Reinvigorating Existing Industries

Manufacturing USA institutes are reinvigorating industries by applying ecosystem-oriented approaches that combine advanced technology with existing infrastructure. From retrofitting older machines with advanced sensors for data collection to driving breakthroughs in materials science and production techniques, these initiatives result in higher-quality products, reduced costs, and improved efficiency in sectors such as automotive, aerospace, and electronics. Here are two examples that illustrate how institutes are breathing new life into longtime industry verticals through their transformative approaches.

Reducing Time to Market for Biopharmaceuticals

Photo from NIIMBL's Military Service Members in Biopharma Manufacturing (MSMBM) program. Photo credit: NIST

The complexity of biologics demands ongoing quality analysis that adds significant time and cost to pharmaceutical development. It’s not unusual for a new treatment to take more than a dozen years to reach the commercialization stage. NIIMBL, the biopharmaceutical manufacturing institute, hosted a project to test a microchip system to validate efficiencies and improve market access. The system reduced testing time and costs by up to 30 times, helping bring medicines to market 1–3 years faster.

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Photo inside of CyManII's Mobile Training Vehicle. Photo credit: NIST

Improving Cybersecurity Best Practices for Manufacturing

Cybersecurity has been a priority in manufacturing, but in recent years, the need to fully integrate it into business models and operations has become more urgent than ever. The manufacturing industry’s swift adoption of digital technologies and its critical role in the economy make it a prime target for cybercriminals. In 2023, CyManII opened its Cybersecurity for Manufacturing Hub (C4M), a 15,000-square-foot manufacturing demonstration facility in the heart of Port San Antonio, the city’s innovation district. This milestone played a critical role in the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s selection of CyManII to take initial steps to develop a Secure Manufacturing Tech Hub.

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