Flexible Hybrid Electronics Manufacturing Innovation institute in Silicon Valley receives funding from DoD
NewsAugust 31, 2015
SAN JOSE, Calif. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announced that the Obama administration awarded a Manufacturing Innovation Institute for Flexible Hybrid Electronics to a consortium of 162 companies, universities, and non-profits led by FlexTech Alliance. The goal of the institute is to advance U.S. leadership in manufacturing flexible hybrid electronics.
This announcement comes after a nationwide bid process for the seventh of nine manufacturing institutes launched by the administration, and the fifth of six manufacturing institutes led by the Department of Defense (DoD). Different companies and universities representing a public-private partnership between the Pentagon and the tech community are in support of the Silicon Valley-based FlexTech Alliance consortium.
The U.S. Air Force Research laboratory (AFRL) will manage the cooperative agreement and will receive DoD funding estimating at $75 million over five years matched with an approximate $90 million from industry, academia, and local governments. The institute is set to receive in total of $171 million to invest in U.S. manufacturing.
According to a DoD release, the technologies of Flexible hybrid electronics manufacturing can bring dual use applications in commercial and military solutions. Secretary Carter also held a roundtable of Silicon Valley leaders at Defense Innovation Unit – Experimental (DIUx). The culture of Silicon Valley in collaboration with the DoD initiatives will help speed up military technology development cycles as well as focus on creating new commercial opportunities.
To read more on Flexible Hybrid Electronics and the Manufacturing Institute please visit http://www.manufacturing.gov/
