DETROIT (AP) -- A partnership between the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Wayne State University is promoting how their research is contributing to technological advances on display at the auto show in Detroit.
Officials with Michigan's University Research Corridor say the schools contributed to improvements in safety, performance and fuel economy with more than $300 million in auto-related research projects over a five-year period.
During a tour this week of the North American International Auto Show, Wayne State University engineering professor Jerry Ku said the gap between academic and industry research has narrowed in recent years.
A report last year by East Lansing-based Anderson Economic Group said the schools had more than 1,400 auto-related research projects from 2007-2011. And additional projects are taking place.