On October 24, Newlab at Michigan Central was thrilled to sponsor and host the Office of Future Mobility & Electrification’s (OFME) first mobility conference. Convening industry players, academics, ecosystem partners, government officials, and startups, this event left attendees energized about the future of mobility in Michigan. Conversations centered around three core pillars: policy, infrastructure, and economic development.

CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS

On the first day of the event, attendees were invited to join roundtables covering Advanced Aerial Mobility (AAM) and Outdoor Recreation. Participants in the AAM roundtable included Munson Healthcare, Newlab member blueflite®, and DroneUp, while the Outdoor Recreation roundtable featured Newlab members LIVAQ and Grounded.

Day two of the event featured an inspiring panel with Hilary Doe, the state of Michigan's Chief Growth Officer, where she discussed the importance of engaging youth to set Michigan up for continued success and create a robust talent pipeline. To that end, MEDC, in partnership with OFME, announced the launch of the Michigander Scholars program, connecting students from seven leading Michigan universities—including Michigan State University, University of Michigan, Michigan Tech, Kettering University, and Wayne State—with opportunities and funded scholarships in the state's emerging mobility sector.

Timothy Papandreou, emerging technology expert and founder of the consulting firm ETA advisors, gave a keynote on breakthrough technologies in mobility. Katie Soven, Newlab’s Managing Director in Detroit, presented on the uplift of critical tech piloting and commercial activity not only locally in Detroit, but statewide.

At the conference, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer named Newlab member Civilized Cycles the winner of the inaugural PitchMI competition, a statewide, shark-tank style competition for innovative startups. Whitmer presented the Civilized Cycles team with a $100,000 investment from the Michigan Growth Office. Zach Schieffelin, co-founder of Civilized Cycles, remarked, “We never would have been able to go from concept to deployed beta prototype in less than 9 months without Newlab. The incredible product realization team, world-class prototyping facilities, network, community, and connections all come together to create a unique opportunity for startups looking to actually build things.”

CHANGING LANES INITIATIVE

At the conference, Governor Whitmer announced the launch of the state’s new “Changing Lanes” program. This initiative empowers professionals in the auto industry to transition their careers into the growing advanced mobility sector by joining or founding startups. A strategic partner in the development of this program, Newlab will work alongside the state to carry “Changing Lanes” forward.

LOOKING AHEAD

The Michigan Mobility Conference left attendees with a holistic view of the state’s mobility landscape and forward-looking strategies for reindustrialization and growth. With comprehensive discussions about Michigan’s advancements in land, air, and sea mobility, it’s clear that Michigan is well-poised to reshape the global transportation landscape.