Portman, Brown Urge Defense Department to Fund Advanced Manufacturing Institute in Partnership Between Edison Welding, Ohio State University

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) urged the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to support a proposal for an Advanced Lightweight Materials Manufacturing Innovation Institute (ALMMII) that would accelerate development of new and innovated technology essential to Ohio manufacturing. The ALMMII proposal would establish a Lightweight and Modern Materials Innovation (LM3I) Institute led by the Edison Welding Institute (EWI) in collaboration with The Ohio State University (OSU) and the University of Michigan. ALMII is a public-private partnership between industry, academia, and nonprofit organizations across several Midwestern states.

"America's strength lies in its skilled workers and thriving middle class," said Portman. "Ohio has an impressive history of manufacturing, and the Lightweight and Modern Materials Innovation Institute led by the Edison Welding Institute in collaboration with The Ohio State University will enable Ohio to remain on the forefront of manufacturing and create an environment for job growth."

"We know that manufacturing has strong ripple effects on the rest of our economy and helped build America's middle class," Brown said. "This manufacturing institute would help ensure that Ohio has the manufacturing infrastructure in this country to retain our competitive edge. By establishing the Edison Welding Institute in collaboration with The Ohio State University, we can take steps to ensure that Ohio workers, universities, and large and small manufacturers can out-compete and out-innovate the rest of the world."

In a letter to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, Portman and Brown urged DOD to consider establishing ALMMII in an effort to find solutions to some of the most pressing challenges facing our manufacturing base. ALMMII will be a key factor in promoting economic growth, bolstering national competitiveness, and training highly-skilled workers.

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