Raleigh, NC– The North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP) today announced that it has won a $1M, three-year grant from the U.S Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in support of its newly formed MEP Digital Supply Chain Network (MDSCN). The MDSCN coalition is led by NCMEP and is joined by MEP Centers from Maryland and Massachusetts.
MDSCN will use the new funding to design assessment and training strategies for small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMM) in order to meet the demands of digital supply chains, which use real-time data to monitor and deliver products and services.
Using the results of the assessment, MDSCN will deliver MEP services that are customized to meet the needs, business goals and readiness level of each manufacturer. MDSCN will help targeted SMMs develop roadmaps to increase digital supply chain presence and participation.
In addition, NCMEP announced it is a sub-recipient of a $231K, two-year grant from NIST in support of the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL), the eleventh Manufacturing USA Institute. The award will allow NCMEP to dedicate resources within the Institute to engage the NC biopharmaceutical manufacturing cluster.
NIIMBL’s mission is to accelerate biopharmaceutical manufacturing innovation, support the development of standards that enable more efficient and rapid manufacturing capabilities, and educate and train a world-leading biopharmaceutical manufacturing workforce to advance U.S. competitiveness in the industry.
The MEP/NIIMBL Collaborative Pilot Project, led by the Delaware Manufacturing Extension Partnership and joined by NCMEP and the MEP Center from Massachusetts, is designed to enhance and strengthen the interrelated activities between NIIMBL and the MEP Center network.
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About the North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP)
The North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP) provides manufacturing extension services that enhance the productivity, innovative capacity and technological performance of US-based manufacturing firms. It also works to strengthen the global competitiveness of small- and medium-sized manufacturers. NCMEP is administered by the NC State Industry Expansion Solutions and is joined by partners from the North Carolina Community College System, NCWorks Customized Training; the Economic Development Partnership of NC; the Polymers Center of Excellence; the Manufacturing Solutions Center; and North Carolina A&T State University.
About the NC State Industry Expansion Solutions (IES)
Industry Expansion Solutions (IES) is the engineering-based, solutions-driven, client-focused extension unit of NC State’s College of Engineering. Their broad portfolio of solutions and deep industry expertise help organizations grow, innovate and prosper. Our extensive partnerships with business, industry, education and government generate a unique culture of collaboration that provides access to cutting-edge expertise, research, and technology.
Media Contact: Teresa Bradford, Director of Marketing, (919) 515-7885 or Teresa_Bradford@ncsu.edu
