3(R&D)=E(infinity)
According to an Anderson Economic Group report highlighting alternative energy research, in 2007 the three partners in Michigan’s University Research Corridor (URC) — Wayne State University, Michigan State University and the University of Michigan — generated 69,285 jobs, educated more students than any of the nation’s best comparable R&D clusters, and produced $13.3 billion in economic impact.
As energy prices spur new interest in research and development of alternatives, the report chronicled how the URC partners are working closely with the auto industry, energy companies and the federal government to create new green technologies. The report shows the URC conducted $79.5 million in alternative energy R&D in 2007, a number expected to grow.
“The energy issue is a global issue and it’s skyrocketing in importance,” said Wayne State President Jay Noren. “To bring these three institutions together to address this question of alternative energy has value that goes far beyond Michigan.”
Wayne State-developed smart sensors, with uses in fuel cells as well as chemotherapy, are “doing things we couldn’t imagine 20 years ago,” Noren added. WSU is working with U-M researchers who are experts in fuel cell and solar technologies as well as MSU scientists known for their work in biofuels, he added, with each partner bringing unique strengths to the overall project.
The report, comparing the URC with peer R&D clusters in California, Massachusetts, Illinois, North Carolina and Pennsylvania, found the URC’s overall research investments were $1.38 billion in 2006, $10 million more than in 2005.