A SPECIAL REPORT
US MANUFACTURING HUBS
LOCATIONS TO BE SELECTED
The National Network for Manufacturing Innovation may expand to as many as 16 institutes by the end of 2016. The vision is for an eventual total of 45.
Integrated Photonics Institute for Manufacturing Innovation
Flexible Hybrid Electronics Institute
Smart Manufacturing Innovation Institute Sensors and Process Controls
The Revolutionary Fibers and Textiles Manufacturing Innovation Institute
CHICAGO, IL
Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute (Digital Lab) Digital Manufacturing
DETROIT, MI
Lightweight Innovations for Tomorrow (LIFT) Materials Manufacturing
RALEIGH, NC
PowerAmerica Semiconductor T
echnology
YOUNGSTOWN, OH
America Makes Additive Manufacturing
KNOXVILLE, TN
Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation
These fees are just one avenue of potential revenue that are designed to help make these manufacturing hubs self-sustain- ing within 5 to 7 years. The federal government has indicated it will not provide further assistance after that time. Other avenues of funding, similar to Fraunhofer, include fees for contract re- search, membership dues, and other fee-for-service activities.
The Self-Sustaining Finish Line While the leadership of the hubs are in a breakneck race to become self-sustaining, the nature of the work they do may make that mission diffi cult, if not impossible. “We’re trying to go as rapidly as we can,” Morris said. A May 2014 “progress report” on America Makes, writ- ten by a group of students at Carnegie Mellon University, which is a member of that pilot hub, found that “a consis- tent worry” among those involved in the hub “deals with the future funding.”
Several of the executive directors of the manufacturing hubs told ME that the lack of ongoing federal funding will be a challenge, especially for hubs whose technologies are less mature in their very long development path. “Given our competitive global economic environment,” Morris said, “the US is going to have to decide how to re- spond to continued long-term public funding by other nations in these key manufacturing technologies.” Added Schmid: “In a free-market world, manufacturing
research investment is considered to be infrastructure, just like roads or airports. If we don’t support our manufactur- ing infrastructure like these institutes, it gives other nations a competitive advantage.”
Given the value that this new network could produce, Dean Bartles, the Executive Director of the digital manufac- turing hub in Chicago, asked: “Why wouldn’t the government want to continue funding?”
This special report was prepared by Manufacturing Engineering, which is published by SME’s Advanced Manufacturing Media division. We are a leading source for news and in-depth technical information about advanced manufacturing in North America. From metalworking to 3D printing, we know how to make it. Visit us at
www.advancedmanufacturing.org.
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