Competing for Mobility
URC institutions are competitive with each other in a number of areas (not least of which includes sports). As partners, however, these institutions are fiercely competitive with the nation’s top university clusters in key industries, like mobility.
At the 2019 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), URC universities showcased innovations in mobility developed by faculty, students, and industry partners, and the preparation of top talent for Michigan’s mobility future during the AutoMobili-D event. University displays will be available throughout the show in the lower level of Cobo Hall.
Michigan is not just the birthplace of the auto industry, but is the center for mobility. It is home to seven automotive R&D headquarters, 62 top parts suppliers, and more than 2,200 independent research facilities…and one of the nation’s premier university innovation clusters, the URC, at which the future of mobility innovation is being developed and tested and talent is being educated and prepared.
At the 2019 NAIAS AutoMobili-D exhibit, all three URC universities are on display. MSU and U-M parked their autonomous research vehicles next to each other in a joint exhibit. Both universities included technologies, information and experts to communicate the future-focused innovation and research being conducted at their institutions. This research includes advancing radar and lidar technology, artificial intelligence, sensor technology for smart high infrastructure and preparing society for the future impacts of automated vehicles and mobility.
"It’s broader than just technology. It’s the entire ecosystem of making vehicles autonomous or advancing mobility. Take U-M and Michigan State together with peers at Wayne State, Michigan Tech, Western Michigan, and so forth, and we have the strongest research and education ecosystem not just in the Midwest but in the country."
-Leo Kempel, Dean of the College of Engineering at MSU
WSU and MSU students parked their formula racing team vehicles side-by-side, and were on site to talk about their work and competition.
All three URC universities are active partners in MichAuto and PlanetM, two statewide efforts to support the state’s mobility industry and promote Michigan as the global center for mobility.
