Automation Alley Partners With the National Automotive Center

PONTIAC, Mich., June 7 -- Automation Alley, Southeast Michigan's regional technology cluster, has partnered with the National Automotive Center (NAC) in an effort to increase collaboration and business opportunities between the Army and Automation Alley member companies. The NAC, which is a part of the United States Army's Tank-Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center, works to link industry, academia and government in the development and exchange of automotive technologies that will benefit all sectors.

"Our partnership with the NAC is a tremendous step forward for this region, offering both businesses and the Army benefits including knowledge, equipment and funding exchange," said Ken Rogers, executive director of Automation Alley. "Automation Alley members now have access to the NAC's vehicle research facility, one of the most advanced computing and research facilities in the country."

The partnership between the NAC and Automation Alley builds on both parties' common interests in areas such as information technologies and services, and ground vehicle design and manufacturing, focusing on fuel efficiency, vehicle modernization, vehicle driver and crew safety, maintenance and logistics and innovative manufacturing. The Automation Alley Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) provides businesses a streamlined connection to the Federal Government Laboratories that can assist in creating technological advancements in these areas. Since the terms of the agreement are predefined in the master CRADA, Automation Alley member companies need only agree on the project definition with the NAC to begin. This eliminates lengthy approval processes and negotiation that would normally take place if the member company was approaching the NAC without Automation Alley.

An additional benefit to members is the Silicon Graphics Power Challenge Supercomputer, which provides analytical support for commercial and military ground vehicle systems from concept definition through field support. The computer's capabilities include graphics and visualization, holographic research, Linux clusters, multi-body dynamic analysis and structural analysis.

"Combining the expertise and technology of the NAC and the Southeast Michigan business community brings the potential for great technological advancements," said Doug Miller, Team Leader, Business Operations and Special Projects at the NAC. "With both parties bringing resources such as personnel, services, property and funding, we can strengthen the competitiveness of the United States through improvements and innovations."

Interested businesses can contact Dr. Tom Anderson, director of the Automation Alley Technology Center at 248-733-9651.

About Automation Alley

Automation Alley is Southeast Michigan's regional technology cluster, attracting the creators and consumers of diverse technologies from a variety of industries around the world. The Automation Alley Member Consortium is a membership of technologically diverse, progressive business, governmental and educational visionaries working in concert to attract world-class talent and businesses to Southeast Michigan. For more information, visit http://www.automationalley.com/ .

About the Automation Alley Technology Center

Located within Southeast Michigan's global technology cluster, the Automation Alley Technology Center leverages businesses, educators and government to help entrepreneurs bring new technologies to market quicker and more efficiently. Automation Alley Technology Center assistance includes pre- seed and commercialization funding, business plan and strategy development support as well as a powerful network of experts and mentors.