NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

The next big energy and mobility technology breakthroughs can come from anywhere in the world, and many have their roots in university labs and research centers. Building on more than three years of collaboration, the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan (WDI) is partnering with multiple stakeholders in the State of Chihuahua, Mexico to create new pathways for energy and mobility tech innovations to leap from the lab to commercial application.

In partnership with the Chihuahua Secretaría de Innovación y Desarrollo Económico (SIDE), and nonprofit organizations Desarrollo Económico de Ciudad Juárez (DECJ) and Frente Norte, WDI will support select universities and research centers, working collaboratively to create customized commercialization roadmaps for each institution, as well as evaluate prototypes related to energy and mobility with commercial potential. These institutions initially will include Autonomous University of Ciudad Juárez (UACJ), Autonomous University of Chihuahua (UACH), Technological Institute of Ciudad Juárez (ITCJ), Center of Advanced Materials Research (CIMAV), and Technological Institute of Monterrey (ITESM) – Chihuahua and Ciudad Juárez campuses.

The commercialization project builds on the WDI/Chihuahua Charging Forward project. In that initiative and related work, WDI’s Energy & Mobility team and local economic development organizations worked with companies, researchers and innovators to identify opportunities related to the electric vehicle value chain. Through the collaboration, WDI facilitated multiple delegations from Mexico to U-M’s Ann Arbor campus as well as innovation hubs in Detroit. For example, in July 2024 WDI hosted engineering faculty from six different universities and research institutes in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico, as part of the Zero-Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) academic partnership implemented by WDI with support from the U.S. Mission Mexico Public Diplomacy Section.

“It’s important for us to support local innovation and we are interested in novel approaches to help to commercialize promising technologies and solutions to energy and mobility challenges,” said Cynthia Lopez, Executive Director of DECJ. “We’re excited to again join forces with WDI to co-develop new collaborations with our local universities and research centers to help innovators and entrepreneurs advance their ideas, while helping our region compete.”

In addition to leveraging assets and resources already existing in Chihuahua, WDI brings substantive experience supporting commercialization of multiple technologies in low- and middle- income countries, and will draw on expertise and experience from the broader University of Michigan network. WDI previously has worked with faculty to commercialize clean energy innovations as well as with organizations such as Technological Institute of the Philippines, which recently partnered with WDI to develop a strategic roadmap for commercializing technologies produced through funded research and special projects.

“Commercializing technology innovations within university labs unlocks the potential to improve so many lives,” said Dana Gorodetsky, WDI Program Manager, Energy & Mobility. “WDI has a great track record in breaking down barriers, while also building up new networks to catalyze innovation and business development. We’re excited to begin this next phase of our partnership with the State of Chihuahua to support researchers looking to develop prototypes into products.“

WDI and the partners in Chihuahua will undertake the project in phases, starting with assessing what is already happening in Chihuahua and generating a state-level mapping of key academic commercialization activity, resources and gaps. WDI will support select universities or research centers by working collaboratively to create customized commercialization roadmaps for each institution, as well as profiles of relevant prototypes. Finally, WDI will work closely with innovators developing these prototypes to advance their commercialization, developing commercial feasibility reports and recommended next steps, involving students, faculty and researchers in the process.

Beyond advancing the commercial goals, WDI will apply a broader learning lens, working with participating universities and research centers to unlock new learning opportunities for all involved.

“The goal is to create new networks and expand capabilities at both the institutional and state level—regardless of the market outcomes of these technologies,” Gorodetsky added.

Photo courtesy of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan.