Indiana Joining Major Innovation Collaboration
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe state of Indiana will receive up to $15 million as part of a U.S. Department of Energy-led program designed to boost composite material research and development. The Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation involves support from more than 90 companies and will help launch the Design, Modeling and Simulation Enabling Technology Center at Purdue University. January 9, 2015
News Release
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Indiana will participate in a public-private partnership to expand research, development and job creation in composite material technology, with the U.S. Department of Energy’s selection today of a multistate group for a $70 million federal investment to support automotive, defense, aerospace, motorsports, advanced materials and energy-related sectors.
“Composite materials are revolutionizing the manufacturing sector, especially in Indiana,” said Victor Smith, Indiana Secretary of Commerce. “As the national leader in manufacturing job growth last year, Hoosiers were already well-positioned to take the lead in advancing this technology. With this added bolt of support, composite material technology will help lift the future of advanced manufacturing in Indiana in partnership with our universities, national labs and neighboring states. Automobiles, campers, household products and even space vehicles are stronger with composite material technology, as is our Indiana economy and Hoosier job creation.”
Indiana is to receive up to a $15 million matching federal investment as part of the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation, a multistate partnership to support regional research and development in U.S. advanced manufacturing. The institute, which is backed by more than 90 manufacturing companies across the region, will operate as a public-private partnership, funded at $259 million over five years based on additional pledged commitments from industry, universities and the six partner states.
Purdue University, which has supported Indiana's bid for this federal investment, will launch the Design, Modeling and Simulation Enabling Technology Center, one of five major research centers created as part of the initiative. This center will focus on knowledge-transfer efforts, which will increase the affordability of composite manufacturing while also introducing more time for innovation into the manufacturing supply chain. Through shared research and development infrastructure and capabilities, the partnership will enable demonstration of advanced composite materials technologies to grow and attract further manufacturing investments.
“The advanced composite market is poised for dramatic growth,” said Purdue President Mitch Daniels. “This important public-private partnership has a strong research, development and deployment mission, establishing a major sector of our manufacturing economy focused on advancing the use of composite materials such as carbon fiber to make lighter-weight cars, wind turbines, natural gas storage tanks and other products.”
Composite materials are formed by blending different structural compounds together to create a better product, for example replacing metals on cars and airplanes with lighter, stronger and more energy-efficient composites. Major advancements in this rapidly growing field have in part enabled companies in Indiana to create high-paying jobs and world leading technology, including Dallara IndyCar Factory in Speedway, IDI Composites International in Noblesville, Toyota Indiana in Princeton, SABIC Innovative Plastics in Mount Vernon, Honda Manufacturing of Indiana, LLC in Greensburg and hundreds of other suppliers and manufacturers statewide.
When combined with matching federal and industry funds, the state’s $15 million investment will be leveraged by a ratio of at least 2-to-1. All pledged state dollars will stay within Indiana.
Funds will be distributed according to the guidelines and procedures associated with the state’s 21st Century Fund. Guidelines will also follow procedures developed for the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation and the broader National Network for Manufacturing Innovation. Additional information relating to the public-private partnership and technical themes will be available in the coming months.
The announcement of Indiana's new composite material technology initiative follows news from last year that aerospace companies including General Electric are developing a turbomachinery research facility with the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, extending public-private partnerships to sustain Indiana’s national leadership in manufacturing innovation.
About IEDC
Created in 2005 to replace the former Department of Commerce, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation is governed by a 12-member board chaired by Governor Mike Pence. Victor Smith serves as the Indiana Secretary of Commerce and Eric Doden is the president of the IEDC.
The IEDC oversees programs enacted by the General Assembly including tax credits, workforce training grants and public infrastructure assistance. All tax credits are performance-based. Therefore, companies must first invest in Indiana through job creation or capital investment before incentives are paid. A company who does not meet its full projections only receives a percentage of the incentives proportional to its actual investment. For more information about IEDC, visit www.iedc.in.gov.
Source: Indiana Economic Development Corp.