Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Clarion Call: Michigan's "Economic Competitiveness" Transformation

Conference to Look at Transforming Michigan


Presidents of the three universities that make up the University Research Corridor (URC) consortium will put some big brains together around the task of fixing Michigan’s economy.

They are hosting a conference called "The Role of Engaged Universities in Economic Transformation,” which will gather together leaders from academia, business, government and think tanks to explore ways they can best work together to transform and revitalize the state.

Action teams will work together to come devise the next steps they can take to speed of the development of Michigan's knowledge-based economy. Speakers include:

  • National Academy of Engineering President Charles Vest, president emeritus of MIT and a former University of Michigan provost.
  • U.S. Rep. John Dingell, the dean of the House and chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
  • Assistant U.S. Secretary of Commerce Sandy Baruah, who oversees the department's Economic Development Administration.
  • Derrick Kuzak, group vice president of global product development for Ford Motor Co.
  • Rick Snyder, co-founder and CEO of Ardesta LLC and chairman of Gateway Computers.
  • Meijer Inc. President Mark Murray, former president of Grand Valley State University and a former Michigan state budget director.
  • The URC presidents: U-M President Mary Sue Coleman, Wayne State University President Irvin D. Reid and MSU President Lou Anna Simon.

The conference is aimed at addressing the major competitiveness issues raised a recent National Academy of Sciences report called "Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future.'' It will take place Oct 15-16 at Rackham Auditorium, 915 E. Washington, Ann Arbor, on the campus of the University of Michigan.

The conference is free and open to the public but registration is required. To register, visit: http://www.urcmich.org/events or http://cms.housing.umich.edu/urc

For a more complete agenda, click here.


DAY 2 AGENDA (See Below "Workforce Needs:" The Role of STEM Education in the Economy

The Role of Engaged Universities in Economic Transformation
Conference Home

Day 2 - Plenary Session, Rackham Auditorium
and Conference Workshops, michigan League / Alumni center

See Day 1

REGISTRATION AND CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST, 7:30 AM - 8: 30 AM

PLENARY SESSION, 8:30 AM - 9:45 AM
Panel Discussion with
Stephen R. Forrest, Vice President for Research, University of Michigan
Tom Walsh, Business Columnist, Detroit Free Press
Michael Finney, President and CEO, Ann Arbor SPARK
Philip H. Power, Chairman and President, Center for Michigan

WORKSHOPS
10 AM - NOON and 1 PM - 3PM
Box lunch will be provided -- see Registration Form

CONFERENCE WRAP-UP • WINE & CHEESE RECEPTION
3PM - 4:30 PM

Program download (as of 10/5/2007)

Topics

Business/Economic Needs:

  1. University-Business Partnerships
      2. Discussion Leaders
      Morning
    • Doug Rothwell, President, Detroit Renaissance
    • Marvin G. Parnes, Associate Vice President for Research and Executive Director of Research Administration, University of Michigan
      Afternoon
    • Katherine E. White, Professor, Law School, Wayne State University
    • Fred Reinhart, Associate Vice President for Technology Commercialization, Wayne State University
  2. Regional Economic Development
  3. Venture Capital
      4. Discussion Leaders
      Morning
    • Mary Campbell, Managing Director, EDF Ventures
    • Cindy Douglas, Michigan Economic Development Corporation
      Afternoon
    • Mark Weiser, Managing Director, RPM Ventures
    • Kenneth J. Nisbet, Executive Director, Office of Technology Transfer, University of Michigan
  4. Great Lakes as an Economic Resource
      5. Discussion Leaders
      Morning
    • John C. Austin, Nonresident Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution
    • Paul N. Courant, University Librarian and Dean of Libraries
      Afternoon
    • Soji Adelaja, John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor in Land Policy, Michigan State University
    • Victoria Pebbles, Associate Program Manager, Great Lakes Commission

Sector Needs:

  1. Universities and Advanced Manufacturing
      2. Discussion Leaders
      Morning
    • Rick McHugh, Midwest Coordinator, Unemployment Insurance Safety Net Project, National Employment Law Project
    • A. Galip Ulsoy, William Clay Ford Professor of Manufacturing, University of Michigan
      Afternoon
    • Edward A. Wolking Jr., Executive Vice President, Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce
    • Kenneth Chelst, Chair, Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, Wayne State University
  2. Universities and the Biotechnology Sector
      3. Discussion Leaders
      Morning (Biotech/biomed)
    • James R. Baker Jr., Director, Michigan Nanotechnology Institute for Medicine and the Biological Sciences (M-NIMBS)
    • John C. Greenfield, Executive Director, Core Technology Alliance
      Afternoon (Biotech/biomed)
    • Ramani Narayan, Professor, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Michigan State University
    • Brian Athey, Associate Professor of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Michigan
      Afternoon (Biotech/bio-fuels/bio-economy)
    • Steven Pueppke, Director, Office of Biobased Technologies, Michigan State University
    • Lawrence A. Molnar, Program Manager, Business & Industrial Assistance Division, University of Michigan
  3. Universities and the Energy Sector
      4. Discussion Leaders
      Morning
    • Gary S. Was, Director, Michigan Memorial Phoenix Energy Institute, University of Michigan
    • Jim A. Croce, CEO, NextEnergy
      Afternoon
    • Simon Ng, Professor of Engineering, Wayne State University
    • Levi T. Thompson, Professor of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan
  4. Universities and the Information Technology Sector
      5. Discussion Leaders
      Morning
    • Michael P. Wellman, Professor, Computer Science and Engineering, University of Michigan
    • Richard Sheridan, President, Menlo Innovations
    • Harry Wan, Vice President, Engineering, Arbor Networks
    • Philip K. McKinley, Michigan State University [TENTATIVE]
      Afternoon
    • Thomas A. Finholt, Research Professor and Associate Dean for Research and Innovation, University of Michigan
    • Farshad Fotouhi, Professor and Chair, Department of Computer Science, Wayne State University [TENTATIVE]
    • Laurence Kirchmeier, Product Development, Merit Network [TENTATIVE]
    • Betty H.C. Cheng, Professor, Computer Science and Engineering, Michigan State University [TENTATIVE]

Workforce Needs:

  1. Worker Retention and Skill Development
      2. Discussion Leaders
    • Paul M. Hunt, Associate Vice President for Research, Michigan State University
    • JaNice Marshall, Dept. Chair, Civil Technology Program, Lansing Community College
    • Larry A. Good, Chairman, Corporation for a Skilled Workforce
    • TBA
  2. The Role of STEM Education in the Economy
      3. Discussion Leaders
      Morning
    • Joseph S. Krajcik, Professor and Associate Dean, School of Education, University of Michigan
    • Maria M. Ferreira, Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of Science Education, College of Education, Wayne State University
      Afternoon
    • Thomas F. Wolff, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies, College of Engineering, Michigan State University
    • Cinda-Sue Davis, Director, Women in Science and Engineering Program
  3. Public attitudes/quality of life
      4. Discussion Leaders
      Morning
    • Lou Glazer, President, Michigan Future, Inc.
    • Philip H. Power, Chairman and President, Center for Michigan
    • Eric Cedo, President and Founder, BrainGain Marketing
      Afternoon
    • Donald F. Holecek, Professor, Department of Community, Agriculture, Recreation and Resource Studies, Michigan State University

The conference is being organized by the University Research Corridor. Funding for the conference is provided by the Richard Lounsbery Foundation.

Questions? Contact Conference Management Services, 734-764-5325 or conferences@umich.edu

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