NCMS has been recognized with a Deal of the Year award presented by the Ann Arbor Business Review.  NCMS was selected for its role in managing the MEDC 21st Century Jobs Fund Business Plan Competition and being chosen by the Department of Defense (DOD) to form and administer the Robotics Technology Consortium (RTC).

The 21st Century Jobs Fund Competition resulted in over $30 million being distributed to Michigan companies to create over 1500 jobs in various hi-tech sectors.  The RTC is a $170 million program which will help speed the deployment of ground robotics technology from the lab to the front lines.  

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LANSING – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced that 17 companies have been selected by the Strategic Economic Investment and Commercialization (SEIC) board to share nearly $30 million from the 21st Century Jobs Fund to initially create over 1,500 new jobs in emerging high-tech sectors.

“These innovative Michigan companies are poised to turn their scientific and technological innovation into high-paying jobs,” Granholm said. “We look forward to partnering with them as we work to diversify and grow our economy.”

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 “The 21^st Century Jobs Fund is enabling us to diversify our economy and grow high-tech companies.  Partnering with NCMS will help us to mine the significant resources we have in technology and talent and turn them into good-paying jobs for our citizens.”

MICHIGAN GOVERNOR JENNIFER GRANHOLM  

ANN ARBOR, MI – June 26, 2008. The National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) has been selected as the sole peer review agency for the 2008 21st Century Jobs Fund Business Plan Competition. NCMS was selected by the Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF) through its Strategic Economic Investment and Commercialization Board (SEIC) based on its proven track record of R&D program management and commercialization experience.

The 21st Century Jobs Fund is a $2 billion, ten-year initiative proposed by Governor Granholm, approved by the Michigan Legislature, and administered by the MEDC to accelerate the diversification of Michigan’s economy. The first round of funding resulted in the SEIC Board awarding $126.3 million to 78 organizations. Those organizations, in turn, are doing high-tech research, commercializing new products, and creating new jobs.

“NCMS is excited to manage Michigan’s 21st Century Jobs Fund Business Plan Competition,” said Rick Jarman, NCMS President & CEO. “We will use our experience commercializing innovative technology along with our network of industry experts to identify the most promising business plans.”

NCMS is the largest cross-industry collaborative research and development consortium in North America and has a 22 year track record in the management of complex, multi-partner collaborative R&D programs which deliver innovative manufacturing innovations to market faster than traditional methods. This experience makes NCMS the ideal agency to run the 21st Century Jobs Fund Business Plan Competition for the State.

“NCMS has an excellent reputation within and outside Michigan and a solid track record,” said Michigan Economic Development Corporation President & CEO James C. Epolito. “We look forward to working with such a highly esteemed group of experts to execute a successful business plan competition and grow new companies and jobs in Michigan.”

NCMS will coordinate impartial, phased reviews to select business plans most likely to yield financially viable and sustainable high-technology businesses capable of generating new jobs in Michigan.

The 2008 21st Century Jobs Fund Competition will close on June 30. Proposals must be submitted electronically and are due no later than 5:00 p.m. on that day. The Request for Proposal (RFP) is available online at:

http://www.TheMEDC.org/21CBizPlan

along with specifics on the application process. An application fee of $500 is required for each proposal and is due at the time of submission.