“Where do you go to be inspired by out-of-the-box thinkers, savvy startups, and forward-looking entrepreneurs? Ann Arbor, of course.”  - Ross School of Business, University of Michigan

 

The University of Michigan is a tremendously influential driving force of innovation in the Ann Arbor area. We’ve seen organizations and publications like 24/7 Wall Street, Forbes, and Verizon come out with designations frequently over the past several years, calling Ann Arbor “one of the most innovative cities in the United States”, and “one of the most innovative metro areas in the U.S.”  We couldn’t agree more! U-M’s “leaders and best” certainly live up to their name in this field - with initiatives like Mcity, the Center for Entrepreneurship, and Innovate Blue, that propel Ann Arbor forward as a key hotspot for innovative economic development.

 

Mcity

With partners in academia, government, and the auto industry, Mcity works to realize the promise of connected and autonomous transportation. One of Mcity’s initiatives is the Driverless Shuttle Research Project - which involves two fully-automated, 11-seat, all-electric shuttles that operate on North Campus. The shuttles operate Monday through Friday, weather-permitting, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. and transports students, faculty, and staff in the North Campus Research Complex (NCRC) area. In addition to being a proving ground and research center, Mcity is a learning environment for researchers, students, innovators, government, and the public. Mcity hosts or participates in events, demos, and speaking engagements regularly - keep an eye out for exciting learning opportunities!

 

The Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Michigan

The CFE at U-M is intended to transform students, faculty, researchers, and the greater Michigan community into entrepreneurial thinkers and doers. Here, high-potential ideas and projects are successfully translated into the ‘’real world’’. The skills taught at this institution allow students to identify and act on opportunities to solve programs in any organization or entrepreneurial endeavor.

 

Innovate Blue

Located within the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, Innovate Blue is the brand that supports, connects, and expands the entrepreneurial network and community at U-M and beyond. Innovate Blue works with the Center for Entrepreneurship, and also other U-M programs like the Desai Accelerator, the College of LSA’s optiMize Program, TechArb, and others to provide support to students as they develop as innovators. Alumni impacted by the Innovate Blue program objectives include former Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, Google Co-Founder Larry Page, and many others.

 

Recently, University of Michigan students took part in Ann Arbor SPARK's A2 Student Tech Trek, the first event of its kind in the area. Inspired by a2Tech360 (formerly known as TechTrek), Ann Arbor SPARK's signature public event, this student version of Tech Trek brought together U-M students and employers to foster discovery of the depth of possibilies for innovation right here in the Ann Arbor area. Join Ann Arbor SPARK and the rest of the Ann Arbor area tech community for a2Tech360 later this year for a peek at these companies for yourself! Learn more HERE

 

For more information about the ways that the University of Michigan is moving Ann Arbor forward as a tech and innovation hub, visit umich.edu.

 

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