SUPPORT

I^eMPACT

Innovation Engine for Machining Precision and Advanced Control Technology

Letters of Intent to Participate

This website is used to submit collaboration letters to the I^eMPACT proposal in response to the National Science Foundation Innovation Engine program. I^eMPACT focuses on combining cyber and physical systems to advance the technologies of precision manufacturing and machinery. It is an all-of-industry response, including large and small companies, universities and community colleges, and governmental organizations. It will drive basic and applied research that can revolutionize machining and machinery; it will include workforce development efforts that benefit the community; and it will be a focal point for the community. The NSF Innovation Engine program provides a potentially long-term commitment of funding; up to ten years and $160 million is available. This is a large effort, and the activities in the following schematic will be scaled to have significant impact:

NSF has certain requirements of topic areas that are suitable for an Innovation Engine. To establish the size of the existing precision manufacturing ecosystem, and to demonstrate the interest of partners, NSF requires submission of letters of participation. NSF requires certain language to appear in the letter – a copy of the letter template can be obtained with the link below.

The key language in the letter is the following:

“By signing below, I acknowledge that I, or my organization, will collaborate and/or commit resources as detailed in the proposal entitled “I^eMPACT: Innovation Engine for Manufacturing Productivity and Advanced Control Technology.” I, or my organization, agree to undertake the tasks described and commit to contribute or make available the resources described in the Proposal Description or in the Existing and New Resources to be made available for the Project sections of the proposal.”

The key language in the proposal that describes the commitment is the following:

“I^eMPACT will employ a membership-driven business model. The participation commitments detailed in the letters of collaboration are based upon a good-faith effort to estimate the activity of the organization, assuming that I^eMPACT is funded, that its research remains aligned with the interests of the organization, and that performance of I^eMPACT remains exemplary. It is recognized that no organization can make commitments as many as ten years into the future, but partners anticipate the commitment levels indicated are reasonable and achievable, assuming I^eMPACT is successful.”

The membership model used is one of dues for large corporations and in-kind contributions for small/medium enterprises and universities. While final decisions have not been finalized, it is expected that a target of $50,000 in direct or in-kind contributions may be reasonable. If the Innovation Engine is successful, it is felt that this target is easily met and represents a good investment.

Organizations that submit a letter before January 13, 2023 (so that they can be included with the proposal) will receive a waiver of dues or in-kind contributions for the first year. This provides an opportunity to evaluate the quality and value of I^eMPACT without resource commitment.

To submit letters, complete the template using your organization’s letterhead. To download the template click here, and submit via Google Forms. Alternatively, they can be sent by email to noelgreis@gmail.com.

Below is a list of activities that can be used in the letter to indicate areas of interest and support

• Creation of strategic initiatives to fill the gaps between the current state of precision machining and the vision of IeMPACT for the future of manufacturing which includes the full implementation of Industry 4.0/Smart Manufacturing technologies and driving US manufacturing to reclaim global leadership.
• Establishment and facilitation of regional workshops to focus on the specific technology areas of need in filling the gaps in the current state of technology and the future vision.
• Promoting workforce development and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in machining and manufacturing.
• Serves as a facilitator of relations between IeMPACT participants, providing a trusted third-party space to allow competitors to work together to solve complex problems and implement solutions unique to each participant.

• Provide thought leadership in the domain of precision machining and manufacturing by assembling the leading academic, industry, and government SMEs to dive deeply into solving the issues that will lead to achieving the IeMPACT vision. ​

• Maintain and refresh the technology roadmap that drives the activities of IeMPACT.
• Invest in new technologies that show significant promise in solving complex issues by achieving both evolutionary capabilities to the existing machine tool infrastructure and revolutionary technologies that lead to the next generation of connected, integrated, and networked self-aware machine tools and processes.
• Generate products and spin off new companies to benefit the region and the nation.
• Establish a mentor-mentee relationship program to allow fledgling technology companies to partner with established, successful industrialists for guidance and support.
• Provide testbeds for new technologies to be evaluated and matured for eventual commercialization.
• Define the marketplace for precision machining and manufacturing continually keeping up with the state of the industry and future opportunities.