National Network for Manufacturing Innovation

Energy Department's Assistant Secretary David Danielson announcing the selection of the National Institute for Additive Manufacturing in Youngstown, Ohio. Photo credit: Advanced Manufacturing National Program Office (AMNPO)

The National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI) is an interagency initiative to develop public/private partnerships devoted to manufacturing excellence. Specifically, NNMI will foster the creation of a number of institutes that bring together innovative manufacturers, university engineering schools, community colleges, federal agencies, non-profits, and regional and state organizations to leverage investment in novel manufacturing technologies with broad applications across industry.

The NNMI institutes will help to integrate capabilities, focus expertise, and address critical challenges in advanced manufacturing. Institute activities include, but are not limited to, applied research and demonstration projects (that solve generic industrial problems or reduce the cost and risk of commercializing new technologies), education and training at all levels, development of innovative practices for working with suppliers on energy solutions, and engagement with small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises. While the institutes will have a regional focus, the NNMI network will be national, integrated, and dynamic to stimulate innovation and deliver new capabilities that benefit the U.S. manufacturing sector on a large scale.

The National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute (NAMII) will serve as a pilot demonstration of the NNMI concept by providing the innovation infrastructure needed to launch a global center of excellence for additive manufacturing. This pilot institute will bridge the gap between basic research and product development for additive manufacturing, provide shared assets to help companies (particularly small manufacturers), access cutting-edge capabilities and equipment, and create an environment to educate and train workers in advanced additive manufacturing skills. Read the DOE press release and blog to learn more about the NAMII.

Federal NNMI partners include the Departments of Energy, Defense, and Commerce, as well as NASA and the National Science Foundation. Learn more about the NNMI.