A statewide consortium led by the University of Michigan Economic Growth Institute has received $4.9 million from the U.S. Department of Defense to create the foundation for energy storage and battery manufacturing.

Through the grant—which grows to $6.3 million with local support—the Michigan Defense Resiliency Consortium supports the Defense Department’s rapid transformation from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles and beyond.

The consortium attained a formal designation as a “defense manufacturing community” in an earlier stage of this competitive process, recognizing Michigan’s significance in energy storage and batteries to support the future of electrification as well as the state’s importance to national security. This new award will support a group of universities, technology organizations, industry associations and state agencies.

Steve Wilson, the Economic Growth Institute’s executive director, noted the importance of this designation and award.

“It brings together so many great organizations that can have an impact in this space,” he said. “Working with this team, we expect Michigan to not only help the Defense Department meet its future electrification goals, but we also expect more thriving defense suppliers in Michigan and more opportunities for energy storage and battery jobs.”

Through a series of technical assistance, technology acceleration and workforce training initiatives, funds under this award will be applied to make long-term investments in advanced research and commercialization, critical skills and supply chain development in order to strengthen the defense industrial base.

Michigan is a national leader in manufacturing and is in the vanguard of new battery and energy storage technologies, consortium leaders say. This strategic endeavor is designed to provide the federal government with the essential framework required to realize its goals and harness the combined strength of public and private sector resources.

Consortium members include:

• University of Michigan, Economic Growth Institute
• Michigan Defense Center and Office of Future Mobility and Electrification, Michigan Economic Development Corporation
• Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center
• MxD Learn
• SAE Government Technologies
• Centrepolis Accelerator at Lawrence Technological University
• Macomb County, Department of Planning & Economic Development
• Oakland County, Economic Development & Government Affairs
• Southeast Michigan Community Alliance
• National Advanced Mobility Consortium

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