Senator O'Brien celebrates RIT role in Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Today, Senator Ted O'Brien was proud to congratulate the Rochester Institute of Technology on its leading role in the newly announced Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute, organized under the umbrella of the Department of Defense and announced in a White House press conference this afternoon.
"I congratulate RIT for its role in this bold new initiative and look forward to working together to develop relationships with local manufacturers and entrepreneurs," said Senator O'Brien. "Through the consortium, up to $20 million will be coming to RIT. Helping ideas flow from our top-tier schools to local businesses and our highly skilled workforce will invigorate our economy and bring additional investment and job creation to the Finger Lakes region."
From the Institute's own release on the program:
Headquartered in Chicago, the digital institute has received a $70 million grant from the Department of Defense to become a regional hub of the National Network of Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI), envisioned by President Obama to serve as a network of independent, public-private manufacturing institutes. RIT is the only university in New York state to be a core partner in one of the three NNMI institutes announced to date.
The grant from the Defense Department will be enhanced by commitments of $250 million from industry, academia, government and community partners, including the state of New York, effectively forming a $320 million institute. The initiative was formally announced on Tuesday, Feb. 25, during a White House ceremony led by President Obama.
“RIT is pleased to be a significant player in this major federal initiative on manufacturing, one of President Obama’s signature programs,” said RIT President Bill Destler. “The applied research at RIT will help create jobs in advanced manufacturing fields and make the region, state and U.S. more competitive.”
More information is available at RIT's "University News" page.
You can also see video of the President unveiling the new program at the White House today (fast-forward to around 28 minutes).
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Sen. O’Brien represents the 55th district in the Senate, which is made up of the eastern half of Monroe County and the western half of Ontario County, including much of the city of Rochester.
Media contact:
Thomas J. Morrisey, Communications Director
office: (585) 218-0034
e-mail: tjmorris@nysenate.gov
