Bracewell Represents The Robert A. Welch Foundation in Creation of The Welch Institute at Rice University

HOUSTON – Bracewell LLP represented The Robert A. Welch Foundation in the creation and funding of The Welch Institute, a new joint venture with Rice University. Under this collaborative arrangement, The Robert A. Welch Foundation has committed $100 million to The Welch Institute as part of a sweeping strategic partnership focused on advanced materials research.  

Located on Rice’s campus in Houston, The Welch Institute will combine fundamental chemistry and materials science with the latest in machine learning and artificial intelligence to accelerate the discovery, design and manufacture of the next generation of materials with applications to new energy systems, sustainable water, space systems, telecommunications, manufacturing, transportation, security and more.

The Welch Foundation is one of the nation's largest private funding sources for basic chemical research. Since its founding in 1954, the organization has contributed over $1 billion to the advancement of chemistry through research grants, departmental programs, endowed chairs and other special projects at educational institutions in Texas.

Additional information about The Welch Foundation and The Welch Institute can be found here.

Bracewell lawyers involved in this transaction included:

Partners: Brian P. Teaff, Lytch T. Gutmann, Aaron P. Roffwarg and Jonathon K. Hance 

Of Counsel: Lance W. Behnke

Counsel: Tamara McKinzie-Ortega