Michigan and Canada: air delivery corridor | Battery-electric trains

Michigan partners with Canada on air delivery corridor

MICHIGAN—The state of Michigan is partnering with Canada to establish an air delivery corridor and use cases for drones. Some of the tangible uses to be explored include just-in-time delivery, organ transport, and the movement of critical manufacturing components.

Union Pacific to purchase battery-electric trains

OMAHA, NE—Union Pacific Railroad will purchase 20 battery-electric locomotives for testing in yard operations. The purchases and the upgrades to yard infrastructure are expected to exceed $100 million. Battery-electric locomotives don’t use fuel and emit zero emissions. This is the first of Union Pacific’s efforts to significantly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions within its operations.

Ohio’s State of Startups report

OHIO—Ohio’s startup ecosystem has created nearly 11,000 jobs (10,570), with 167 companies funded and $10B in economic impact including $2.87B in exits. You can read about that and more in a new “State of Startups” report that highlights the significant impact venture development has had on Ohio’s innovation economy. The report was developed by Jumpstart in partnership with other venture development organization throughout the state: Rev1 Ventures, TechGROWTH Ohio, CincyTech, and The Entrepreneurs’ Center.

Wash U helps launch climate collaborative 

ST. LOUIS, MO—Washington University in St. Louis is also focused on the climate crisis. It has launched the Midwest Climate Collaborative (MCC) to increase collaboration in climate issues. The university is among 30 founding members of the collaborative, which aims to leverage science and research; shape public understanding and policy; accelerate climate solutions; and develop future leaders.

Pittsburgh’s startup percentage

PITTSBURGH, PA—The Pittsburgh area led the nation as the region with the highest percentage increase in tech salaries from 2020 to 2021, according to a new report from Dice. Dice found that the Pittsburgh area had an average 2021 tech salary of $98,304, a 14% increase from the prior year, and the largest increase compared to 25 other tech hubs included in the report.

R1 Classification for Ohio University

ATHENS, OH–Ohio University has earned the R1 Classification (very high research activity)in the latest Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Universities in the classification are measured by expenditures supporting research, conferral of doctor degrees, and the employment of PhD-level personnel engaged in research.