Michigan Technological University marked a milestone in its commitment to the Grand Traverse region yesterday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that officially opened its Traverse City research workspace.
Located in the Traverse Connect building at 202 Grandview Parkway, the research hub is Michigan Tech's inaugural workspace in Northern Lower Michigan.
"All of us at Michigan Tech are pleased to take the next step in our partnership with the Grand Traverse region," said Michigan Tech President Rick Koubek. "By establishing a physical presence in partnership with the community, we're amplifying opportunities for research, talent development and educational outreach, both at the K-12 and post-secondary levels."
"We are proud to be the primary sponsor for Michigan Tech Grand Traverse Area," said Warren Call, president and CEO of Traverse Connect. "Michigan Tech is a national leader in public research and innovative partnerships with the business and government sectors. Hosting faculty and staff of Michigan Tech in Traverse City brings needed talent and capabilities to our growing entrepreneurial ecosystem, fostering the further growth of our economy."
Since March 2019, MTU and members of the Grand Traverse Area Michigan Tech Steering Committee, chaired by Bill Myers, CEO of Promethient Inc., have collaborated to develop research and technology commercialization partnerships, tailor talent development programs and strengthen K-12 educational opportunities.
"The Traverse City workspace will advance research in areas such as aerospace communications, manufacturing simulations and renewable energy," said Jay Meldrum, director of MTU's Keweenaw Research Center and the official point of contact and liaison for Tech in the Grand Traverse area.
The efforts complement Michigan Tech's existing partnerships with Northwestern Michigan College (NMC), including the 2+2 program, which allows students to attend NMC for two years and then transfer their credits toward completion of a bachelor's degree program at Tech. Other partnering opportunities focus on the coastal nature of both regions and include MTU's Great Lakes Research Center and NMC's Great Lakes Water Studies Institute.
About Traverse Connect:
Traverse Connect is the lead economic development organization for the Grand Traverse Region, which supports area businesses through a combination of business attraction and retention strategies, talent development efforts and strategic coordination among partner agencies. Traverse Connect is the lead entity serving the region in support of business growth and development, alongside partner organization Venture North Funding and Development.
Michigan Technological University is a public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, Michigan, and is home to more than 6,800 students from 60 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, the University offers more than 125 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business and economics, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure.
