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U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy

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Please join the University of Michigan’s

And

And

for a workshop on Revitalizing Innovation in Michigan for Clean Energy Manufacturing

April 21st and 22nd, 2011

The Michigan League

911 N University Ave

Ann Arbor, MI 48104

For questions please contact:

Kerry C. Duggan
U.S. Department of Energy
kerry.duggan@ee.doe.gov

Bruno Vanzieleghem

MMPEI

brunov@umich.edu

Concept:  Revitalizing Innovation in Michigan for Clean Energy Manufacturing

Continuous innovation in manufacturing is essential for maintaining US economic leadership in an intensively competitive global market.  Innovations in the production of advanced batteries, motors, controllers, lighting devices, wind machines, photovoltaic modules, and other clean energy products is critical to meeting US energy and environmental goals.

Though Michigan’s research infrastructure suffered during the deep recession that forced major cutbacks in the research funded by the auto industry, the state has leveraged local investment, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding, and the strengths of its universities to begin rapidly rebuilding manufacturing by investing in new industries.  Many of these new investments are in clean energy, and the DOE is interested in learning from this natural experiment in rapid rebuilding of R&D and manufacturing capability.

Capturing this opportunity depends in no small part on maintaining the state’s long history of manufacturing innovation.  Michigan has highly skilled engineering talent and a great university system anchored by the University of Michigan.  The state has also been successful in attracting large amounts of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding to build new clean energy production facilities.

Key questions for exploring how to create an ecosystem of innovation throughout the state:

1. What will enable and accelerate innovation in R & D and advanced manufacturing in Michigan? What cross-cutting, catalytic collaborations should be created between universities, laboratories, manufacturers and government?

2. How can the University community accelerate the commercialization of clean energy technologies developed at universities? Where are the weak links? Can other University entrepreneurial efforts play a role?

3. How can the university communities, NextEnergy and Ann Arbor SPARK contribute to speed, innovation and deployment?

4. How can Michigan build effective, low cost, long-term financial support for advanced manufacturing and project deployment that is less dependent on state and federal funding? What is the most effective means of attracting venture capital?

5. How can the local, state and federal government help?

This two-day workshop will bring together leaders and students to campus to discuss ways to:

  • Revitalize the innovation infrastructure of Michigan in ways that take maximum advantage of new investments
  • Define the roles that can be played by Michigan’s universities to foster innovative R&D/entrepreneurial behavior on campus and in the community
  • Invite venture capital and other funding sources to consider leveraging against state/local sources
  • Engage the technology community in new and existing industries

Goals:

  • Spur innovation, demonstration, commercialization and diffusion of advanced technologies that support our clean energy, automobile and other core industries
  • Nurture a culture of startups and other groups who can help move ideas from laboratories to new businesses and jobs
  • Accelerate advanced manufacturing, clean energy technologies and materials science to enhance the region’s growing supply chain for renewable energy equipment