Dedications: ATDC

Financing The facility was built with a $2.5–million grant from the US Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration and a $1.1–million gift from the Ford Motor Company Fund. The EDA views the ATDC as an innovative way to pool and draw upon undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, staff, and their collaborators—from the local area, across the country, and around the world—to grow new, high-tech businesses. In addition, large corporations and agencies support research and development. For example: • The MEDC and the US Army’s Tank Automotive and Armaments Command are supporting fuel-cell research at the facility. • The Lear Corporation has donated the four-wheel chassis dynamometer, which will provide the capability to test whole vehicle systems as well as components. • Upper Michigan’s Engineered Machined Products, Inc., of Escanaba, has pledged to use the dynamometer for its product performance studies. • Our students may use the dyno in preparation for vehicle design competitions that are sponsored by the Society of Automotive Engineers, as well as other research.	The Dream The ATDC is a cooperating site of the Michigan Tech EnterPrise SmartZone, which is a collaboration among the University, the cities of Houghton and Hancock, the State of Michigan, the regional business community, and the Keweenaw Industrial Council. The ATDC is the campus hub of the SmartZone and will lease space to SmartZone tenants in need of its specialized capabilities. The SmartZone works to create and attract science and engineering jobs and businesses to Upper Michigan. An important factor in that effort is the commercialization of technologies developed by researchers at Michigan Tech. Alan West, director of the SmartZone, is a former educator and entrepreneur. He hopes that the SmartZone “can become a one-stop clearinghouse to connect people and ideas”—all with an eye to high-tech business incubation. ATDC Page One Dedications Opie Library Rekhi Hall
News Release

Financing

The facility was built with a $2.5–million grant from the US Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration and a $1.1–million gift from the Ford Motor Company Fund. The EDA views the ATDC as an innovative way to pool and draw upon undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, staff, and their collaborators—from the local area, across the country, and around the world—to grow new, high-tech businesses.

In addition, large corporations and agencies support research and development. For example:

• The MEDC and the US Army’s Tank Automotive and Armaments Command are supporting fuel-cell research at the facility.

• The Lear Corporation has donated the four-wheel chassis dynamometer, which will provide the capability to test whole vehicle systems as well as components.

• Upper Michigan’s Engineered Machined Products, Inc., of Escanaba, has pledged to use the dynamometer for its product performance studies.

• Our students may use the dyno in preparation for vehicle design competitions that are sponsored by the Society of Automotive Engineers, as well as other research.

The Dream

The ATDC is a cooperating site of the Michigan Tech EnterPrise SmartZone, which is a collaboration among the University, the cities of Houghton and Hancock, the State of Michigan, the regional business community, and the Keweenaw Industrial Council. The ATDC is the campus hub of the SmartZone and will lease space to SmartZone tenants in need of its specialized capabilities.

The SmartZone works to create and attract science and engineering jobs and businesses to Upper Michigan. An important factor in that effort is the commercialization of technologies developed by researchers at Michigan Tech.

Alan West, director of the SmartZone, is a former educator and entrepreneur. He hopes that the SmartZone “can become a one-stop clearinghouse to connect people and ideas”—all with an eye to high-tech business incubation.

Financing

The Dream

ATDC Page One

Dedications

Opie Library

Rekhi Hall