“Our investment mission confirmed that Michigan is well positioned to be a world leader in alternative energy,” Granholm said in a press release.

For decades, Michigan’s economy has focused on its manufacturing and agricultural sectors and the move to a more diverse economy will take time, said Charles Ballard, an MSU professor of economics.

Michigan’s manufacturing sector dominates the state with both agriculture and tourism following closely, however, Granholm wants to grow new jobs in areas that include life science, homeland security, advance manufacturing and alternative energy, said Liz Boyd, spokeswoman for Granholm.

“Alternative energy … is a major priority for the governor in terms of reducing our dependence on foreign oil,” Boyd said. “Sweden leads the world in alternative energy and in how they are using renewable sources of energy.”

During her time in Sweden, the governor had the opportunity to develop partnerships and encourage investment in Michigan, including witnessing Swedish-based Chemrec AB and Ohio-based NewPage Corporation begin a partnership in Escanaba, Mich., to develop a plant to produce renewable biomass-based fuels.

“We, in Michigan, like others, are looking for ways to capture some of that potential, so there is a lot of discussion and some investments going on in alternative energies and more efficient technology,” Ballard said. “Automotive research at MSU is looking for more efficient ways to power automobile engines.”

MSU’s College of Engineering’s Energy & Automotive Research Laboratories will research alternative energy and environmentally friendly engines, energy sources and hybrid vehicles. The $10 million facility opened last week.

Bringing new jobs to Michigan can only help the unemployment rate and slowly reverse a 30-year period of economic depression, said Paul Menchik, an MSU economics professor.

Granholm also announced German-based EDAG Engineering + Design AG plans to invest $7 million and create 140 new jobs in Auburn Hills and Troy during the next two years.

In addition, Swedish industrial equipment manufacturer Atlas Copco plans to hire 30 electrical engineers and marketing staff in Oakland County.

“We expect to have some additional jobs, but we plan to hold those until they become reality,” Boyd said.