At the forefront of Michigan's economic resurgence is the University Research Corridor (URC), an alliance of Michigan's three largest research institutions - Michigan State University, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University. According to the 2011 Empowering Michigan Economic Impact Report released yesterday, Michigan's University Research Corridor continues to grow in areas critical to the state's resurgence: student enrollments, degrees granted in the high-tech and high-demand sectors, number of alumni living in the state contributing to the state's economy through wages and taxes, research and development expenditures, and start-up companies. The report showed that the URC invested more than $1.8 billion in research, had an economic impact of more than $15.2 billion on the state, and educates 137,583 students. The universities have more than a million alumni with more than 573,000 living in Michigan. Allan Gilmour, president of Wayne State University, said the report highlights the impact of having universities and business moving forward in tandem. "Business and universities are both part of the solution to our economic challenges," Gilmour said. "It's the combined power that can really make a difference."

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2011/10/04/report-michigans-urc-a-critical-asset/
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20111004/FREE/111009960#
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http://www.statenews.com/index.php/article/2011/10/research_corridor_helps_boost_michigans_economy
http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2011/10/economic_report_msu_u-m_wayne.html