WASHINGTON, June 12, 2012 — (PRNewswire) — NASA and the National Institutes of Standards and Technology (NIST) are sponsoring the second in a series of regional public workshops to gather ideas and suggestions on the design of the proposed National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI). The workshop will be held July 9 at the Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland.

"Designing for Impact II: Workshop on Building the NNMI" is a partnership between the interagency Advanced Manufacturing National Program Office in Gaithersburg, Md., and local Cleveland organizations that include NASA's Glenn Research Center, Cuyahoga Community College and Case Western Reserve University. Confirmed workshop speakers are NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver, NIST Director Patrick Gallagher and Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown. Invited speakers include congressional, state and local leaders.

Conceived to address strategic gaps in U.S. manufacturing innovation, the NNMI is envisioned as a network of up to 15 regional hubs -- Institutes for Manufacturing Innovation -- that will connect research discoveries and budding ideas for tomorrow's technologies and products with current U.S. manufacturers and startup firms of tomorrow. The network is proposed as a public and private collaboration in the President's FY 2013 budget.

These regional collaborations will bring together industry, universities and community colleges, federal agencies and states to accelerate innovation by investing in industrially relevant manufacturing technologies with broad applications. They also will support education and training of an advanced manufacturing work force.

Workshop participants will learn about the principles and concepts behind the NNMI and participate in interactive sessions designed to solicit ideas on how best to structure the network and the institutes.

Facilitated interactive discussions will focus on four areas key to the success of the institutes:

-- Technologies with broad impact

-- Institute structure and governance

-- Strategies for sustainable institute operations

-- Education and work force development

This event builds on the first regional workshop on designing and building the innovation network, held in Troy, N.Y., April 25. In addition, the Ohio workshop will explore manufacturing-related interests and needs specific to the region.

The workshops are organized by the newly created interagency Advanced Manufacturing National Program Office, which is charged with coordinating federal resources and programs to enhance technology transfer to U.S. manufacturers. The workshops are hosted by NIST. Core partner agencies include NASA, the Department of Defense, Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation.

The workshop will be held at Corporate College East, which is part of Cuyahoga Community College. Advance sign-up is required. Registration closes July 2. Attendees are charged a fee to cover food and beverage expenses. Space is limited and event sign-up will be on a first-come, first-served basis, with no more than four representatives from the same organization. For more details on the workshop and to sign up for the event, visit:

http://manufacturing.gov/amp/event_070912.html

For more information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

SOURCE NASA

Contact:

NASA Web: http://www.nasa.gov