Michigan’s public research universities are helping to fuel an advanced manufacturing base in the state, a fact that could position Lansing for a high-tech future, according to a report issued last week.
More than two-thirds of Michigan’s manufacturing jobs today are considered high-tech, the report by the
University Research Corridor states.
The URC is a joint effort by Michigan State University, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University to align their resources to transform Michigan’s economy.
The
report was prepared by East Lansing’s
Anderson Economic Group. Among the study’s findings: a third of the research and testing jobs in the Midwest are based in Michigan, and advanced manufacturing jobs fared better in the economic downturn than traditional manufacturing jobs.
Because of the Lansing region’s connections with MSU, the area will benefit in the long run economically, says Jeff Mason, URC executive director.
“You're seeing a greater recognition of the role that MSU and the other research institutions play in benefiting the economy of our local areas,” Mason says. “Not only by leveraging the research strength of these universities, but also through the brainpower that exists in their faculty and students.”
Mason points to the success of Lansing’s
Niowave, Inc. as a case-in-point. The company was founded by Terry Grim, an MSU professor who has spent 13 years working in
MSU’s National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory.
Source: University Research Corridor
Writer: Louise Knott Ahern
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