Largest Industry Sectors in the Ann Arbor Area

Automotive - Design, Research, Engineering, Component Manufacture

Michigan is home to 215 of the world's vehicle R&D centers; 67% of all North American vehicle-related activity is conducted in Michigan. The Ann Arbor area is a center of that automotive research, as well as components manufacture. More than 120 firms are engaged in automotive research, design and engineering; CAD/CAM/CAE/simulation, and component manufacturing.

The US EPA National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Lab in Ann Arbor assists in the establishment of national standards for emissions and tests vehicles for compliance with the standards. Many automakers have testing centers in Ann Arbor, including Honda, Subaru, and Mercedes.

The Center for Automotive Research is a national research institute that focuses on a wide variety of important trends and changes related to the automobile industry and society at the international, federal, state and local levels. CAR conducts industry research, develops new methodologies, and forecasts industry trends.

Life Sciences/Biotech
Every community says it has a life sciences cluster, but the Ann Arbor area actually does. More than 80 firms are engaged in R&D in pharmaceuticals and disease treatment and management; medical device manufacture; diagnostics; tools/instruments; medical imaging. The life sciences firms are supported by local contract research organizations, reagent suppliers, consulting firms, and a medical testing laboratory.

Software/Customer Service IT
More than 160 firms are engaged in Web design/hosting/accessibility, customer relationship management, ISP, and programming services. In 2006, Google announced the location of its AdWords headquarters to Ann Arbor from Mountain View, Calif.

Information/Print and On-line
Washtenaw County is the short-run book publishing capital of the US. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was printed by Edwards Brothers. In addition, three of the major automotive journals are published here. On-line media are media also represented.

Imaging/Vision
Twenty companies are involved with imaging in the areas of optics, machine vision, medical imaging, and biometrics.

Headquarters Operations
Borders Group, Inc., Domino's Pizza, Google AdWords, ProQuest, Zingerman's Deli, Prestolite Electric are all headquartered in Ann Arbor/Washtenaw County.

Healthcare
Health care and related is a large employer in Ann Arbor. The University of Michigan Medical Center consistently ranks among the best hospitals. In 2005, U.S. News & World Report ranked UM Medical Center #12 in the nation. St. Joseph Mercy Health System was named among the Top 100 cardiovascular hospitals for 2005 by Solucient.

UM Medical School research expenditures in 2005 were $232,100,000

Emerging Industry Sector
Additional growth is expected in the alternative energy sector following the recent announcement of University of Michigan's Michigan Memorial Phoenix Energy Institute. The Institute will launch with $9 million and plans to recruit top-tier energy research facility and will coordinate University departments, activities, and resources. U-M's existing portfolio of energy research includes $35 million in ongoing research projects in areas of clean energy, advanced power generation and advanced power train systems.

Alternative Energy Employers
Adaptive Materials - Portable solid oxide fuel cells
T/J Technologies - advanced battery technology; lithium-ion
STM Power - Sterling thermal energy
EnCel - AMTEC conversion
PermoDrive - regenerative energy systems

Important Industry Trends
Advanced manufacturing technology is transforming the way Ann Arbor firms manufacture products. Manufacturers utilize design engineering tools, automation, lean, and other technologies to improve process and compete in the global marketplace.

Nanotechnology has emerged as a platform for a number of biotech, vision, homeland security applications, and advanced energy products and research. The University of Michigan's SSEL operates the Michigan Nanofarbication Facility that is available to researchers and industry. Equipment and processes apply to silicon integrated circuits, MEMS, III-V compound devices, and organic devices.

Center for Wireless Integrated MicroSystems, headed by Kensall Wise, is an NSF Engineering Research Center merging micropower circuits, wireless interfaces, biomedical and environmental sensors and advanced packaging to create next-generation microsystems.

Nanotechnology-based Firms
Advanced Photonics - Optics: semiconductor optical and light emitting diodes and detectors
Coherix - Optics: holographic optical mechanical measuring systems
Accuri - Optics: desktop flow cytometer
K-Space - Optics: thin films diagnostics and imaging
NanoBio - Life sciences/biotech: antimicrobial nanoemulsions for disease treatment
Integrated Sensing Systems - Life sciences: scientific and medical sensing
Translume - Optics: micromaching fused silica glass
Nanocerox - Oxide ceramics of dry powders, liquid dispersions, coatings, ceramics
Sensicore - Life sciences: sensor based water testing for municipalities