1661890714582 Innovationimageforweb

Hear ye, Hear ye - Competitions for New Manufacturing Innovation Hubs and Apprenticeship Grants

Dec. 15, 2014

President Obama announced that several hundred million dollars of funding will be made available for two new Manufacturing Innovation Hub Competitions that are intended to help spur manufacturing innovation and give U.S. workers more opportunities to improve their skills for middle class jobs.

At a meeting of the President’s Export Council (PEC) held on December 11, President Obama announced that several hundred million dollars of funding will be made available for two new Manufacturing Innovation Hub Competitions that are intended to help spur manufacturing innovation and give U.S. workers more opportunities to improve their skills for middle class jobs. The Department of Energy will lead a competition for a new institute on smart manufacturing, and the Department of Defense will lead a competition for a new institute focused on flexible hybrid electronics. Each institute will receive $70 million or more of federal investment to be matched by at least $70 million from private sources.

The new smart manufacturing institute will focus on "smart" technologies such as advanced sensors, controls, platforms and models for manufacturing.  The institute will combine manufacturing, digital technologies, and energy efficiency expertise to provide manufacturers real-time control of energy use across factories and companies. This will boost companies' productivity and slash their energy costs. In fact, industries such as chemical production, solar cell manufacturing and steelmaking can shave 10 to 20% off the cost of production.  The new institute will receive a federal investment of $70 million, to matched by at least $70 million in private investments, and will help in reaching the goal of doubling U.S. energy efficiency by 2030.

The new flexible hybrid electronics institute is timely because our modern world is rapidly filling up with electronic devices including computers, cell phones, sensors and others.  Most of these devices are made up of boxy, rigid circuit boards. However,  objects such as our bodies and automobiles often reflect an organically derived shape with curves and flexibility. "Flexible hybrid electronics" combine advanced materials that flex with thinned silicon chips to produce electronic products which seamlessly integrate into objects.  Examples include wearable, wireless medical monitors, stretchable electronics for robotics and vehicles and smart bridges capable of alerting engineers to the first signs of potentially hazardous problems such as cracks or weak joints. Additionally, intelligent bandages and smart clothing will alert soldiers to the first signs of injury or exhaustion. The new institute will combine $75 million of federal investment with $75 million or more of private investment.

Obama also announced the availability of $100 million to expand apprenticeships for U.S. workers. Apprenticeships have proven to be a tried and true path for workers wanting to learn the skills employers need to grow and thrive in a competitive global environment. Apprenticeships pave the way to the middle class, with statistics claiming that 87% of apprentices are employed after completing such a program and that the average starting wage for apprenticeship graduates is over $50,000.

For more information on the manufacturing innovation institute competitions, see Manufacturing.gov

For more information on the American Apprenticeship Grants Competition, see www.dol.gov/apprenticeship

Sponsored Recommendations

2025 State of Technology Report: HMIs, IPCs and Enclosures

Industrial manufacturing equipment often relies on human-machine interfaces, industrial PCs and enclosures to ensure system reliability and optimal performance. These components...

Custom Encoder Created for Large Rotational Applications

Large rotational applications like MRI machines, excavators, mobile equipment, forklifts and stagecraft require precise motion feedback for optimal performance, safety and efficiency...

See How One Company Customized Motion Feedback for Material Handling Applications

Encoders can be used in material handling on sorters, conveyors, in automated storage retrieval systems, on mobile equipment, automated mobile robots and more. See how one company...

Absolute vs Incremental Encoders: Which One Does Your System Need?

The right encoder makes all the difference. Incremental encoders are perfect for tracking speed and direction in dynamic motion. Absolute encoders? They remember exact positioning...