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University of Michigan and ERIM Form Strategic Collaboration

12 September 2000

University of Michigan and ERIM Form Strategic Collaboration

    ANN ARBOR, Mich., Sept. 12 The Environmental Research
Institute of Michigan (ERIM) and the University of Michigan today announced
the creation of a strategic collaboration between the two institutions that
promises to dramatically increase and speed the deployment of research
technologies into the commercial sector.
    The signatories to the agreement, Robert Kasdin and Fawwaz Ulaby
representing the University and Kenneth R. Baker representing ERIM, issued the
following statement:

    "We are establishing this broad strategic relationship between ERIM and
the University based on trust and a common vision of how new technologies
coming from our research laboratories can better serve society and industry.
Recent developments in technology, especially in e-commerce, have greatly
accelerated the pace of change within the automotive industry.  This milestone
agreement between the University and ERIM establishes an enhanced Office for
the Study of Automotive Transportation (OSAT).  Working together, and through
OSAT, we look to significantly speed the process by which new technologies and
ideas, many of which are the result of OSAT research and development
activities, are put to valuable use in the automotive industry.  Our joint
effort under OSAT will establish an exciting new business model that will
create substantial value to auto industry customers, the University of
Michigan and to ERIM."
    "This collaborative model will be a superb example of how universities,
not-for-profits like ERIM and industry can come together around important and
innovative research agendas and ensure that the fruits of their research make
it into the marketplace," Dr. Ulaby, the University Vice President for
Research, stressed.
    "This is a remarkably exciting time for ERIM as a collaborative innovation
community," said ERIM President, Ken Baker.  "This strategic partnership with
the University, and our joint work through OSAT, really puts some muscle
behind the notion of collaborative technical innovation and dissemination and
well positions us to have a major impact in the auto industry as well as other
industries and society at large."
    Under terms of the agreement, the university will transfer a portion of
activities undertaken by OSAT from UMTRI (University of Michigan
Transportation Research Institute) to ERIM.  Dave Cole, OSAT's Director, has
already announced that he will join ERIM later this Fall and help to establish
at ERIM the Center for Automotive Research (CAR).  He will be joined in this
effort by Baker who, prior to taking his current position at ERIM, was Vice
President for Research at General Motors.
    The new OSAT will be composed of a consortium of University academic units
and ERIM's Center for Automotive Research.
    All OSAT conference activities will transfer to ERIM and the University
and ERIM will become joint sponsors of the Traverse City Management Briefing
Seminar conference.
    The OSAT Affiliates Program and related agreements will be managed by the
University through a joint management team.
    A joint ERIM and UM Advisory Board, co-chaired by Ulaby and Baker will
guide the future activities of OSAT.
    Both the University and ERIM will continue to have use of the OSAT name.