes safer to medical discoveries that could one day help treat ailments like blindness, here are just a few examples of UW–Madison research that tackles real-world problems with innovative scientific approaches.

Pioneering new ways to treat drug use disorders

The UW Transdisciplinary Center for Research in Psychoactive Substances is running clinical trials on treatments for opioid and methamphetamine use disorders that affect millions

UW researchers develop new material to help prevent concussions

A lightweight, ultra-shock-absorbing foam developed by UW–Madison engineers could vastly improve helmets designed to protect people from strong blows

Drone-delivered defibrillators could save lives

A professor of engineering is designing ways to optimize response time when it's needed most

Lab-grown eye cells a step toward clinical trials to treat blindness

Development of replacement cells may lead to new treatments for macular degeneration, glaucoma

Forward BIOLABS helps UW-related startups thrive

This unique, state-of-the-art coworking life science lab is helping grow Wisconsin's thriving biohealth industry

COVID-19 patient receives the gift of life

UW Health successfully performs double-lung transplant surgery

Find more impact stories through the Wisconsin Ideas Newsletter

Subscribe to the Wisconsin Ideas Newsletter

UW in Your County

Guided by a common purpose, UW students, alumni, faculty and staff give back to every county in Wisconsin through research projects, professional careers and public service.

Buffalo County

16 Current Undergraduate Students

16 Medical Professionals with Degrees from UW

142 Alumni

More Buffalo County connections to UW–Madison

Choose a county:

For more on UW in your county:

Search the Wisconsin Ideas Database

Badgers in Action

LAND CONSERVATION Steve & Susan Carpenter

UW couple gives back by conserving biodiverse land in Wisconsin’s driftless area

View profile »
2022 MACARTHUR FELLOW Monica Kim

Historian wins “Genius Grant” for work exploring the changing nature of warfare

View profile »
PUBLIC HEALTH Ajay Sethi

UW epidemiologist becomes trusted voice on public health misinformation

View profile »
2022 SCHMIDT SCIENCE POLYMATH Randall Goldsmith

Chemistry professor assembles interdisciplinary team to explore the behavior of single molecules

View profile »