The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), in partnership with Entrepreneur Magazine, is looking for Michigan-based companies to apply for a chance to appear on a special episode of Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch that provides funding opportunities to entrepreneurs who have scalable products or services that are ready for investment, and who have a specific plan for how that investment can help them grow. Those interested should fill out the form linked below, which includes a 60-second pitch video. Pitch videos should cover:

• Why you launched your business and how your business is helping solve a problem
• Any information on growth, revenue numbers and interest in your product or service to show its usefulness and appeal
• The amount of capital that you are seeking and what it will be used for

Click below for more information and to apply by the August 1 deadline.

Mobility Spotlight: Pratt Miller Mobility’s LAAD is Combating COVID-19 and Making Air Travel Safer

Pratt Miller Mobility (PMM) launched its Large Area Autonomous Disinfecting (LAAD) pilot program at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids last week.

This unique, first-of-its-kind robotic vehicle combats the spread of the pandemic by dispensing FDA-approved disinfecting materials through a multi-head electrostatic sprayer array, bringing confidence back to air travel. To see the LAAD in action, click here for a short video.

In partnership with the MEDC and PlanetM, the demonstration further solidifies the relationship between PMM and the state in delivering leading-edge technology solutions across all facets of mobility.

Click here to learn more about PMM, LAAD and the demonstration at Gerald R. Ford International Airport.

Join Us Virtually at TU-Automotive Detroit

Mark your calendars and join us virtually on Wednesday, August 19 for a PlanetM sponsored panel discussion focused on creating a profitable and sustainable mobility business model. Trevor Pawl, the state of Michigan’s Chief Mobility Officer and head of the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification, will moderate the discussion and explore topics such as Mobility-as-a-Service replacing vehicle ownership, how micromobility differs from shared mobility and much more!

For more information about TU-Automotive Detroit and registration, view the panel description here and stay tuned for the full list of panel speakers in the coming weeks.

Survey: Michigan Department of Transportation’s Michigan Mobility 2045

The Michigan Mobility 2045 Plan, also known as the State Long-Range Transportation Plan, is a 25-year plan for transforming Michigan’s transportation system. The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is developing this plan with the vision that in 2045, Michigan’s mobility network is safe, efficient, future-driven and adaptable, and that the resulting multimodal system is people-focused, equitable, reliable, convenient and enriches the state’s economic and societal vitality.

MDOT is interested in hearing from you on actionable strategies. Click here to take the Michigan Mobility 2045 survey and provide your thoughts regarding the future of transportation in our state.

Learn more about Michigan Mobility 2045 and follow along by visiting their website.

Reminder: Accepting Applications for PlanetM Testing Grant

Accelerate your company’s mobility innovation by accessing Michigan advanced testing facilities including:

• Mcity at the University of Michigan
• ACM
• GM Mobility Research Center at Kettering University
• Michigan Unmanned Aerial Systems Consortium
• Keweenaw Research Center at Michigan Technological University

Testing grant applications are evaluated on a rolling basis. To learn more or to apply, visit https://www.planetm.com/test-and-pilot/.

Mobility Resources

DID YOU MISS THE MOST RECENT PLANETM VIRTUAL MOBILITY MEETUP?
Catch up on the full conversation by visiting the Detroit Regional Chamber’s YouTube channel.

Upcoming Virtual Events

July 30: Autonomous Vehicles: Cybersecurity Threat or Safety Opportunity?
August 4-5: CAR Management Briefing Seminars 2020
August 18-20: TU-Automotive Detroit 2020
August 20: HTUF: How vehicle electrification contributes to the development of microgrids
September: Ann Arbor SPARK A2 Tech 360
September 17: HTUF: Cybersecurity in advanced commercial & military vehicle development
October 6-7: TechCrunch Mobility 2020
November 18-19: Automobility LA

In The News

Michigan, Tops for Robots At Last Count, Hopes To Keep Rising With PlanetM
Detroit has long been known as the Motor City. Maybe “Michigan: the Robot State” will catch on?

Officials here are touting a rise in robotics as efforts continue with using advanced machines to keep people safe from the coronavirus … and transitioning to the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Michigan was leading the nation with nearly 28,000 robots, 12% of the nation’s total, in the last report by the Brookings Institution in 2017. These days, a growing initiative called PlanetM is investing in the future of mobility, says Trevor Pawl, chief mobility officer for the state’s Office of Future Mobility and Electrification.

Moving beyond skepticism in the pandemic: Automation for the public good
In recent years, the debate over the utility of autonomous vehicles (AVs) has been wide-ranging and somewhat skeptical. We have seen reports about how this technology would save millions of lives from collisions and polling that questions that near-term value proposition given the scale of investment. Academics have debated whether automation will contribute to increases in driving or changes to urban form and the way cities are designed.

Rarely have we considered how AVs could serve the public during emergency situations, or how they can be practically applied today in a crisis. Rarely have we given thought to problems like those our planet currently faces.

And yet, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, that is what we have seen – a surge in creative and practical applications of automation that serve the public good. Companies like Cruise have moved from testing vehicles on public roads to engaging in contactless delivery of food to the elderly for the local food bank – with more than 50,000 meals delivered thus far.

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