Ratification of Agreement Brings Universities Together for National Security

Universities Unite to Launch Consortium 

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich., August 28, 2025 – Michigan’s leading universities have officially launched the Consortium, an initiative designed to strengthen U.S. national security through strategic research, technology development, and workforce training. 

The consortium will operate under an agreement with federal and state partners to deliver trusted, mission-essential research in critical areas such as autonomy, energy resilience, advanced manufacturing, cyber-secure operations, and warfighter performance. In addition to research, it will serve as a pipeline of technical talent for the federal workforce, equipping the next generation of engineers and scientists to tackle the nation’s most pressing defense challenges. 

“The Consortium demonstrates how Michigan can align higher education to compete for federal investment and establish the state as a hub for mission-critical defense research,” said John T. Gutierrez, Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.), Executive Director of the Office of Defense & Aerospace Innovation at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. “Even more importantly, it puts us on a clear path toward a University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) designation. Achieving UARC status would elevate Michigan into an elite tier of universities nationally recognized by the Department of Defense as trusted partners for sensitive, high-priority research. That means stable, long-term federal investment, stronger economic development, and a pipeline of high-paying technical jobs here at home.” 

Initial Consortium Members are expected to include Central Michigan University, Grand Valley State University, Kettering University, Lawrence Technological University, University of Detroit Mercy, University of Michigan–Dearborn, and University of Michigan–Flint. 

"This Consortium represents a major opportunity for Michigan students and faculty to contribute directly to real-world solutions,” said CMU President Neil MacKinnon. “It builds the kind of applied learning environment that prepares graduates for critical roles in defense, engineering, and technology industries.” 

This formal ratification marks a coordinated effort among Michigan universities to fill a critical gap in the nation’s defense innovation ecosystem. While much of U.S. defense research is concentrated in coastal institutions and large federal labs, Michigan universities are positioned to provide deployable technologies, mission-driven research, and talent directly aligned with expeditionary operations. 

“This represents a bold step toward strengthening America’s defense industrial base while preparing the future workforce,” said Erin Strang, President and CEO of Central Michigan University Research Corporation (CMURC), the designated Managing Organization of the Consortium. “By harnessing the expertise of Michigan’s universities and partners across sectors, we are building a resilient ecosystem for long-term national security. This ratification takes us one step closer to a University Affiliated Research Center (UARC), which would place Michigan among an elite network of institutions formally recognized by the Department of Defense as trusted, go-to partners for sensitive and high-priority research.” 

The path toward UARC designation is significant: only a select number of universities nationwide hold this status, which brings long-term, stable federal investment, direct alignment with Department of Defense priorities, and national recognition as a leader in defense research and innovation. It provides the collaborative foundation required to pursue such a designation and demonstrates Michigan’s readiness to compete on a national stage. 

The Consortium will pursue Department of Defense funding opportunities, transition research from lab to field, and expand pathways for students and faculty to contribute to defense-related projects. The effort is designed to strengthen Michigan’s defense economy, advance innovation, and establish a nationally recognized platform for translational research in support of national security.