Ford seeks high-tech solutions from university partnership

Bryce G. Hoffman / The Detroit News

Ford Motor Co. announced a new collaboration Monday with two Michigan universities aimed at improving its in-vehicle connectivity system, Sync.

The Dearborn automaker is partnering with the University of Michigan and the University of Detroit Mercy to develop next-generation features for the onboard computer system. Students will work with Ford researchers to identify emerging consumer trends relating to technology and figure out ways to incorporate them in future versions of Sync.

"Collaboration with university partners is an essential part of delivering innovative ideas," said Ford's Chief Technical Officer Gerhard Schmidt.Leo Hanifin, dean of the College of Engineering and Science at UDM, said the program has attracted a lot of attention from his students.

"It shows how forward-thinking the auto industry in general, and Ford in particular, has become," he said. "We get a great stimulation of the creative juices of our students."

This "open innovation" model allows for collaboration between academia and private industry on specific technologies and is being used by consumer electronics companies.

"The open innovation approach to developing high-impact research ensures that we are taking the right steps forward," said Venkatesh Prasad, group and technical leader of Ford's Infotronics team in Schmidt's research and advanced engineering division. "What we hope is that such collaboration will redefine the driver experience, making drivers and their vehicles connected-content generators, not just isolated travelers."

At UDM, all students were invited to conceive a new application for Sync to address an unmet consumer need and present a three-minute video outlining their innovation and making a business case for it.

The winners will be announced Thursday.

In the U-M program, students in an automotive telematics course will beta-test prototype Sync software platforms with Ford engineers.