We have a $24 billion impact on the state.

The university said almost $3 billion of research.

The start up activity is enormous and we have more employees than GM or Ford.

And so I think the universities are going to be the sparkplug for the economic engine for the state of Michigan.

So, Kevin, you are new to Michigan.

Tell me a little bit about when you heard about the university research corridor.

What piqued your interest and where do you want to see it go in the future?

So I'm on a 48 Stop Listening and learning tour on our campus.

Just about finished.

I got about six stops left.

I've done that all about 12 weeks.

And one of the questions I've asked each of the deans and senior leaders is I've been on that tour is how can each of your colleges or schools on the campus contribute to the university research corridor in a partnership with the University of Michigan and Wayne State?

Because we each bring some unique talent to the to this, we're focusing on four primary areas around artificial intelligence, sustainability, health sciences and advanced manufacturing.

And and so I'm glad that we have four areas of focus right now.

And and so I'm excited about the ways in which we're going to contribute collaboratively with the three great research universities to, you know, have an influence and impact on the economy of Michigan.

Well, let's talk a little bit about that collaboration.

You know, sometimes universities can be siloed.

Right.

So talk to me about what it looks like aside from just, you know, the corridor and having meetings.

I mean, what does collaboration look like between these three universities when we're talking about this research?

I can tell you that over the past almost two years, the three institutions have really been working very hard to identify those areas of focus.

And we have major grants now.

For example, the space grant that supports all of their universities in terms of artificial intelligence and the our allies already apparent, we're getting collaborative, collaborative grants and the magnitude of those grants is doubling almost every other year.

And so I think it's sort of a doubling in the next three or four years.

And it's extraordinary.

And that's going to be the economy of the future.

And it requires that we work together because no single institution has all of the research assets that are necessary to give back to the ecosystem.

And I'm so excited about what's happening in Michigan.

But I'm curious what more universities need to do to get folks at the table having these conversations.

President No, I'll start with you.

What's remarkable right now is that the stars are aligning.

I have never been in this state where the governor, the state legislatures, the mayors, the cities are all coming together.

And we're developing plans together with business leaders of Michigan to grow Michigan together.

Council has some bold recommendations that we're implementing.

And so I'm really bullish about what's going to happen in the state of Michigan in the next five years.

Agreed.

And I think those four areas, those four sectors that I mentioned earlier, that the university research corridors decided this is where we bring great expertise and we're going to even be better when we collaborate more.

And it's identifying ways it will attract new businesses and companies to the state of Michigan that's going to help with the grow Michigan Together, Grow Michigan Together Initiative two to help with population growth.

And we want to be sure that we're I'm proud of the fact that we place so many of our graduates back in the state of Michigan to help drive the economy and especially in the in the health care area.

As you well know, that there's a shortage of health care providers.

And the three universities in among the university Research quarter placed more graduates in those health care fields, and especially in nursing than any other state in the country.