Detroit City Wire

On July 25, education leaders from the University Research Corridor convened at Crain’s Detroit Business’ Power Breakfast to discuss higher education and the role of Michigan’s three largest universities in driving economic development across Detroit and the state. The panel included Wayne State University President Kimberly Andrews Espy, Michigan State University President Kevin Guskiewicz, and University of Michigan (U-M) President Santa J. Ono.

The university presidents emphasized their increasing research collaboration and partnerships with businesses, nonprofits, and the public sector to enhance talent attraction, retention, and new business ventures.

Throughout the discussion hosted by Crain’s, references were made to the Chamber’s work in education and talent development. This included data from the State of Education and Talent report and findings from the Chamber’s Michigan Voter Polls.

University of Michigan's Ono highlighted the Innovate Michigan collaboration between U-M and the Chamber. He described it as a “recognition of the volume and amount of resource that [U-M] is investing in the city of Detroit.” Announced at the 2024 Mackinac Policy Conference, Innovate Michigan aims to leverage both institutions' strengths by pooling resources and collaborating with other organizations to develop an Ann Arbor-to-Detroit innovation corridor.