The Quad Cities was recently awarded a planning grant from the Economic Development Administration to create a manufacturing innovation hub. On the heels of this announcement, the region, and your business, now has another opportunity.
The Quad Cities region has partnered with UI LABS in responding to the U.S. Department of Defense's initiative to create an institute for Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation. This assembled team comprises over $500B in manufacturing output, 7 of the top U.S. engineering universities, and some of the largest manufacturing associations in the Midwest.
To fulfill this initiative, UI LABS is creating a consortium of economic development organizations, educational institutions and manufacturers. They have asked to include Quad Cities manufacturers that are interested in applying digital manufacturing into their products and facilities.
The Digital Manufacturing Lab is designed to:
- Reduce the time and cost it takes to design, source and manufacture
- Increase transparency and lower cost barriers of new technologies
- Accelerate technology adoption and new business growth
Manufacturers of all sizes will team with lead Digital Lab partners on technology demonstration projects, access IP generated by the Lab, and participate in incumbent engineer and technician training opportunities. Manufacturers can come from a variety of industries and have diverse levels of digital manufacturing competency, but should have interest in incorporating intelligent machines into their production practices and/or stronger integration of production processes within the factory and across the supply chain through digital tools.
There is no cost involved in this program. Please contact Abbey Nagle by Friday, October 11th to indicate your interest in the digital manufacturing initiative. Click here for more information.
