AMO Weekly Announcements 6/24

President Obama Announces Recipient of New Smart Manufacturing Innovation Institute

This week, President Obama announced that the Smart Manufacturing Leadership Coalition (SMLC) will lead the new Smart Manufacturing Innovation Institute, in partnership with the Department of Energy. The coalition, headquartered in Los Angeles, CA will bring together nearly 200 partners to launch the Smart Manufacturing Innovation Institute, focused on conducting applied research and accelerating the development and adoption of advanced sensors, data analytics, and controls in manufacturing, while reducing the cost of these technologies by half and radically improving the energy efficiency of U.S. advanced manufacturing. The Smart Manufacturing Innovation Institute is the ninth manufacturing hub to be awarded by the Administration as part of the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI).

To read the full announcement, click on the White House fact sheet on President Obama’s announcement of investments in new manufacturing hubs.

View our video on Smart Manufacturing, the thinking behind it, and why it’s a key component to promoting clean energy manufacturing in the United States.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: AMO Announces Funding for REMADE in America Institute

The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) announces, on behalf of the Advanced Manufacturing Office (AMO), a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) entitled “Clean Energy Manufacturing Innovation Institute for Reducing EMbodied-energy And Decreasing Emissions (REMADE) in Materials Manufacturing”. The estimated period of performance for the award will be 5 years with the goal of the Institute to be self-sustaining by the end of the project period. Concept papers are due July 28, 2016.

View the funding opportunity and submission instructions HERE, which includes more information about the proposed applicant eligibility requirements.

There will be an informational webinar on June 29 from 3:00 PM-4:00 PM EDT. Click here to register.

AMO Kicks Off Week of Making with Participation in 2nd Annual National Maker Faire

This past weekend, in Washington, D.C. the Advanced Manufacturing Office participated in the Second Annual National Maker Faire at the University of the District of Columbia along with over 15,000 attendees. Participants varied from entrepreneurs and scientists of all ages, to companies, foundations, agencies, schools, and non-profits. AMO showcased a section of the 3D printed wind turbine blade mold, a project in coordination with DOE’s Wind Program, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, and corporate partner, TPI Composites.

To read more about AMO’s participation in the National Maker Faire, read our blog here.

CMI Taps the Power of Supercomputing to Find Rare-Earth Refining Alternatives

A research project led by the Critical Materials Institute, a U.S. Department of Energy Innovation Hub, has identified agents for the separation of rare-earth metals that are potentially much less costly and better-performing than those currently used.

The Critical Materials Institute is led by the U.S. Department of Energy's Ames Laboratory and funded by DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Advanced Manufacturing Office.

Read the full announcement here.

AMO Partner Local Motors Opens New 3D Printing Microfactory in the Nation's Capitol

Local Motors held a grand opening for its new microfactory in National Harbor, Maryland where it will showcase cars printed using a commercial Big Area Additive Manufacturing (BAAM) system, which was developed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility in partnership with AMO. Local Motors partnered with AMO in 2014 to print the first 3D printed car, the Strati, and has continued using BAAM to rapidly prototype new designs and reduce costs, energy use, and waste. Through this public-private partnership, Local Motors has helped demonstrate the commercialization of this innovative technology.

Learn more about why public-private partnerships like ours with Local Motors are so important in this video, which features the Strati.

19th Annual Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Expo + Forum – July 12

The House Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Caucus and the Senate Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Caucus are co-hosting the 19th Annual Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Expo + Forum on July 12 in the Cannon House Office Building - Caucus Room 345. The Forum will bring together up to 50 businesses, trade associations, and government agencies to showcase renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.

For more information, click here.

Presentations by the speakers participating in the Policy Forum portion of the program will be webcast live here. If you would like information—as it becomes available—on the speakers and the speaking schedule, please send your name, organization (if applicable), and e-mail address to: [email protected].

SAVE THE DATE: IACMI Semi-Annual Members Meeting – July 26-28

IACMI’s 2016 Members Meeting will be held in Indiana on July 26-28, 2016. The meeting will showcase IACMI road mapping efforts, members, partnerships, projects and advancements in the five key technology areas.

Meeting sessions will be held in the Indianapolis Downtown Marriott conference rooms. A guest room block has been secured for meeting attendees at the rate of $154 per night. This rate is available for July 23-31, 2016. To secure the IACMI discount, you must reserve your room by July 6, 2016.

Click here to make your reservation.

Please note this is a member’s only event. Membership renewals are due by June 30, 2016. Contact [email protected] with questions.