Lilly Donation Funds Critical Research through the MSU Distribution Consortium
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EmailLilly teams up with the Michigan State University School of Packaging to improve test and simulation methods by joining the MSU Distribution Consortium.
East Lansing, Michigan -- Lilly donated $500,000 to the MSU School of Packaging (SoP) to become an inaugural member of the newly organized MSU Distribution Consortium. This group of industry thought leaders will guide cutting edge research focused on multi-axis vibration and lateral acceleration dynamics. 
The gift will be used for purchasing instrumentation, as well as providing faculty and graduate student support. Lilly will also be recognized as a gold sponsor of the SoP Fall Career Fair through the 2026-2027 academic year.
“The School of Packaging is very grateful for Eli Lilly’s partnership gift which will accelerate our research in multi-axis vibration test standards.” Said Matt Daum, Ph.D., director and professor of the MSU School of Packaging and CANR assistant dean for corporate relations and strategy. “Eli Lilly has been a tremendous supporter of our program through hiring and developing our students. We will continue to invest in cutting edge research that solves real-world problems and develops the next generation of distribution packaging talent.”
The results of the research will be used as the basis for the development of new, deployable test and simulation methods that address those unique dynamics, all in pursuit of optimized transport packaging solutions.
According to Lilly Engineering Director Rob Stapleton, “Our founder, Colonel Eli Lilly, famously said ‘Take what you find here and make it better and better.’ Through this gift we are investing in research that not only improves our company’s packaging and distribution, but packaging and distribution for a wide variety of industries. We see this as a positive step toward fulfilling our mission to make life better for everyone.”
