This year’s conference will address statewide issues rather than broader concerns, a trend that has developed during the past few years, according to Sandy Baruah, president of the Detroit Regional Chamber.

Gov. Rick Snyder, who has a summer residence on the island, will deliver remarks at the beginning and end of the conference about how to make Michigan more competitive.

Michigan Sen. Carl Levin and Rep. Hansen Clarke also are invited speakers.

Although the governor will meet with Michigan’s top political and business players, many state legislators will stay behind to finish work on the state budget, which legislators would like to complete by Friday.

The budget usually is approved later in the year, but Snyder and the Legislature have said they hope to finish budget negotiations earlier this year.

“I think it’s important that we get the work done,” Michigan House of Representatives Speaker Jase Bolger previously said on WJR-AM radio.

Although the conference largely focuses on Michigan’s innovative potential, the conference is not forgoing politics altogether by inviting Michigan candidates to the U.S. Senate to speak on a panel about their campaign platforms.

Journalists Fareed Zakaria of Time magazine and Thomas Friedman from The New York Times will address Michigan’s global role, speaking on the importance of collaboration in a global market and the impact of the global economy in Michigan, respectively.

Broadcasts of the conference will be available all week on Detroit Public Television, and live Tweets can be found by searching #mpc12 on Twitter.