To decarbonize our planet, mitigate the ever-increasing climate change problem, and build a more sustainable future, changing the way we transport is essential. The transportation industry currently accounts for around 30% of global carbon emissions, with 72% of the emissions coming from road transportation. Seeking out cleaner and greener ways of transport is key to tackling the climate change problem.
Michigan is leading in the race toward a cleaner future with its heritage as the driving force behind America’s auto industry. In fact, one in every five jobs in Michigan is tied to the mobility industry and the state ranks first in mobility and automotive research & development. Driven by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), the state’s marketing arm, Michigan is a leader in mobility and electric vehicle (EV) innovation. It has a clear vision and is evolving to become more competitive while addressing demands to be more green.
The state acknowledges the opportunity it has to set new global standards for economic development, workforce, energy and infrastructure. It also realizes that the transition to a more equitable mobility future will need to involve considerable collaboration, R&D, innovation and deliberate reimagining of mobility systems.
The Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME) is a first-of-its-kind organization creating more equitable and environmentally conscious transportation options in Michigan and the world. This is being achieved by increasing mobility investment, expanding smart infrastructure and engaging more mobility startups.
Trevor Pawl, the first Chief Mobility Officer in the United States, explains the efforts MEDC has already made to advance the EV industry in Michigan:
“We are bringing together government and industry in a way that can roll out new technologies as quickly as possible to make communities greener, safer, more productive, and be able to uphold a person's dignity a bit more than we did yesterday.”
But as Pawl points out, winning the battle of achieving sustainable growth is not a one-person job, collaborations between brilliant minds and sectors are vital. Everyone in the state is playing a critical part in making this a reality.
For instance, the MEDC has invested $6.8 million in university-business partnerships and the state is preparing “close to 15,000 graduates with degrees in high demand by the mobility industry,” according to Dr. Britany Affolter-Caine, Executive Director, University Research Corridor (URC).
Denise Gray, Head of External Affairs and Government Relations at LG Energy Solution Inc., the South Koren-based battery maker who most recently invested $1.7 billion in Michigan, affirms that “MEDC summons all of the leaders in the state of Michigan to come together to figure out how we increase our talent pool so that we can really move forward when it comes to the technology that we need today in order to power the vehicles that we have tomorrow.”
Michigan also acknowledges the work that they do will ultimately have an impact beyond their borders to curb transportation emissions globally, as described by Cynthia Hutchison, CEO of the World Economic Forum’s United States Center for Advanced Manufacturing.
“There really are no borders to environmental impact. Environmental impact does not stop at the Indiana border, it doesn’t stop at California. It infiltrates all of us, so we need to be very conscious of that.”
The MEDC has cemented its pioneering status of growing talents and technology in boosting sustainable growth for Michigan, the country, and the world.
To decarbonize our planet, mitigate the ever-increasing climate change problem, and build a more sustainable future, changing the way we transport is essential. The transportation industry currently accounts for around 30% of global carbon emissions, with 72% of the emissions coming from road transportation. Seeking out cleaner and greener ways of transport is key to tackling the climate change problem.
Michigan is leading in the race toward a cleaner future with its heritage as the driving force behind America’s auto industry. In fact, one in every five jobs in Michigan is tied to the mobility industry and the state ranks first in mobility and automotive research & development. Driven by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), the state’s marketing arm, Michigan is a leader in mobility and electric vehicle (EV) innovation. It has a clear vision and is evolving to become more competitive while addressing demands to be more green.
The state acknowledges the opportunity it has to set new global standards for economic development, workforce, energy and infrastructure. It also realizes that the transition to a more equitable mobility future will need to involve considerable collaboration, R&D, innovation and deliberate reimagining of mobility systems.
The Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME) is a first-of-its-kind organization creating more equitable and environmentally conscious transportation options in Michigan and the world. This is being achieved by increasing mobility investment, expanding smart infrastructure and engaging more mobility startups.
Trevor Pawl, the first Chief Mobility Officer in the United States, explains the efforts MEDC has already made to advance the EV industry in Michigan:
“We are bringing together government and industry in a way that can roll out new technologies as quickly as possible to make communities greener, safer, more productive, and be able to uphold a person's dignity a bit more than we did yesterday.”
But as Pawl points out, winning the battle of achieving sustainable growth is not a one-person job, collaborations between brilliant minds and sectors are vital. Everyone in the state is playing a critical part in making this a reality.
For instance, the MEDC has invested $6.8 million in university-business partnerships and the state is preparing “close to 15,000 graduates with degrees in high demand by the mobility industry,” according to Dr. Britany Affolter-Caine, Executive Director, University Research Corridor (URC).
Denise Gray, Head of External Affairs and Government Relations at LG Energy Solution Inc., the South Koren-based battery maker who most recently invested $1.7 billion in Michigan, affirms that “MEDC summons all of the leaders in the state of Michigan to come together to figure out how we increase our talent pool so that we can really move forward when it comes to the technology that we need today in order to power the vehicles that we have tomorrow.”
Michigan also acknowledges the work that they do will ultimately have an impact beyond their borders to curb transportation emissions globally, as described by Cynthia Hutchison, CEO of the World Economic Forum’s United States Center for Advanced Manufacturing.
“There really are no borders to environmental impact. Environmental impact does not stop at the Indiana border, it doesn’t stop at California. It infiltrates all of us, so we need to be very conscious of that.”
The MEDC has cemented its pioneering status of growing talents and technology in boosting sustainable growth for Michigan, the country, and the world.
To decarbonize our planet, mitigate the ever-increasing climate change problem, and build a more sustainable future, changing the way we transport is essential. The transportation industry currently accounts for around 30% of global carbon emissions, with 72% of the emissions coming from road transportation. Seeking out cleaner and greener ways of transport is key to tackling the climate change problem.
Michigan is leading in the race toward a cleaner future with its heritage as the driving force behind America’s auto industry. In fact, one in every five jobs in Michigan is tied to the mobility industry and the state ranks first in mobility and automotive research & development. Driven by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), the state’s marketing arm, Michigan is a leader in mobility and electric vehicle (EV) innovation. It has a clear vision and is evolving to become more competitive while addressing demands to be more green.
The state acknowledges the opportunity it has to set new global standards for economic development, workforce, energy and infrastructure. It also realizes that the transition to a more equitable mobility future will need to involve considerable collaboration, R&D, innovation and deliberate reimagining of mobility systems.
The Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME) is a first-of-its-kind organization creating more equitable and environmentally conscious transportation options in Michigan and the world. This is being achieved by increasing mobility investment, expanding smart infrastructure and engaging more mobility startups.
Trevor Pawl, the first Chief Mobility Officer in the United States, explains the efforts MEDC has already made to advance the EV industry in Michigan:
“We are bringing together government and industry in a way that can roll out new technologies as quickly as possible to make communities greener, safer, more productive, and be able to uphold a person's dignity a bit more than we did yesterday.”
But as Pawl points out, winning the battle of achieving sustainable growth is not a one-person job, collaborations between brilliant minds and sectors are vital. Everyone in the state is playing a critical part in making this a reality.
For instance, the MEDC has invested $6.8 million in university-business partnerships and the state is preparing “close to 15,000 graduates with degrees in high demand by the mobility industry,” according to Dr. Britany Affolter-Caine, Executive Director, University Research Corridor (URC).
Denise Gray, Head of External Affairs and Government Relations at LG Energy Solution Inc., the South Koren-based battery maker who most recently invested $1.7 billion in Michigan, affirms that “MEDC summons all of the leaders in the state of Michigan to come together to figure out how we increase our talent pool so that we can really move forward when it comes to the technology that we need today in order to power the vehicles that we have tomorrow.”
Michigan also acknowledges the work that they do will ultimately have an impact beyond their borders to curb transportation emissions globally, as described by Cynthia Hutchison, CEO of the World Economic Forum’s United States Center for Advanced Manufacturing.
“There really are no borders to environmental impact. Environmental impact does not stop at the Indiana border, it doesn’t stop at California. It infiltrates all of us, so we need to be very conscious of that.”
The MEDC has cemented its pioneering status of growing talents and technology in boosting sustainable growth for Michigan, the country, and the world.