Today, MIT has launched the Initiative for New Manufacturing (INM), an ambitious Institute-wide campaign aimed at rejuvenating U.S. industrial production with state-of-the-art technologies, enhancing essential economic sectors, and stimulating job creation.
This initiative includes a range of advanced research, innovative educational programs, and collaborative partnerships with businesses across various industries, all designed to reform manufacturing and amplify its influence.
“Our goal is to collaborate with companies of all sizes—whether in bustling cities or quaint small towns—to help them embrace new strategies for increased productivity,” highlighted MIT President Sally A. Kornbluth in her message to the Institute community. “We aim to intentionally craft high-quality, human-centered manufacturing jobs that breathe new life into communities nationwide.”
Kornbluth emphasized, “Empowering America to forge a future of new manufacturing is an ideal mission for MIT, and I firmly believe this work is critical to addressing today’s challenges and serving our nation.”
The Initiative for New Manufacturing also welcomed its initial six founding consortium members: Amgen, Flextronics International USA, GE Vernova, PTC, Sanofi, and Siemens. Participants in the INM Industry Consortium will launch seed projects proposed by MIT researchers, particularly focusing on artificial intelligence applications in manufacturing.
INM will join the ranks of other significant MIT presidential initiatives, including The Climate Project at MIT; MITHIC, which promotes human-centered disciplines; MIT HEALS, focused on life sciences and health; and the MIT Generative AI Impact Consortium (MGAIC).
“There’s an incredible opportunity to assemble a dynamic community spanning all scales—from nanotechnology to large-scale manufacturing—encompassing a diverse array of applications like semiconductors, medical devices, automotive, energy systems, and biotechnology,” remarked Anantha Chandrakasan, MIT’s chief innovation and strategy officer and dean of engineering, who is part of the initiative’s leadership team. “MIT is uniquely equipped to leverage the transformative potential of digital tools and AI to redefine the future of manufacturing. I am genuinely excited about the collaborative possibilities this initiative presents.”
The Initiative for New Manufacturing builds on decades of MIT-centric efforts to expand American manufacturing. A faculty research group authored the influential 1989 publication “Made in America: Regaining the Productive Edge,” advocating for a renewed focus on manufacturing. Another MIT endeavor, Production in the Innovation Economy, prompted calls for increased manufacturing in the early 2010s. Additionally, in 2016, MIT established The Engine, a venture fund dedicated to investing in hardware-based “tough tech” startups, several of which have the potential to develop into significant manufacturing enterprises.
This initiative encompasses four major themes:
- Reimagining manufacturing technologies and systems: Unveiling breakthrough technologies and systemic approaches to enhance energy production, healthcare, computing, transportation, consumer products, and beyond;
- Elevating the productivity and experience of manufacturing: Innovating and implementing new digital methods and tools to heighten productivity and improve the manufacturing experience;
- Scaling new manufacturing: Accelerating the growth of manufacturing companies and transforming supply chains for enhanced efficiency and resilience, fostering innovation and business expansion;
- Transforming the manufacturing base: Promoting the establishment of a sustainable, global manufacturing ecosystem that offers appealing opportunities to workers, with a significant focus on the U.S.
The initiative has outlined numerous actionable activities and programs, including an Institute-wide research agenda on emerging technologies, workforce and educational initiatives, and strong engagement with industry partners. INM aspires to create new laboratories for developing manufacturing tools and techniques; establish a “factory observatory” program to immerse students in manufacturing through site visits; and key “pillars” concentrating on areas from semiconductors and biomanufacturing to defense and aviation.
A workforce and education component includes TechAMP, an MIT initiative partnering with community colleges to bridge gaps between technicians and engineers; AI-driven educational tools; professional learning opportunities; and efforts to enhance manufacturing education on campus alongside MIT departments and degree programs.
INM’s leadership team features three faculty co-directors: John Hart, the Class of 1922 Professor and head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering; Suzanne Berger, Institute Professor and renowned political scientist recognized for her empirical studies of manufacturing; and Chris Love, the Raymond A. and Helen E. St. Laurent Professor of Chemical Engineering. The initiative’s executive director is Julie Diop.
The initiative is forming a faculty steering committee with representatives from across the Institute and an external advisory board. INM’s evolution partially derives from the Manufacturing@MIT working group, established in 2022 to explore these issues.
The launch of the initiative was previewed at a daylong MIT symposium on May 7, titled “A Vision for New Manufacturing,” where over 30 experts across various manufacturing sectors spoke before a full audience at MIT’s Wong Auditorium.
“The necessity for expanding and transforming U.S. manufacturing has never been more pressing,” noted Berger during the event. “What we’re working to build at MIT isn’t merely another research project. Together, we aim to instigate real change in our country.”
“We must reconsider manufacturing’s significance as it conveys product ideas to the public,” remarked Love to MIT News. “For example, in biotechnology, life-saving medicines can only reach patients through manufacturing. This issue carries great urgency for our economic vitality and job creation. The impact of losing our manufacturing edge in certain sectors is evident. The U.S.’s longstanding leadership in biotechnology must be fortified through advancements in biomanufacturing.”
Hart added, “While manufacturing may seem particularly relevant today, its significance is timeless. Manufactured goods underpin our daily lives, and manufacturing is pivotal in advancing technological and societal boundaries. Our pre-launch efforts demonstrated substantial enthusiasm for manufacturing across MIT, especially from our students. Collaboration with industry—ranging from startups to established giants—is vital for creating meaningful impact and realizing our vision for new manufacturing.”
Kornbluth’s message to the MIT community highlighted that the initiative’s primary aim is to foster transformation by enhancing manufacturing’s productivity, resilience, and sustainability.
“We seek to reimagine manufacturing technologies and systems to propel advancements in domains like energy production, healthcare, computing, transportation, consumer products, and more,” she articulated. “Additionally, we want to extend beyond the shop floor to address challenges such as boosting supply chain resilience and shaping public policy to foster a robust, thriving manufacturing ecosystem that drives decades of innovation and growth.”
Photo credit & article inspired by: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
