National Security Consortium

Consortium partners gathered at the ratification ceremony

NSCNational Security
Consortium

Michigan's leading universities have joined forces to launch a new Consortium focused on strengthening U.S. national security. Through cutting-edge research, technology development, and workforce training, the Consortium brings together higher education, industry, and government to solve critical defense challenges.

Mission & Focus Areas

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
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… It puts us on a clear path toward a University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) designation.

John T. GutierrezCol. USMC (Ret.) · MEDC

Initial Consortium Members

Initial Consortium Members are expected to include:

Central Michigan University
Kettering University
Lawrence Technological University
University of Detroit Mercy
Eastern Michigan University

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

Neil MacKinnonCMU President

Strategic Advantages

Strengthening Michigan's defense industrial base

70+

Doctoral-level subject matter experts.

Repeatable Partnering

Established federal and industry relationships.

Domestic Expertise

Aligned with national priorities.

Impact & Opportunity

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. By harnessing the expertise of Michigan's universities and partners across sectors, we are building a resilient ecosystem for long-term national security.

Erin StrangCMURC President + CEO

Next Steps

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.