The first annual Mobility Summit, co-hosted by MSU Mobility and the MSU Research Foundation, and sponsored by Consumers Energy and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME), took place on Aug. 14, 2025, at the Graduate East Lansing Hotel, located across from Michigan State University (MSU), in East Lansing, Michigan.
The one-day summit brought together researchers, innovators, and industry partners to explore a host of mobility challenges and solutions – from autonomous transit and drones to supply chain resilience and off-road transportation. The program featured keynote talks, technology showcases, panel discussions, and opportunities for conversation and connection.
“On behalf of MSU Mobility, I want to thank every attendee, speaker, and presenter who made the inaugural MSU Mobility Summit such a tremendous success. The conversations and demonstrations showcased the depth of innovation happening here at Michigan State University and underscored the power of collaboration between research, industry, and government.” said Judd Herzer, director of mobility research and innovation at MSU. “The future of mobility is bright, and at Michigan State University we’re committed to leading the way in advancing safe, sustainable, and accessible transportation solutions for all.”
“This summit is part of a year-round series of forums the MSU Research Foundation organizes to showcase MSU research and bring researchers, industry leaders, government, entrepreneurs and risk capital providers together to address the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of their industry,” said Anum Mughal, placemaking manager at the MSU Research Foundation. “By convening these innovators at the Mobility Summit, we're helping spark collaborations that translate research into real-world mobility solutions, strengthen Michigan’s economy, and attract high-tech companies to campus.”
The opening keynote address, titled “Michigan’s Changing Mobility Landscape”, was presented by Brad Wieferich, director of the Michigan Department of Transportation.
“A spirit of collaboration has made Michigan a leader in mobility and innovation for more than a century,” Wieferich said. “Working together across private and public sectors, government, academia and industry have pioneered innovative materials, improved road construction methods, spurred advancements in technology, and, especially, helped us improve safety on our roads and in our work zones.”
As an innovation leader in the mobility space, MSU was represented by researchers from the College of Engineering, the College of Natural Science and the Broad College of Business. They included:
- Annick Anctil - Innovation Showcase - MSU Inductive Charging Initiative
- Surya Congress - Panelist - “Sky’s the limit: Drones, eVTOLs, and the Third Dimension of Mobility”
- Mehrnaz Ghamami - Innovation Showcase - MSU Inductive Charging Initiative
- Mahmoodul Haq - Panelist - “Trailblazers: Powering Innovation Off-Road and Off-Grid”
- Val Kucherenko – Innovation Showcase – MSU Center for Railway Research and Education
- Daniel Morris - Presenter - “PoliMOVE-MSU: Advancing Autonomous Mobility Through High-Speed AI Racing”
- Matt Schrenk - Presenter – “Hidden Hydrogen: What Lies Below Could Power What’s Next”
- John Verboncoeur - Presenter - “Co-Location Opportunities at MSU”
Learn more about the 2025 Mobility Summit
Learn more about the MSU Mobility Strategic Plan
Written by Judi Melena Smelser
MSU College of Engineering Media and Public Relations page