The role research universities will play in revitalizing Michigan's economy was the theme of a forum sponsored Thursday by the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research.
Participants of the forum, titled "Michigan's Research Universities: Their Impact on the Economy," discussed a study by the Anderson Economic Group. The study examined how Michigan's three largest research universities - MSU, University of Michigan and Wayne State University - benefit the state's economy.
Since the state is no longer supported by a successful auto industry, it needs to continue to focus on ways to diversify our economy, and research institutions are a big part of that, said Patrick Anderson, CEO of Anderson Economic Group.
"That (support from the auto industry) ended 10-20 years ago, and we're just waking up and starting to talk about it now," he said.
That gives the state opportunities, though, Anderson said.
"It's an opportunity to reinvent ourselves in a way as citizens did in the 1900s," Anderson said, referring to the time period when Michigan's auto industry was just forming. "If we don't do it, we'll continue to slide."
In 2005, the three universities brought $832 million in federal research dollars to Michigan.
For Lou Glazer, president of Michigan Future Inc., a big part of the solution lies in the education system.
"Ultimately if we do this, we've got to transform education at the K-12 level," he said.
Many students enter college unprepared to handle the educational struggle, Glazer said.
David Hollister, of Prima Civitas Foundation, said K-12 students must receive more exposure to the careers and industries that are currently thriving in Michigan, as well as more chances to take college classes in high school.
Lansing has tried to bridge the gap between classrooms and businesses, said Robert Tresize, a member of the Economic Development Corporation of Lansing.
The city of Lansing recently created a program called "Linking Lansing and U," which attempts to place MSU students in internships with city government, hospitals and businesses in Lansing, Tresize said.
The program helps to build skills necessary to the development of Michigan's economy, Tresize said.
So far 45, MSU students have received internships through the program and 100 MSU students have job shadowed through the program, Tresize said.
Ten information technology firms have recently settled in Lansing because of the potential applicant pool MSU graduates provide, he said.
"Those firms are definitely here because they want to take advantage of the labor market at MSU," he said.
