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

