Southfield to Attend HANNOVER MESSE Tech Convention
- In the News
- April 10, 2018
HANNOVER MESSE is one of the largest trade fairs in the world, held on the Hanover Fairground in Hanover, Germany. Each year, this convention attracts nearly 6,500 exhibitors and 250,000 visitors from all areas of industrial technology. This year’s event takes place April 23-27, and with the teaser of “get new technology first,” the promise of 5,000 exhibitors, 150+ speakers, 1,400+ events, and 220,000 visitors—the event is anticipated to be a spectacular affair. Among other organizations and entities working to promote the future of technology, the City of Southfield will be there to exhibit with Automation Alley and talk about everything Southfield and Oakland County have to offer to tech businesses.
A Destination for Innovation
With a mission to encourage the growth of modern technology, the City of Southfield has evolved into a destination for innovation in automotive, robotics & automation, and communication & IT. Surrounded and supported by countless universities, entrepreneurs, engineers, research & development specialists, and local resources—Southfield is positioned to become a major hub for technological advancements. Southfield is a part of Oakland County, which is home to 64 of the Global 100 Automotive OEMs, 4,000 IT firms, and 1,000 international firms from 39 countries—with a powerful, highly-educated workforce to support it all. In fact, Oakland County has the third-highest number of technical workers in the nation, alongside skilled engineering and R&D professionals, and leading manufacturing talent. The City of Southfield is ready to tackle Industry 4.0 and Mobility by bringing innovations to market, and here’s how:
Automotive
Over $17 billion has been invested by automakers and suppliers in Michigan to support automotive research, design, and advanced manufacturing resources related to next-generation mobility and technology development. The City of Southfield and Oakland County are home to major automotive giants—including Chrysler, Lear, Meritor, and Autoliv—that are avidly working on new concepts and ideas.
Robotics & Automation
An Emerging Sectors initiative has resulted in more than $21 million of new robotics & automation investments in the past five years. Education and research is prominent in Southfield and Oakland County, with 10 universities and 16 research centers and labs that are currently conducting more than 35 robotics-related research projects. There are also 85 robotics & automation firms—including COMAU Robotics, Diverse Automation Michigan, and DiFACTO Robotics America—that employ more than 4,400 local professionals.
Communication & IT
A recent Emerging Sectors initiative resulted in more than $167 million of new investment and over 3,100 new jobs in communications & information technology. This sector has experienced significant growth and will continue to expand with 30 research centers working on projects around new developments. Additionally, the presence of global industry-leading giants—including Google, IBM, Microsoft, and Cisco Systems—is helping Southfield and Oakland County drive the charge. Beyond the City of Southfield and Oakland County’s significant volume of investments, research, and organizations in automotive, robotics & automation, and communication & IT, there is a support system of resources that helps local entrepreneurs and businesses meet the needs of the future. Some of the top resources at their disposal include the Southfield Centrepolis SmartZone itself, along with Lawrence Technological University, the LTU Collaboratory, the Tech248 initiative, and the new Business Catalyst. HANNOVER MESSE will be an exciting opportunity to share the local momentum behind a global technological revolution.