The Grand Opening of the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute (DMDII) on Chicago’s Goose Island was on May 11, 2015. It was a big day, after 2+ years of anticipation! A very exciting grand opening with all of the notables present! It was nice to be invited as recognition for the work we have been doing in representing small to medium manufacturers.

The DMDII led by UI Labs is a consortium of 73 companies, nonprofits, research labs and universities partnering with the federal government to create a novel partnership between world-leading manufacturing experts and cutting-edge software companies to enable interoperability across the supply chain, develop enhanced digital capabilities to design and test new products, and reduce costs in manufacturing processes across multiple industries.  The digital hub is backed by $70 million Department of Defense grant and another $250 million in private sector, academic and and other local governmental funding.

The vision of the DMDII is to be “a unique public-private partnership acting as a world-class, first-of-its-kind manufacturing hub.  The Institute has the capabilities, innovative spirit, and collaborative expertise to transform American manufacturing.”  The institute will be a research and development center for digital manufacturing and design plus workforce development and education specific to digital manufacturing.

Links to other articles and press releases regarding DMDII:

Chicago Tribune - UI Labs set to open doors of new digital manufacturing Institute

http://www.chicagotribune.com/bluesky/originals/ct-ui-labs-to-open-doors-bsi-story.html

World Business Chicago

http://www.worldbusinesschicago.com/dmdii/

NBC Chicago - Emanuel: "Olympic Gold-Winning" Bid Helped Land Digital Manufacturing http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/obama-midwest-manufacturing-247086581.html

Chicago Magazine - The Immense Ambition of Chicago’s Digital Manufacturing Hub
http://www.chicagomag.com/city-life/March-2014/The-Immense-Ambition-of-Chicagos-Digital-Manufacturing-Hub/

Press Release - President Obama Announces Two New Public-Private Manufacturing Innovation Institutes and Launches the First of Four New Manufacturing Innovation Institute Competitions
https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/02/25/president-obama-announces-two-new-public-private-manufacturing-innovatio

Industry Week – Advancing the Business of Manufacturing
http://www.industryweek.com/innovation/chicago-new-home-digital-manufacturing-and-design-innovation-institute