UW's GIX Program Moves to Microsoft Campus in Rent-Free Deal
The University of Washington's (UW) Global Innovation Exchange (GIX) program has relocated to Microsoft's Redmond campus in a rent-free deal. The program, which supports tech leaders through interdisciplinary graduate education, will occupy a 48,500-square-foot space in Building 92.
The $42 million in-kind donation from Microsoft established the embedded facility and provided a significant boost for GIX. UW is leasing this new space rent-free, marking a strategic partnership between the two entities. The arrangement demonstrates how public research universities can engage with industry without compromising academic independence or public purpose.
GIX's mission focuses on providing education to tech leaders through a Master of Science in Technology Innovation program, which enrolls over 150 students annually. The institute offers both in-person and hybrid online options and has established partnerships with various organizations, including Tsinghua University, T-Mobile, Amazon, and Meta.