Speaking at the Detroit Department of Transportation headquarters Thursday, Vice President Joe Biden lauded the creation of the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation.
The previously announced institute will focus on developing fiber-enforced polymer composites for the auto industry, such as carbon- and glass-fiber.
Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, along with $15 million over five years from the Michigan Economic Development Corp., the institute will share space with a previous federally-funded consortium, Institute for Lightweight Innovations for Tomorrow, in Detroit’s Corktown, Gov. Rick Snyder’s office said in a news release.
The IACMI team includes 122 members, and is aimed at creating better composite materials for the automotive, wind turbine and compressed gas storage industries.
Participating states include Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee. Michigan State University will serve as a primary academic partner.
“This project shows how the government can collaborate with the private sector and Michigan’s world-class universities on innovative approaches that will be the future of the auto industry,” Snyder said in a statement. “Michigan is the perfect location for a project that will provide opportunities for collaborative research and the development of new materials that will make cars better worldwide – keeping and growing the number of jobs here.”
Photo 2’s caption: Vice President Joe Biden
