Carnegie Mellon University
July 20, 2012

Press Release: Carnegie Mellon Statement on PCAST Advanced Manufacturing Report

Contact: Ken Walters / 412-268-1151 / walters1@andrew.cmu.edu

The President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) has released a game plan for the U.S. to seize the potential of advanced manufacturing technologies to create significant job and business opportunities. Crafted with input from hundreds of university, industry, government, economic development and entrepreneurial leaders, the report was developed by the steering committee of the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership (AMP).

Announced by President Barack Obama at Carnegie Mellon University in June 2011, AMP was given a charge of identifying specific strategies that could result in a manufacturing renaissance in the U.S.  Carnegie Mellon President Jared L. Cohon, who served on the AMP steering committee, praised the breadth and scope of the report.

“Investments in basic research have created breakthrough opportunities that can revitalize U.S. manufacturing,” Cohon said. “We now must match the boldness of that research with a commitment to create new strategies to speed technologies from the lab to the factory, better connect workforce training to emerging innovations and capture the manufacturing opportunities generated by our university spinouts.”

CMU Electrical and Computer Engineering Professor Gary Fedder, who served as a technical co-lead for the AMP project, noted that Carnegie Mellon is well prepared to respond to the report’s challenge. “CMU’s work in advanced materials, nanotechnology, robotics and optimization are vital to realizing the potential of advanced manufacturing,” he said. “These technologies have the potential to create a competitive advantage for producing a host of new products and processes.”

In addition to technology and research, CMU and Pittsburgh have important contributions to make in answering the report’s call for greater regional collaboration to support advanced manufacturing. “Carnegie Mellon and the greater Pittsburgh region are ready to respond to the opportunities identified in the report and the challenge to spark the manufacturing renaissance that the president issued last year,” Cohon said.

The AMP project also includes the launching of the National Robotics Initiative (NRI). The NRI is an unprecedented federal research investment in technologies to bring next generation robotics to factories as “co-workers” and accelerate robotics technologies for health care and education.

CMU is well positioned to help spur a sustainable resurgence in U.S. manufacturing. The university has been a key player in developing technological innovations that help create companies and jobs. CMU’s Greenlighting Startups initiative has helped to create more than 300 companies and 9,000 jobs during the last 15 years, including many in the manufacturing field. In addition, CMU’s leading programs in engineering, computer science and other fields are providing graduates with the technical skills and expertise they need to succeed in future manufacturing environments.

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