Technology TriCorridor

In 2002, the State of Michigan created its Technology Tri-Corridor Initiative.  The Initiative identifies four target areas for the future growth of Michigan's economy.  These areas are life sciences (Life Sciences Corridor), future fuels (NextEnergy), advanced technology (SmartZones) and homeland security.  These target areas serve the same purposes:

• Technology clustering  regions within the State for the growth and expansion of target industries
• Business attraction, expansion and retention  attracting companies engaged in these industries to the State, as well as encouraging expansion and retention of companies within those industries located in Michigan
• Marketing  efforts include marketing the brands, sites for development and programs or services created to support the target industries
• Commercialization of research  The State of Michigan hopes to grow companies by empowering technology transfer activities that is occurring in the private, public and educational sectors
• Development of new technologies  The State is providing grants and incentives to support research and development

TTC Programs

Michigan is taking the steps necessary to bring about a high tech future and the future is now. A number of new initiatives are under way to recruit and attract high tech employers and employees. In fact, Michigan ranks 4th nationally for total employment in high tech industries with 568,000 high tech workers including more than 70,000 in our automotive industry alone. The state's centers of commerce are being transformed into "technology clusters" equipped with 21st century necessities such as teleconferencing facilities, high speed telecommunications, training centers, university research labs and business incubators. Business customers and corporate decision makers are discovering the advantages of working and living in Michigan.

Emerging Tech Fund

The Emerging Technology Challenge Fund provides $1 million per year in grant funds to help increase the number of development opportunities that arise from the research and technology developed at Michigan universities.

SmartZones

SmartZonessm are designed to stimulate the growth of technology based businesses and jobs by creating recognized clusters of new and emerging businesses, primarily focused on commercializing ideas, patents and other opportunities surrounding university and private research and development efforts.

Michigan Entrepreneurship Education Network

The Michigan Entrepreneurship Education Network (MEEN) is a program supported by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), and sponsored by the University of Michigan Business School's Samuel Zell & Robert H. Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies. MEEN is dedicated to the development and strengthening of entrepreneurship education programs in Michigan's traditional degree-granting public universities. The intent is to create a partnership with all of Michigan's universities to help build their success and reputation in entrepreneurial education, and, in turn, to enhance the reputation of the state for entrepreneurial education.

NextEnergy

NextEnergy is a comprehensive economic development plan designed to position Michigan as the world's leading center for alternative energy technology, research and development, education and manufacturing.

LinkMichigan

The LinkMichigan effort is working to transform Michigan's telecommunications infrastructure into one of the most robust and advanced in the nation. The four-step approach includes aggregating statewide telecommunication purchases to create a high-speed backbone, implementing taxing and permitting fairness, increasing access to information about the telecommunication infrastructure that exists in Michigan, and providing funds for regional telecommunication planning of last mile solutions.

Life Sciences Corridor

The Life Sciences Corridor is a $1-billion initiative to help fund research, industry and commercialization.  Michigan has the 10th largest life sciences workforce in the U.S. with 20,000 workers.