Research and Manufacturing Creating Innovation

With a vision to create manufacturing innovation hubs across the country, President Obama launched the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI) in 2012, recognizing the importance of keeping the United States at the forefront of innovative research and manufacturing.

Since then, eight linked Manufacturing Innovation Institutes have been established, each with a certain technological concentration, ranging from flexible hybrid electronics to advanced functional fabrics. Today, the NNMI has more than 800 members all working together to tackle industry-relevant challenges, strengthen the skills of America’s workforce, and secure leadership in emerging manufacturing technologies. The 600 mn. USD in federal funding awarded to the existing eight hubs has been matched by more than 1.2 bn. USD in funding from partners in the private sector, academia, and U.S. state and local governments.

These investments are already yielding benefits – earlier this year, two photonics companies announced a 1.4 bn. USD investment that will create more than 800 jobs in Rochester (New York) where they will be able to access the facilities and capabilities of AIM Photonics.

The America Makes National Additive Manufacturing Institute in Youngstown (Ohio) has similarly attracted hundreds of millions of dollars of manufacturing investment to the region, including GE’s 32 mn. USD new global 3D printing hub in Western Pennsylvania.

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