{"196681":{"#nid":"196681","#data":{"type":"news","title":"IRI Intros: 5 Questions with Ben Wang","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EYou probably have heard that Georgia Tech has Interdisciplinary Research Institutes (IRIs) \u2014 but do you know much about them?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis article is the first in a series of Q\u0026amp;As to introduce the Tech community to the eight IRIs and their directors. First up, Executive Director Ben Wang answers five questions about the \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.manufacturing.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Manufacturing Institute (GTMI)\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EQ: Why is manufacturing a national priority?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA:\u003C\/strong\u003E Manufacturing is the foundational building block of our nation\u0027s economic and national security, creating wealth and raising America\u2019s standard of living. It accounts for 70 percent of America\u2019s exports and 90 percent of Georgia\u2019s exports. Manufacturing employs more than two-thirds of all U.S. scientists and engineers; 90 percent of all U.S. patents come from manufacturing; and manufacturing comprises more than 50 percent of the nation\u2019s R\u0026amp;D. For every manufacturing job created, more new jobs are created in the supply chain \u2014 and even more in the broader economy \u2014 which is vital to our nation\u2019s growth and competitiveness.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe U.S. has more inventions and better ideas than any other country and has been the first mover in many new technologies. Building on this track record, transformational manufacturing technologies will drive American manufacturing back to its preeminent position in the global economy. With research being key to manufacturing, there is great urgency to accelerate large- and nano-scale leading-edge research, including research related to biomedical and clean energy solutions, from the lab to the real world.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EQ: How is Tech, under the leadership of the Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute (GTMI), uniquely positioned to address the challenge for the U.S. \u2014 and its manufacturers \u2014 in manufacturing?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA:\u003C\/strong\u003E GTMI is a university-wide community of thought leaders who are passionate about manufacturing innovations that: lead to the creation of new knowledge and high-value jobs in Georgia and the U.S., enhance our national security and global competitiveness, and address the importance of economic and environmental sustainability.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERecent discussions and debates across the U.S. point to the need for innovation-driven manufacturing, and academic research is a major source of innovation. GTMI supports Georgia Tech\u2019s thought leadership in this national discussion on manufacturing through transformative endeavors such as the White House Advanced Manufacturing Partnership (AMP) Steering Committee \u2014 on which Georgia Tech President G.P. \u201cBud\u201d Peterson serves.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUnder the auspices of the AMP Steering Committee, which is tasked with reinvigorating U.S. manufacturing competitiveness, five work stream task forces were named: technology, workforce development, infrastructure, policy, and communications. A large number of Georgia Tech faculty across all six colleges participated in numerous discussions on these topics, and GTMI played a critical role in coordinating and facilitating meetings and discussions on both the local and national levels.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGTMI takes a holistic approach to re-energizing U.S. manufacturing. We catalyze collaborations of industry and government across the Georgia Tech campus \u2014 from engineering, to science, to business, to policy. In addition to working closely with our academic faculty and students, GTMI personnel collaborate with all colleges, the Georgia Tech Research Institute, Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership, and Tech\u2019s technology transfer functionaries and business incubators \u2014 to name just a few.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGTMI focuses on the complete innovation value chain \u2014 from raw and recycled resources, to prototypes and finished products. We develop advanced materials, systems, processes, education, workforce rapid certification, supply chain realignment, and policies that impact manufacturers\u2019 performance in the marketplace. Industry-focused and customer-centric, GTMI amplifies Georgia Tech\u2019s global reputation as the world leader in innovation-driven manufacturing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGTMI\u2019s road to success means fostering a manufacturing innovation ecosystem and a clear, measurable pathway that accelerates translation of interdisciplinary research into competitive products. We define our success by how fast we can move research from the lab into the real world to create substantial economic value and societal impact through public-private partnerships.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EQ: How does GTMI work with and support faculty and students?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA:\u003C\/strong\u003E GTMI leverages its resources, including a small, experienced staff, to support Georgia Tech faculty and students. We provide our partners with space for research; seed grants; administrative, communications, and marketing support; and networking opportunities. \u003Cbr \/\u003EGTMI includes Georgia Tech\u2019s 400,000 square feet of state-of-the-art manufacturing research facilities in our innovation ecosystem, and we address specific industry needs in \u0022collaboratories\u0022 (which are co-located embedded labs), pilot plants, or prototype shops in which Georgia Tech researchers, scientists, and engineers work side-by-side with their counterparts from industry, government, and academia.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGTMI research teams dynamically engage the Georgia Tech community in responding to requests for assistance. For instance, we recently worked with a student team to develop a prototype for a medical device called MAID (Magnet Assisted Intubation Device).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGTMI is also coordinating the campuswide response to National Institute of Standards and Technology\u2019s request for information on the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation, an ongoing initiative from the President\u2019s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. \u003Cbr \/\u003EIn addition, GTMI supports multidisciplinary, large-scale proposals such as the one for the ambitious $65 million National Additive Manufacturing Institute. Even though our proposal was not selected for funding, a coherent additive manufacturing group was established at Georgia Tech, and, as a result of this proposal, many companies are pursuing R\u0026amp;D opportunities with our additive manufacturing team. And the state of Georgia is creating an advanced manufacturing commercialization partnership within the Fort McPherson redevelopment.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGTMI also holds workshops to address grand challenges and develop technology road maps. In 2012, GTMI hosted a workshop on lightweight materials for the Defense Production Act Committee. This year, we are planning to host workshops on topics including: supply chain and logistics, bio-manufacturing, and production readiness.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn support of our objective to cultivate Tech\u2019s manufacturing community, we are hosting a weekly brown bag seminar series where experts from Tech and around the country give insightful presentations and interact with the campus community. And we\u2019re going to launch a newsletter to keep our community informed of ongoing efforts and opportunities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EQ: How is GTMI addressing manufacturing education?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA:\u003C\/strong\u003E With top-quality researchers, facilities and equipment, GTMI aims to educate and train the workforce of the future to investigate, collaborate, and compete successfully. We are accomplishing these high-priority goals through on-site programs that provide real-world research and education opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. Examples of these opportunities include GTMI\u2019s Manufacturing Education Certificate Program and our partnership with the Society of Manufacturing Engineers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGTMI is also partnering with the Technical College System of Georgia on collaborative, manufacturing-based instructional programs in our technical colleges around the state. Additionally, we are very involved in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) outreach activities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EQ: What does success look like in five years?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA:\u003C\/strong\u003E In five years, GTMl will:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EContribute substantially to the goal of doubling industry-sponsored research, as outlined by Steve Cross, Executive Vice President for Research.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EContinue to add to the number of new manufacturing startups launched from Georgia Tech. Over the past 20 years, the Manufacturing Research Center (MaRC) has helped create 15 new companies. GTMI will amplify this startup-friendly tradition and substantially increase the number of new advanced manufacturing-focused companies.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ELead the national debate with thought leadership on advanced manufacturing.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EBecome the acknowledged U.S. center of accelerated translations of lab discoveries into competitive products and services.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EHelp companies cut product development times by 50 percent and development costs by 75 percent.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThis article is the first in a series of Q\u0026amp;As to introduce the Tech community to the eight IRIs and their directors. First up, Executive Director Ben Wang answers five questions about the Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute (GTMI).\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The first in a series of Q\u0026As to introduce the Tech community to the eight IRIs and their directors."}],"uid":"27445","created_gmt":"2013-03-04 13:54:23","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:13:44","author":"Amelia Pavlik","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2013-03-04T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2013-03-04T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"196581":{"id":"196581","type":"image","title":"Ben Wang","body":null,"created":"1449179906","gmt_created":"2015-12-03 21:58:26","changed":"1475894848","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:47:28","alt":"Ben Wang","file":{"fid":"196439","name":"ben_wang_0.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/ben_wang_0_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/ben_wang_0_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":6717749,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/ben_wang_0_0.jpg?itok=X76eOgPn"}}},"media_ids":["196581"],"related_links":[{"url":"http:\/\/www.manufacturing.gatech.edu\/","title":"Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute"}],"groups":[{"id":"1259","name":"Whistle"}],"categories":[{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"}],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:kirk.englehardt@comm.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EKirk Englehardt\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EResearch Communications\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}