Ford Motor Company, JPMorganChase, the State of Michigan, Michigan Central and Newlab have announced the Michigan Launchpad for Industrial Innovation & Transformation (Michigan LIFT), a public-private initiative designed to strengthen manufacturers’ competitiveness and supply chain resilience while accelerating the growth of innovative suppliers expanding production in Michigan.
The platform translates manufacturing and supply chain challenges identified by industrial buyers into “Open Calls” for innovative suppliers that can address them. Where a solution shows a credible path to adoption, Michigan LIFT helps connect customer demand, financing, public resources, workforce support, and commercialisation services to scale production.
“Michigan has always been a state that builds, and we’re going to keep leading the next generation of American industry,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “Michigan LIFT will bring together our world-class manufacturers, innovative companies, skilled workers and capital to turn big ideas into real products, new investment and good-paying jobs. By working together, we can bring more critical supply chains home, help Michigan businesses grow and show the world that the future is built right here in Michigan.”
Over the next decade, the founding participants aspire to use the platform to connect customer demand, mobilize capital and provide ecosystem support, subject to each participant’s standard qualification, sourcing and approval processes:
- Ford, serving as the anchor industrial buyer, aspires to award up to $1 billion of business to innovative suppliers through opportunities advanced by Michigan LIFT.
- JPMorganChase, the founding capital provider, aspires to finance up to $1 billion of debt capital to Michigan LIFT suppliers on the platform as part of its Security and Resiliency Initiative , a $1.5 trillion, 10-year plan to facilitate, finance and invest in industries critical to national security and economic resilience.
- State of Michigan, through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), will serve as the public-sector participant, deploying the state’s economic development tools and resources to support innovation-driven companies with credible pathways to commercial and industrial scale.
- Michigan Central will provide the physical testing and scaling environment across its 30-acre innovation district, offering purpose-built infrastructure, industry expertise and a collaborative platform to help companies move from prototype to production.
- Newlab aspires to contribute $20 million of in-kind support focused on translating industrial demand into commercialization opportunities for high-growth companies and providing the execution capacity needed to deliver the platform.
- Michigan Central, Newlab and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation aspire to attract 10–20 additional industrial buyers representing over $1 billion in annual demand commitments by the end of 2036.
Michigan LIFT grew out of the Michigan Resiliency Summit, jointly hosted by JPMorganChase and the State of Michigan in Detroit in June, where industrial, financial and government leaders identified the practical hurdles preventing promising companies and technologies from reaching production scale.
“For over a decade, Detroit has shown what is possible when business, government and community leaders work together for the long term,” said Jamie Dimon, Chairman and CEO of JPMorganChase. “Michigan LIFT builds on that same model of public- private collaboration by connecting customer demand, capital and public resources so more companies can grow, more workers can participate and more critical capabilities can scale here in the United States.”
“Ford is America’s automaker, and we believe American manufacturing’s best days are ahead,” said Jim Farley, President and CEO of Ford Motor Company. “Michigan LIFT is about helping solve real manufacturing challenges faster. It connects innovators, suppliers and manufacturers with the support they need to scale. As we gather this week at Ford ACCELERATE to focus on practical solutions for America’s industrial future, Michigan LIFT is one example of how we're taking action to strengthen the Essential Economy and build a more resilient manufacturing base.”
How Michigan LIFT will work
Michigan LIFT starts with priority manufacturing and supply chain challenges or Open Calls identified by industrial buyers. Those challenges will initially be based on focus areas aligned with Michigan’s industrial strengths and JPMorganChase’s Security and Resiliency Initiative priorities:
- Robotics and advanced manufacturing automation
- Advanced energy, including nuclear; semiconductors; and battery storage
- Advanced mobility, aerospace, propulsion and critical components
- Critical minerals mining, processing, and recovery
- Life sciences manufacturing, including pharmaceutical precursors, sterile injectables, medical isotopes, and precision medical devices
Innovative suppliers that can address these needs – including companies seeking to establish or expand production in Michigan – can respond to the Open Calls through michiganlift.org. Eligible applicants will be referred to the relevant industrial buyer for evaluation. For opportunities that move forward, Michigan LIFT will help coordinate potential financing, public resources and industrialization support, subject to each participant’s standard qualification and approval processes.
Industrial buyers do not need to be based in Michigan. Companies with priority manufacturing or supply chain challenges, and suppliers or technology companies with solutions, can learn more and apply at michiganlift.org.
