Michigan Announces First Infrastructure for Innovation Agreement to Spur Entrepreneurial Prowess by Leveraging Michigan’s National Guard Resources

Michigan is first in the nation to take this proactive, strategic approach to broadening access to physical infrastructure for innovators

LANSING, Mich. – Team Michigan continues building on its economic competitiveness by officially launching its first “Infrastructure for Innovation” agreement, this time between the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the Michigan National Guard (MING). Effective as of today, this agreement solidifies the commitment of both MEDC and MING to engage Michigan’s defense-focused innovation resources and make relevant critical infrastructure available to entrepreneurs so they can advance and test their ideas. This will be the first of many MOUs with Michigan-based institutions stepping up to support innovators as part of this initiative.

“Michigan is home to a strong network of universities, local governments, and civic and military organizations that have the equipment and expertise entrepreneurs need to pursue their innovative idea, but too often it’s inaccessible,” said Governor Whitmer. “At the Mackinac Policy Conference earlier this year, I signed an executive directive calling for open access to this network that we’re calling the ‘Infrastructure for Innovation.’ Today, thanks to our first-in-the-nation approach, we are officially signing the first of many agreements to come that will connect innovators to the cutting-edge tools and spaces they need to test their product. In the months ahead, we will keep forging these partnerships to send a signal around the world—if you want to bring your idea to life, come to Michigan.”

Announced by Governor Whitmer as part of her keynote at the Mackinac Policy Conference, the Infrastructure for Innovation initiative was created by Executive Directive 2024-2, instructing state agencies to catalogue technology, equipment, and facilities across the state and work with the owners to make it available to the innovators who need it. 

Through this enhanced partnership, MING will place a special emphasis on highlighting business ease of use, ease of access to facilities, and year-round availability of Michigan-based military installations and infrastructure. MEDC will emphasize close coordination with local, county, and state government entities to streamline processes of innovation infrastructure use and incentivization. The combined effort will highlight a whole-of-government approach to expanding economic opportunities in the state.

“Michigan is home to a variety of military assets, infrastructure and test facilities that significantly impact our economy and national defense strategy,” said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Paul D. Rogers, adjutant general of the Michigan National Guard and director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. “Historically, the Michigan National Guard has prioritized establishment and development of partnerships with the military and defense entities within the region to enhance innovation-enabling capabilities. We are excited about the opportunity to enhance these partnerships through use of Michigan-based defense capabilities and infrastructure, increasing the level of impact that Michigan’s defense industry has locally and globally.”

This effort will ensure Michigan can be more accessible to defense, dual-use, and non-defense early-stage companies. It will also ensure the state identifies and, where appropriate, develops assets and infrastructure necessary to enhance emerging technologies that advance national security priorities and capabilities.

“Here in Michigan, we take pride in being the place for great starts and innovation, as home to a legendary workforce, and bold thinkers and doers, who powered the Arsenal of Democracy in World War II and who continue to scale up high-tech discoveries to this day through our ‘Make It in Michigan’ economic strategy,” said Michigan’s Chief Innovation Ecosystem Officer Ben Marchionna. “This partnership underscores our shared commitment to making sure we do all we can to break down barriers and create opportunities for innovators to research, build, and deploy their technologies right here in Michigan.”

Quick Facts: Michigan’s Defense Industry Strengths

• Michigan is home to many defense-focused innovation-enabling capabilities and potential partnerships worthy of exploration such as the National All-Domain Warfighting Center (NADWC), the Kelly Johnson Joint All-Domain Innovation Center (KJJADIC), U.S. Army DEVCOM, Keweenaw Research Center, Chippewa Testing Facility, and numerous others.
• Michigan’s defense industry contributes $30 billion in economic activity for Michigan, with more than 166,000 jobs and nearly 4,000 Michigan businesses serving the defense, defense aerospace and homeland security industries.
• The Michigan National Guard boasts five major installations and additional armories, including the National All-Domain Training Center in Grayling and one of the largest Air National Guard bases in the country at Selfridge in Macomb County.  

In April 2024, Michigan announced its new Office of Defense and Aerospace Innovation (ODAI), headed by Col. John Gutierrez, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret), to further grow the state’s defense and aerospace industry. ODAI builds on the state’s existing Michigan Defense Center and works to increase awareness of Michigan’s capabilities, support the attraction and expansion of businesses that champion Department of Defense-related activities, and enhance commercial and defense-related aerospace segments poised for growth in the state.

  

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan’s economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn, and Twitter.