The Strategic Innovation Technology Laboratory (Inno-TechLab for short) is the MI Innovation Alliance’s most ambitious project yet.  More than an incubator, more than a prototype lab, more than an off-site skunkworks development site for the select few OEMs / corporations / major suppliers, it is a different aspect of and enhancement of the GAMIC innovation process.  Located at the entrepreneurship and research nexus of NextEnergy – Techtown – Wayne State University, Inno-TechLab is an experimental construct in dedicated collaboration and advanced development.  While still under development, key attributes of the program for select entrepreneurs and corporate partners would include:

 

Exclusivity: Program tailored around the needs of the select few major industry partners, with exclusive segment rights to participate
 

Space: Secure-access space at dedicated labs in the Metro Detroit nexus, with availability of other partner facilities in the metro area
 

Flexible Access: Availability of market-paced (vs. corporate-paced) resources in the Michigan entrepreneurship eco-system (from local accelerators, relocates to Downtown Detroit eco-system, etc)
 

Technical Support: Entrepreneur access to SAE Standards committees, small- and mid-size manufacturers, business acceleration and program management experts for enhanced production readiness and acceleration
 

Market Support: Broad array of market research and TBD
 

Standardized Start-up Support: Entrepreneur access to dedicated development programs at the member accelerators
 

Business Advisory: Experienced mentors to provide directional guidance and help bridge the gap between ”required corporate processes” which can stifle innovation, and out-of-the-box start-ups which lack inside-industry knowledge of required conventions for system integration
 

Other: TBD

 

Corporate participation in Inno-TechLab will be limited to a small number of non-competing corporations.  Participating innovators will be selected by the corporate participants, and subject to written agreements negotiated between the parties.

 

If you’d like to learn more about the Inno-TechLab concept and/or help us in defining it further, contact us at info@MIinnovationAlliance.org.