Targeted Initiatives

Advanced Manufacturing

Michigan is the intellectual capital and global automotive R&D center, investing over $12.4 billion annually, employing more than 65,000 R&D professionals statewide and home to over 330 R&D facilities. This industry in Michigan focuses on engineered products, processes and technologies with applications in the automotive industry that:

• Improve safety, comfort, vehicle performance and efficiency, product quality and durability
• Promote advanced powertrain and alternative energy technologies and environmentally conscious solutions
• Reduce costs
• Improve manufacturing productivity

It is based on this strength that companies looking to make the next great advancements in manufacturing technology need only cross through the gateway to global automotive innovation, Michigan, to get the Upper Hand.

Research & Development (R&D) Strengths at a Glance

Michigan's advanced automotive technology strengths include:

• #1 state for Automotive R&D - spending $12.4 billion annually
• #2 state for overall R&D expenditures
• #3 university in the nation for R&D
• #3 in the nation for engineering graduates
• 4^th largest high tech workforce in the nation
• Home to over 50% of the North American automotive supplier base

Automotive Resources/Partners

One result of Michigan's rich automotive heritage is the wide array of supporting organizations providing resources to the industry. Partners help link together all the components needed to build a strong and vibrant future for Michigan's automotive companies.

A selection of the available resources:

• View the Automotive R&D Directory
• 12 SmartZones^SM and 7 Business Accelerators help companies incubate and commercialize products by using resources in these technology clusters.
• The Center for Automotive Research (CAR) is involved in the research of significant issues that relate to the future direction of the global automotive industry. Click here to access CAR's publications.
• The Michigan Manufacturing Technical Center works with manufacturing businesses to ensure peak performance.
• NextEnergy works with colleges and engineers in developing alternative energy curriculums to foster growth in this sector.
• The Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center^SM network provides a full range of services to assist emerging and growing technology companies, including assistance in the areas of IP protection, alternative financing, management team planning and commercialization strategies.
• The Michigan SmallTech Association is a community of companies, universities and individuals involved in or supporting micro and nanotechnology development in Michigan.
• The National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) is a federal research facility that runs cooperative projects and consortia located in Ann Arbor. The New Enterprise Forum is an entrepreneur's link to resources.
• Small Business Association of Michigan helps with small business issues.
• The University Research Corridor is an alliance of Michigan’s three leading research institutions: Michigan State University, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University.
• The University of Michigan's Engineering Research Center for Reconfigurable Manufacturing Systems is charged with developing the science base for a new generation of manufacturing systems, made up of CNC machines, machine tools, modular controls, robots, and lasers, that can be quickly designed, upgraded or reconfigured to provide the precise production capacity needed to meet market demands.
• The University of Michigan Business School helps with business and strategic planning.
• Michigan Universities Commercialization Initiative (MUCI) complements and enhances technology transfer functions available at Michigan academic and research institutions to promote their inventions.

Next steps

For more information about Michigan's position and market dominance, click here.

If you are ready to learn more about getting connected to a R&D world in constant forward motion in Michigan, contact our Customer Assistance Center .

Also, take a look at how the 21st Century Jobs Fund program is building capacity in Michigan's advanced manufacturing market space.