The Michigan Space Innovation Hub, a first‑of‑its‑kind statewide network designed to accelerate growth in the state’s space economy, has been announced.
Supported by a nearly $1.2 million one-year grant from the Michigan Office of Defense and Aerospace Innovation, (ODAI) at the Michigan Economic Development Corp., the new hub will be anchored at Newlab Detroit within the Michigan Central Innovation District in Corktown.
The Space Innovation Hub is designed to accelerate growth in Michigan’s space economy by serving as a cohesive space ecosystem, connecting manufacturers, startups, researchers, investors, workforce partners, and federal agencies.
It will provide members with access to advanced testing and manufacturing capabilities, a digital resource platform, supplier readiness and commercialization support, talent development pipelines, and collaborative workspace at the Michigan Central innovation district.
“Michigan is reimagining the Arsenal of Democracy, drawing on our legacy of industrial strength and modern capacity for innovation. This Hub is the current cornerstone of our space strategy, which is in its second year of execution,” says Col. John T. Gutierrez, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.) and executive director of ODAI at the MEDC.
In addition to Newlab, Michigan Central’s core partners include the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center in Plymouth Township, with other locations in Grand Rapids, Saginaw, and Traverse City, and the National Advanced Mobility Consortium in Ann Arbor.
The Space Innovation Hub will be managed by Kevin Cronin, Michigan Central’s new executive director of aerospace. It also will draw on a senior advisor network that includes former SpaceX, Raytheon, NASA-affiliated, Department of Defense, and commercial space leaders, bringing deep industry expertise and national relationships to Michigan’s manufacturing, research, and innovation ecosystem.
“The Space Innovation Hub is what Michigan Central was built for,” says Mark de la Vergne, director of network growth at Michigan Central. “Every day we are seeing more collisions between founders, academia, and industry partners to build, test, and deploy new mobility, advanced manufacturing, and robotics technologies.
“Paired with Michigan’s talent and industrial strength, this ecosystem will expand the state’s role in shaping the future of space innovation and make the state more competitive in this growing industry.”
Key initiatives will include Sprint to Supply Space, designed to expand Michigan’s space‑qualified manufacturing capacity, as well as year‑round industry programming and the annual Michigan Space Summit.
“Michigan already has so much of what the space industry needs to scale: world-class manufacturing, engineering talent, advanced testing capabilities, and a deep supplier base,” says Colleen Hau, managing director at Newlab Detroit. “The Space Innovation Hub gives us a way to connect those assets, bring new companies and opportunities into the state, and help Michigan manufacturers compete for a larger share of the rapidly growing space economy.”
Michigan has been at the forefront of space innovation since the 1940s. Its early involvement can be traced to the institutions, technologies, and systems that enabled early crewed space flight. The University of Michigan, General Motors, Ford, and the Environmental Research Institute of Michigan all made substantial contributions in remote sensing, deep space exploration, advanced materials, and space propulsion systems.
U-M played a significant role in the first spacewalks and the Apollo program, including the Apollo 15 lunar mission, whose three crew members were all U-M alumni.
“Michigan has built a robust aerospace industry that’s an important driver of our state’s economy, and space is a big part of that,” says Aaron Johnson, president of the Aerospace Industry Association of Michigan. “Michigan companies are already contributing to major space programs today, and there is tremendous potential to build on that foundation.”
Today, the aerospace industry includes more than 900 companies in Michigan employing roughly 30,000 workers, according to AIAM, contributing to a space economy that accounted for $142.5 billion of total U.S. GDP in 2023.
The Space Innovation Hub will officially be launched on Oct. 28. For inquiries and details, email spacehub@michigancentral.com.
