The Intelligent Transportation Society of Michigan (ITS Michigan) is partnering with NextEnergy to host “Life on Planet M” in Detroit Sept. 27. The daylong ITS Michigan annual conference will focus on “smart” transportation technologies, the related economy and the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) industry’s impact in Michigan.
“ITS Michigan is thrilled to be hosting our annual meeting around the innovative initiatives that are being led right here on Planet M,” said Yousuf Taufiq, assistant vice president for WSP USA and president of ITS Michigan. “We’re excited to hear from the diverse panel of speakers we’ve lined up for the event, and to spark robust dialog about growing the economy and our talent on Planet M.”
Planet M, an initiative focused on the technologies and services that enable the movement of people and goods, is a partnership of the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), auto manufacturers and suppliers, technology companies, local road agencies and others representing the collective mobility efforts across the state of Michigan.
“Life on Planet M” will be held at NextEnergy Center, located at 461 Burroughs in Detroit from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. followed by a happy-hour networking event. Sessions will include:
- Life on Planet M – a look at life in the future enabled by ITS mobility solutions
- Making cities smart on Planet M – a review of mobility and ITS opportunities available to support smart cities
- Open innovation on Planet M – a guest panel discussing the open innovation across the industry
- Growing the economy on Planet M – a discussion on Michigan as the place for mobility ideas, advancements and development
- Maintaining the competitive advantage: Enhancing our people on Planet M – a dialogue about how Michigan companies will replace the talent pool and maintain its competitive advantage
- Race to automation on Planet M – a discussion about what determines the “destination” in the race to automated vehicles
“Michigan is a leader in the automotive sector, but transportation is changing and we need to be sure we’re changing with it,” said Jean Redfield, president and CEO, NextEnergy. “Life on Planet M will be an important discussion among industry leaders to assure Michigan stays ahead of the curve and remains a leader in the mobility space.”
The event is $65 for ITS Michigan members and $90 for non-members. For more information or to register for the event, visit, www.itsmichigan.org.
About ITS Michigan
The Intelligent Transportation Society of Michigan, or ITS Michigan, is the state chapter of the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America), the 501(c)3 non-profit organization that fosters the use of advanced technologies, known as Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), in surface transportation. ITS Michigan represents numerous public- and private-sector organizations involved in transportation technology in the state, including auto manufacturers and suppliers, road and transit agencies, engineering firms, academic institutions and others. For more information about ITS Michigan, visit the ITS Michigan Website at www.itsmichigan.org.
About NextEnergy
Founded in 2002 as 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, NextEnergy is an innovation center accelerating advanced energy, mobility and built environment technologies to enable smarter and more sustainable cities. Since its inception, NextEnergy has worked with more than 400 companies, universities, federal agencies, and philanthropic organizations to drive more than $1.5 billion in advanced energy and mobility technology investments. For more information about how we’re accelerating technologies that transform how we use energy to live and move, visit nextenergy.org.
