National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI)

President Obama has proposed building a National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI), consisting of regional hubs that will accelerate development and adoption of cutting-edge manufacturing technologies for making new, globally competitive products.

Our first priority is making America a magnet for new jobs and manufacturing.. . Last year, we created our first manufacturing innovation institute in Youngstown, Ohio. A once-shuttered warehouse is now a state-of-the art lab where new workers are mastering the 3D printing that has the potential to revolutionize the way we make almost everything. There’s no reason this can’t happen in other towns.

So tonight, I’m announcing the launch of three more of these manufacturing hubs, where businesses will partner with the Department of Defense and Energy to turn regions left behind by globalization into global centers of high-tech jobs. And I ask this Congress to help create a network of 15 of these hubs and guarantee that the next revolution in manufacturing is made right here in America. We can get that done.

-- President Obama,
    State of the Union Address, Feb. 12, 2013

Individually and together, these regional hubs—public-private partnerships called Institutes for Manufacturing Innovation (IMIs)—will help to strengthen the competitiveness of existing U.S. manufacturers, initiate new ventures, and boost local and state economies. (See NNMI at a Glance.)

The President unveiled his plan for the NNMI in March 2012. In his 2013 State of the Union Address, the President renewed his call for creating a full-fledged nationwide network devoted to innovating and scaling up advanced manufacturing technologies and processes. He has asked Congress to authorize a one-time $1 billion investment—to be matched by private and other non-federal funds.

Progress

Over the past year, the Administration has made significant progress in planning the network of regional manufacturing institutes. And it took the first step toward building this 21st century “industrial commons” by launching, through executive action, a pilot manufacturing institute as a public-private partnership.

  • The competitively selected National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute (NAMII) was launched in August 2012. NAMII was established with an initial federal investment of $30 million, using existing authorities in the Departments of Defense and Energy and other federal agencies. NAMII, a consortium that includes manufacturing firms, universities, community colleges, and non-profit organizations from the Ohio-Pennsylvania-West Virginia ‘Tech Belt,’ is led by the non-profit National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM). The NAMII partners more than matched the federal investment, contributing almost $40 million in support.
  • The interagency Advanced Manufacturing National Program Office (AMNPO) conducted a nationwide “crowd sourcing” effort to gather stakeholder ideas and suggestions. The outreach effort consisted of regional workshops for stakeholders and a formal request for information. The AMNPO analyzed the input received from nearly 900 organizations and individuals distilled their ideas and recommendations into National Network for Manufacturing Innovation: A Preliminary Design, a report issued by the White House National Science and Technology Council on Jan. 16, 2013.

NNMI at a Glance

The Federal investment in the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI) serves to create an effective manufacturing research infrastructure for U.S. industry and academia to solve industry-relevant problems. The NNMI will consist of linked Institutes for Manufacturing Innovation (IMIs) with common goals, but unique concentrations. In an IMI, industry, academia, and government partners leverage existing resources, collaborate, and co-invest to nurture manufacturing innovation and accelerate commercialization.

As sustainable manufacturing innovation hubs, IMIs will create, showcase, and deploy new capabilities, new products, and new processes that can impact commercial production. They will build workforce skills at all levels and enhance manufacturing capabilities in companies large and small. Institutes will draw together the best talents and capabilities from all the partners to build the proving grounds where innovations flourish and to help advance American domestic manufacturing.

Next Steps

In his 2013 State of the Union Address, the President acted to sustain and build on this momentum toward ensuring that “the next revolution in manufacturing is made right here in America.”

He announced taking immediate steps, through executive action, to launch three manufacturing institutes aligned with the missions of the Departments of Defense and Energy, which will provide the bulk of federal funds. At the same time, the Administration will work with Congress to establish a truly nationwide network, of up to 15 additional manufacturing institutes, each one focusing on advanced manufacturing technology challenges and opportunities identified by U.S. industry and collaborators in open solicitations and funding competitions.




Listen to Gene Sperling, Director of the National Economic Council, explain in 60 seconds why these innovation institutes are an important part of the President’s strategy to invest in manufacturing.

Watch this video on YouTube

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