TLI and Public / Private Partners Launch Minnesota Center for Electrification Opportunity (MN CEO)
The University of Minnesota's Technological Leadership Institute (TLI), in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), Toro, Polaris, and Design Ready Controls, today announced the official launch of the Minnesota Center for Electrification Opportunity (MN CEO). Thanks to recent DEED funding, this pioneering consortium will lead workforce development training, industrial upskilling, and the integration of academia with regional electrification partners.
“The conversion of fossil fuel technologies to electric and hybrid power systems promises to be a decades-long process requiring enormous talent and organization,” said Allison Hubel, Director of TLI. “MN CEO is going to be a very important player in building the electrification infrastructure in this state.”
“MN CEO is an incredibly strategic resource for our region," said Andrew Chasse, VP Strategy & Partnerships at Polaris. "As electrification continues to advance across industries the need for talent and training grows, and this program will help Minnesota become a national player in creating a robust future workforce for companies here locally and beyond.”
"We're thrilled to be working in this space with our partners in business and academia," said John Hurst, Sr. Director at The Toro Company. "This is a great opportunity to expand the state's capabilities in electrification, and The Toro Company is proud to be a part of it."
"MN CEO is going to be a game-changer for our region," said John Hacker, Chief Financial Officer of Design Ready Controls. "Minnesota has both the infrastructure and the educated workforce to quickly become a leader in electrification. Getting involved at an early stage was very important to us.”
MN CEO is already working to engage stakeholders and developing a long-term vision to accelerate the adoption of electrification technologies in Minnesota. These efforts will position Minnesota both for sustained economic growth and leadership in the renewable energy and electric power fields.
MN CEO’s first announced initiative is its inaugural Electroposium, to be held at the McNamara Center on the University of Minnesota campus Monday, October 9, 2023. This first-of-its-kind event will serve as a multimodal platform, combining elements of a recruitment event, technology demonstration exposition, training seminar, and long-term planning forum. Students from regional high schools, the Minnesota State system, the University of Minnesota, and other universities and colleges will have the invaluable opportunity to attend the Electroposium at no charge.
The Electroposium aims to inspire and empower the next generation of electrification leaders by showcasing the latest technological advancements, offering hands-on training sessions, and fostering discussions about the future of electrification in Minnesota. This event will be an unparalleled networking opportunity for students, industry professionals, and academic experts alike.
MN CEO recognizes the urgent need to equip the workforce with the skills necessary to excel in the emerging field of electrification. By cultivating a collaborative environment, bridging academia and industry, and leveraging the expertise of its esteemed partners, MN CEO is primed to drive transformative change and position Minnesota as a leader in electrification.
For more information about the MN CEO and the upcoming Electroposium, please visit https://cse.umn.edu/tli/center-electrification-opportunity-ceo or contact Chip Laingen at lain0008@umn.edu or 612.384.4270. Registration information for the October Electroposium can be found at: https://cse.umn.edu/tli/electroposium-pm-registration-2023