The Michigan Engineering Zone (MEZ) was established by U-M’s College of Engineering in 2010 to increase access to hands-on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education and inspire the next generation of engineers and technical leaders in Detroit. In 2025, the MEZ officially joined the U-M Center for Innovation. Currently, the MEZ is home to four education and college pathway programs:
- FIRST Robotics: The MEZ provides after-school workshops and support for over 25 local high school robotics teams competing in the global FIRST Robotics Competition.
- Qualcomm Thinkabit Lab: Over 2000 middle school students visit the MEZ each year for field trips and summer camps that combine STEM career exploration with hands-on engineering and invention. The Thinkabit Lab program is run in partnership with Qualcomm, Inc.
- Future Ready Scholars: High school students interested in pursuing STEM careers spend two-weeks living and learning on the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor campus, taking college preparatory classes and using design thinking to develop solutions for real world problems.
- College Access & Advising: The MEZ provides college workshops and one-on-one advising to help high school students (and their families) navigate the college application and matriculation process with confidence and success.
Since its inception, the MEZ has partnered with Detroit Public Schools and other local organizations and volunteers to ensure Detroit students can access these opportunities free of charge. While our current programs serve middle and high school students, we’re developing opportunities for younger students, as well.
Celebrating 15 Years of STEM Education in Detroit
In 2025, the MEZ celebrated its 15-year Anniversary, and we achieved our most successful year of programming yet. Over this past academic year, the MEZ engaged a total of 2,300 Detroit-area middle and high school students in programs, and met some other significant milestones and accomplishments:
- The successful launch of a new College Access and Advising program to help support college access and matriculation for graduating seniors. Over 90 high school seniors participated in college workshops or one-on-one advising sessions, with 100% being accepted into a two- or four-year institution. Twenty-five MEZ seniors were accepted to the University of Michigan.
- The Qualcomm Thinkabit Lab piloted a new summer camp (City Tech for Good) that focuses on autonomous vehicle technology and urban infrastructure. Next summer, a third camp will be added (Wearable Tech for Good), completing the development of a three-year cohort model for Thinkabit Labs students interested in developing their STEM skills during their 6th-8th grade years.
- The MEZ’s FIRST Robotics program hosted the inaugural Detroit City Championship off-season robotics competition, celebrating that Detroit has the most high school robotics teams of any city in the nation. An alliance of teams that included Advance Technology Academy, Hamtramck High School, and Detroit School of Arts were crowned the inaugural city champions!