40 | JULY 20 • 2023
M
ichigan’s flag was held high and
proudly at Israel’s largest smart
mobility industry trade show on
May 23 by bringing two dozen representa-
tives from Michigan businesses, industry,
research institutions and government agen-
cies focused on the field.
The “home team” and thousands of other
participants were greeted by the enhanced
Michigan Welcome Booth immediately
upon entering the Tel Aviv Expo main
pavilion, which featured presenting start-
ups and industry booths showcasing the
global smart mobility industry.
The delegation was organized by
the Michigan Economic Development
Corporation (MEDC), the Michigan-Israel
Business Accelerator (MIBA) and the
Detroit Regional Partnership.
The Michigan pavilion’s
location near the entrance
emphasized the state’s
strengths in innovation, indus-
try, technology and mobility,
according to Naomi Miller,
MIBA
’s director of Israel partnerships.
Gregg Brunner, acting chief operations
officer and field services
director for the Michigan
Department of Transportation
(MDOT), said, “MIBA led the
2023 Michigan Israel Mobility
Delegation of government
and business leaders from the
state of Michigan. The intent
is to connect with Israel’s robust mobility
ecosystem to gain a better understanding
of the innovations and technologies being
incubated in Israel and to uncover oppor-
tunities to collaborate with its companies,
startups and industry leaders.
”
Janine Ward, program manager of
the MEDC Office of Future Mobility &
Electrification, added, “This
isn’t a one-way street.
“MIBA also brings delega-
tions from Israel to Michigan
to showcase everything we
have to offer as a state across
industries.
”
BUILDING REAL-WORLD
PARTNERSHIPS
Kevin Bopp, CEO of Park Rite
parking services in Detroit,
was excited about the trip’s
goal “to increase mobility tech
investment and partnerships
between Israeli and Michigan
entities, both public and pri-
vate,
” he said.
His firm helps administer business
development and operations at the Detroit
Smart Parking Lab (DSPL). DSPL is a
unique mobility lab launched by Detroit-
area partners Bedrock, Bosch, Ford and
the Michigan Economic Development
Corporation that integrates real estate,
technology, automotive and government.
The lab provides a collaborative workspace,
providing an open environment for organi-
zations to test and demonstrate parking-
related mobility, logistics and EV charging
capabilities in a variety of real-world use-
case scenarios.
“It would be fantastic to see several of
the groups encountered on this trip deploy
their platforms in the Lab this year,
” Bopp
said.
Jim Saber, president and
CEO, NextEnergy, Detroit, a
DSPL partner, added, “I also
came looking to find com-
panies that can solve prob-
lems and test and deploy in
Michigan — in a real-world
ERETZ
Jim Saber
Janine
Ward
Gregg
Brunner
Kevin Bopp
Michigan Storms
Ecomotion
Partnerships grow at Israel’s largest
smart mobility industry trade show.
NATHANIEL WARSHAY CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Members of
the Michigan
delegation at
the Michigan
Ecomotion booth
COURTESY OF MIBA
Naomi
Miller