The first regional meeting of the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership (AMP) is being held at the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center.

The AMP is being developed based on the recommendation of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), which released a report on June 24, 2011 entitled “Ensuring Leadership in Advanced Manufacturing.”  The PCAST report calls for a partnership between government, industry, and academia to identify the most pressing challenges and transformative opportunities to improve the technologies, processes and products across multiple manufacturing industries.

Amongst the Georgia Tech AMP participants is Jennifer Clark, Associate Professor in the School of Public Policy and a member of the Center for Organic Photonics and Electronics.  She will be participating in two working groups—policy and shared facilities as well as facilitating break-out groups at the meeting

According to Clark, “The Advanced Manufacturing Partnership is an opportunity for stakeholders concerned about expanding the U.S. role in high-tech manufacturing to influence how federal R&D investment is directed toward that goal of connecting R&D capacity to production networks in the U.S.”

Commenting on Georgia Tech’s role, Clark added, “As one of the leading research universities in the US with extensive experience in connecting innovations to industry, Georgia Tech has a history of investing in enabling technologies and developing policy models capable of moving innovative research out of the university and into the production of more sustainable and efficient materials and products. This capacity is critical to the national priorities of job creation (especially green jobs) and energy independence. Sharing this expertise is also consistent with Georgia Tech's economic development priorities. “

There is no cost associated with attending this meeting and registration is open through October 11, 2011 at the regional meeting website.