URC eNews: Increasing Michigan's Economic Prosperity

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Detroit is growing a network of innovation districts that offer the potential to supercharge a recovery. By maximizing federal investments, Detroit could be a high-tech center supplying good-paying jobs to nearby residents. Britany Affolter-Caine of the URC & Bruce Katz of the Nowak Metro Finance Lab at Drexel University discuss these ideas in the Crain's Forum series with their piece, Commentary: Innovation districts can help Detroit build on success.

The bottom line is: For the long-term competitiveness & prosperity of Michigan, we must invest in research, higher education, talent attraction, innovative ways to move discoveries from the lab to market and improve the quality and attractiveness of our cities.

Check out the rest of the Crain's Forum: Expanding Michigan's knowledge economy below.

ICYMI: In December of 2021, Britany Affolter-Caine and Glenn Stevens of MICHauto released this related commentary in Crain's Detroit Business on improving Michigan's long-term investments.

Keep reading to learn more about the innovative research happening at Michigan State University, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University.

We are now two years into the pandemic and Michigan's URC universities have worked tirelessly to solve the many challenges COVID-19 has brought to medicine, education, the economy, and everyday life.

Recently, the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services announced their plan to distribute $18.5 million in funding to four Michigan universities: Michigan State University, the University of Michigan, Wayne State University & Michigan Technological University.

Over the next two years, researchers will use the funding to increase sequencing capacity in the state, starting with COVID-19. This will help Michigan address emerging infectious disease threats and enhance the state's ability to respond to those threats.

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Lindsay Klee has joined Wayne State University to lead the Technology Commercialization Office which is responsible for the identification, protection, marketing and licensing of intellectual property developed by faculty, staff and students. The office promotes an entrepreneurial culture and supports startup ventures and regional economic development.

Check out the article below to learn about her previous work and what she is bringing to the WSU Technology Commercialization Team.

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Congratulations to the three random e-newsletter survey participants who won a $50 Zingerman's gift card - Susan Sheth, Karen Downing & Alex Haimbaugh! We appreciate all the feedback we received to help us deliver more relevant, informative eNews content moving forward.

If you are one of the winners and did not see a Zingerman's email gift card in your inbox, contact Amber Shinn at ambershinn@urcmich.org.

Michigan's University Research Corridor (URC) is one of the nation's top academic research clusters and the leading engine for innovation in Michigan and the Great Lakes region. An alliance of Michigan State University, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University, the URC is focused on increasing economic prosperity and connecting Michigan to the world.