Michigan Tech submits plan for new health technology complex

Thursday, November 3, 2016

Michigan Technological University. Courtesy of Michigan Technological University

Plans are underway at Michigan Technological University to build three capital projects over the next five years.

The university's board approved the five-year plan at their October meeting, and now it'll go to the state for approval and funding. What Tech wants to do is build a new engineering and health technologies complex in two phases, and also has requested capital for integrating student maker spaces on campus.

First up would, of course, be the first phase of the H-STEM complex, as they're calling it, costing $39.6 million, of which the university would pay about a quarter. If the state gives the go-ahead and agrees to provide the rest of the money, that phase would start in 2018, with blueprints and additional private fundraising.

The idea behind the complex is human-centered education and research, bringing teams of researchers and students from fields like biomedical, chemical, mechanical, electrical, computer, and materials engineering, biology, chemistry, cognitive and learning sciences, computer sciences, kinesiology and integrative physiology, all working together with shared equipment in flexible lab spaces.

The goal is to position MTU and its graduates to work in health and related technologies as those fields grow and demand further research. Work at the center would include development of therapeutic devices, sensors and instruments, and devising health strategies.

"Current economic projections indicate that demand for technological innovations related to the way that humans interact with technology, as well as human health, is going to grow substantially,” says President Glenn Mroz of the planned complex.

Writer: Kim Eggleston
Source: Michigan Technological University