Michigan State University is proud to again partner with Apple for an innovative program to uplift and improve operations of small and medium manufacturing companies across the United States. The Apple Manufacturing Academy will open this summer in downtown Detroit’s First National Building, offering both in-person and virtual programming.

In a recent news announcement, Apple outlined a new pledge to build upon its long history of investing in American innovation and advanced high-skill manufacturing, including a new program partnering with MSU to train and support the next generation of U.S. manufacturers. The Apple Manufacturing Academy in Detroit will be the first of its kind in the United States and is expected to be operational in the summer of 2025.

“The Apple Manufacturing Academy will train businesses across America to implement smart manufacturing techniques that are creating opportunity and shaping the future of technology,” said Sabih Khan, Apple’s senior vice president of Operations. “Apple is proud to work with suppliers in all 50 states — and starting this summer, we’re excited to work with Michigan State University to expand American manufacturing leadership and help even more companies innovate and grow.”

The new Apple Manufacturing Academy will be based out of Detroit, but open to companies nationwide. Apple engineers, along with experts from Michigan State University, will consult with small- and medium-sized businesses on how they can implement artificial intelligence, or AI, and smart manufacturing techniques.

The academy will offer free in-person and online courses, with training curriculum that teaches workers vital skills like project management and manufacturing process optimization, as well as vocational and leadership skills for individuals and small and medium businesses. The courses will help drive productivity, efficiency and quality in companies’ supply chains. Consulting services to the manufacturing companies will be offered both virtually and in person.

“With our strong programs in supply chain, logistics, engineering and packaging and our commitment to be an industry leader in AI advancements, Michigan State is a perfect partner for this new effort, and we greatly appreciate the ongoing collaboration with Apple,” said MSU President Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D. “Further, this project perfectly aligns with our mission around community outreach and our desire to solve the world’s problems, and we look forward to working side by side with manufacturing companies to transform this essential industry.”

MSU also partners with Apple on the Apple Developer Academy, with support from the Gilbert Family Foundation. This highly successful academy, located in downtown Detroit, has graduated roughly 200 participants annually since 2021, with another exciting group planned to graduate this summer. Applications for the fall 2025 cohort are open now.

This story was originally featured by MSU Today.

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The MSU Innovation Center combines research partnerships, technology transfer, and startup support for MSU faculty who aim to see their research applied to make the world a better place.

Composed of Business Connect, MSU Technologies, and Spartan Innovations, the MSU Innovation Center aims to amplify the impact of faculty research and drive economic growth while positively impacting society to solve real-world challenges with cutting-edge ideas.

Through mutually beneficial, long-term partnerships with the private sector, we connect MSU faculty with companies for corporate-sponsored research collaborations. We also play a key role in facilitating the commercialization and public use of technologies and copyrightable materials, moving MSU’s innovations from the lab to the marketplace. Importantly, we provide significant support for faculty entrepreneurs in establishing startup companies based on technologies developed at MSU.