University of Notre Dame

EmNet started as a water technology company that enabled municipalities to manage the urban water cycle and monitor wastewater systems. In 2017 it was acquired by Xylem Inc. and is now known by the name Xylem Vue. Xylem Vue helps municipalities manage the urban water cycle and monitor wastewater flows. It works in combined sewer systems where it deploys sensors and smart valves that communicate with one another, make real time decisions, and help minimize combined sewage spills into rivers – which is a nationwide problem that is regulated by the US Environmental Protection Agency.

In part through the use of smart sewer technology provided by EmNet/Xylem Vue, the City of South Bend (Indiana) successfully redesigned its long-term sewer infrastructure plan, saving an estimated $400+ million.

In Kansas City (Missouri), EmNet/Xylem Vue has helped save the city an estimated $1 billion in sewer infrastructure costs.

More than 700 American cities – many in the Midwest – have combined sewers. The smart wastewater management technology that was developed at Notre Dame – and now run by Xylem Vue – can support sustainable urban development, and attracts investments in cleaner, more resilient communities.

The University of Notre Dame serves as a powerful economic engine for the South Bend-Elkhart region, generating a substantial $3.3 billion in annual economic impact and supporting 21,000 jobs. This contribution is driven by various factors, including the university’s extensive research activities, which received $216 million in investments in fiscal year 2023 – with 56% of this funding coming from federal resources. Additionally, the IDEA Center at Notre Dame supports all commercialization and entrepreneurial activities at the university and across the surrounding region. Since 2017, the center’s regional startups have collectively raised more than $70 million in investments and a reported $35 million in sales. In FY2024, Notre Dame made 66 invention disclosures, filed 14 new patents, and executed seven new licensing agreements. Industry Labs is Notre Dame’s platform for collaboration with regional industry. Since 2019, Industry Labs has collaborated with 81 companies on 247 projects, which are projected to have unlocked $120 million in new revenue, $15 million in new investments, 6,000 people to be trained, and 69 new products. In recent years, more than 25 Notre Dame-affiliated companies in the region have won Small Business Innovation Research awards from several federal agencies – including the Department of Defense, National Science Foundation, and the National Institutes of Health, totaling over $9 million.