Michigan State University (MSU) has been recognized as a featured mobility testing asset by the state of Michigan's Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME). This designation acknowledges MSU's efforts in advancing mobility innovation and development.
The recognition also establishes MSU as a supported testing site for startups receiving grants through the Michigan Mobility Funding Platform. This platform offers funding opportunities and access to testing resources, positioning MSU for future industry projects and collaborations. As a result, students at MSU will benefit from increased experiential learning opportunities.
Judd Herzer, director of MSU Mobility, expressed enthusiasm about the recognition: “We’re thrilled to be recognized by the State of Michigan for advancing technology deployments in the state, accelerating experiential learning opportunities to students across our many MSU colleges, and granting industry partners access to our robust, dynamic, world-class testing and validation ecosystem.” He highlighted the unique attributes of MSU’s testing environment which allows for real-world validation capabilities throughout all four seasons.
Justine Johnson, Michigan chief mobility officer, emphasized the significance of this recognition: "Michigan State University's addition to the list of featured mobility testing assets is a testament to the university's leadership in advancing innovative transportation technologies." She noted that MSU's expertise is crucial in creating safer and more sustainable mobility solutions.
MSU’s campus spans 5,200 acres with diverse environments suitable for various types of mobility testing. The infrastructure includes urban, suburban, industrial, and rural zones along with roads, pedestrian walkways, bike lanes, programmable traffic signals connected through telematics, parking spaces covered by solar carports producing green energy annually. Additionally this year it will feature cellular vehicle-to-everything roadside units supporting connected vehicle operations.
MSU employs a multidisciplinary approach involving six colleges—Agriculture and Natural Resources; Business; Communication Arts and Sciences; Engineering; Law; Social Science—collaborating on mobility-related projects. This broadens access for industry partners seeking expertise beyond engineering into areas like legal challenges or public policy concerns.
External partners benefit from streamlined processes facilitated by the dedicated office fostering connections between academia-industry partnerships coordinating cross-college initiatives focused on deploying new technologies within its expansive campus setting.
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