- A coordinated strategy among the three universities and the surrounding business community will enhance Detroit and Michigan’s innovation initiatives.
- Key sectors such as clean water, AI, and sustainable agriculture present significant regional growth and collaboration opportunities.
- Developing sector-specific strategies, focusing on talent development, and building support structures are essential for advancing innovation in Michigan.
Michigan University Presidents on Accelerating Innovation
January 24, 2025
Key Takeaways
View the full session recording below.
At the 2025 Detroit Policy Conference, the future of innovation in Michigan took center stage as the Michigan State University, University of Michigan, and Wayne State University presidents shared their vision for building a robust innovation corridor and emphasized the critical role research institutions, business leaders, and community partnerships play in the Detroit Region’s growth. With an eye toward a united strategy, their collective focus is set on fostering innovation, enhancing collaboration, and driving economic development to elevate Detroit and the entire Region.
Building a Unified Innovation Strategy Across Michigan’s Universities
One of the central points the panel discussed was the need for a unified innovation strategy that leverages the collective strengths of the state’s major universities. By aligning efforts with business leaders, state government, and funders, the goal is to unlock significant economic growth. Epsy emphasized that Michigan can build a strong, unified strategy with the right collaboration.
“What I see looking out in the opportunity ahead of us on behalf of Michigan, on behalf of Detroit, is to really take those ingredients that are strong and can do so much and organize them together, to have a common strategy, bringing together our big business, our founders, our funders, to then work a strategy, to work a recipe,” she said. “Because, you know what? I think we can bake a pretty darn good cake that can share the benefits across our community as we have.”
Key Sectors for Growth and Collaboration: Clean Water, AI, and Agriculture
The university presidents also said that the growth of Michigan’s innovation corridor hinges on strategic focuses in high-potential sectors, including clean water technology, AI, and sustainable agriculture. Addressing these areas will lead to global competitiveness and bring societal benefits, solving some of the world’s most pressing issues.
“We have focused strategically on thematic areas,” Ono said. “This year, we’re coming together to talk about what we can do in clean water and technologies surrounding water. But we also have areas like artificial intelligence and collaborative opportunities. These intersections are where we see tremendous potential.”
Creating and Retaining Talent for Michigan’s Innovation Ecosystem
A critical factor for sustaining Michigan’s growth is creating and retaining a skilled workforce that meets the demands of rapidly evolving industries. Universities are developing innovative programs to equip students and workers with the skills needed to thrive, especially in high-demand industries.
However, the university presidents are asking for the business community’s help to ensure the curriculum matches the skills in demand for employers. Through this collaboration, the state can foster the necessary environment to ensure its workforce remains competitive and can drive innovation across multiple sectors.
“We want to be a talent activator, and we want to keep our graduates in the state of Michigan and hopefully attract other businesses and companies that want to come here to latch onto that talent,” Guskiewicz said. “So, we need to hear from the community. We need to hear from the business leaders.”
This session was sponsored by the University of Michigan.