business SPOTlight
BIRMIN GH A M
Foresight for the Future
Israeli automotive tech firm sets up partnership with U-M. DAVID ZENLEA SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
30
|
MARCH 11 • 2021
ground for autonomous vehicles. Foresight, a company founded in 2016 is “very thrilled” by the both the technical help and business opportunities the program provides. It is based in Ness Ziona, south of Tel Aviv. “We get help with development … Doron access to the test Cohadier facility and access to a network of companies in Michigan,” said Doron Cohadier, vice president of business development for Foresight.
FORESIGHT
I
f you spot a car operating without a driver on the University of Michigan’s North Campus in the coming months, you might try greeting it with a friendly, Ma nishmah, achi? (What’s up, my brother?) That’s because U-M has entered a yearlong partnership with Israeli startup Foresight to develop autonomous vehicle technology. The partnership is part of a program called TechLab, which selects companies in the field of self-driving cars to work with teams of elite U-M engineering students. It’s hosted at MCity, the university’s dedicated proving
U-M students, for their part, get hands-on training and networking opportunities with companies at the cutting edge of their field. Many students who have taken part in past cohorts now work directly in the burgeoning field of selfdriving technology. “We’re really proud that it’s reached the entire globe of startups in our industry and created an ecosystem in Southeast Michigan,” said Nick Moroz, assistant director of
The Mcity Driverless Shuttle carries passengers on U-M’s North Campus.
U-M
A specially equipped Lincoln MKZ, based at Mcity, is an open-source connected and automated research vehicle available to U-M faculty and students, startups and others to help accelerate innovation.
entrepreneurial practice at U-M’s Center for Entrepreneurship. TechLab looks for companies Nick addressing key Moroz challenges facing fully autonomous vehicles, Moroz said. Foresight is focused on improving selfdriving cars’ ability to see in inclement weather and challenging lighting. Its algorithm integrates readings
PHOTOS COURTESY OF MCITY
brought to you in partnership with
