MIT Launches Initiative for New Manufacturing to Revitalize US Industry
Cambridge, MA – In a move aimed at revitalizing American industrial production, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has announced the launch of its Initiative for New Manufacturing (INM). This Institute-wide effort seeks to infuse U.S. industrial sectors with cutting-edge technologies, strengthen critical economic areas, and stimulate job creation across the nation.
The initiative will focus on advanced research, innovative education programs, and strategic partnerships with companies across various sectors to transform manufacturing and enhance its overall impact. MIT President Sally A. Kornbluth emphasized the importance of this initiative in a letter to the Institute community, stating, “We want to work with firms big and small, in cities, small towns and everywhere in between, to help them adopt new approaches for increased productivity.”
Kornbluth further highlighted the initiative’s focus on creating “high-quality, human-centered manufacturing jobs that bring new life to communities across the country,” adding, “Helping America build a future of new manufacturing is a perfect job for MIT — and I’m convinced that there is no more important work we can do to meet the moment and serve the nation now.”
The Initiative for New Manufacturing has already garnered significant support, announcing its first six founding industry consortium members: Amgen, Flex, GE Vernova, PTC, Sanofi, and Siemens. These participants will support seed projects proposed by MIT researchers, initially focusing on the application of artificial intelligence in manufacturing processes.
INM joins a distinguished list of MIT’s presidential initiatives, including The Climate Project at MIT, MITHIC (focused on human-centered disciplines), MIT HEALS (centered on life sciences and health), and MGAIC (the MIT Generative AI Impact Consortium). This new initiative aims to integrate diverse fields, from nanotechnology to large-scale manufacturing, across sectors such as semiconductors, medical devices, automotive, energy systems, and biotechnology.
Anantha Chandrakasan, MIT’s chief innovation and strategy officer and dean of engineering, noted, “MIT is uniquely positioned to harness the transformative power of digital tools and AI to shape the future of manufacturing. I’m truly excited about what we can build together and the synergies this creates with other cross-cutting initiatives across the Institute.”
MIT’s commitment to advancing American manufacturing is not new. The faculty research group’s 1989 bestseller, “Made in America: Regaining the Productive Edge,” advocated for manufacturing renewal. Subsequent projects like Production in the Innovation Economy and the launch of The Engine, a venture fund for hardware-based “tough tech” start-ups, further demonstrate this dedication.
The MIT Initiative for New Manufacturing is structured around four primary themes:
- Reimagining manufacturing technologies and systems
- Elevating the productivity and experience of manufacturing
- Scaling new manufacturing companies and transforming supply chains
- Transforming the manufacturing base to foster a sustainable global ecosystem
Concrete programs will include an Institute-wide research program, workforce and education initiatives, and industry engagement. Plans are also in place to establish new labs, a “factory observatory” program, and key pillars focusing on areas from semiconductors and biomanufacturing to defense and aviation.
The workforce and education component will feature TechAMP, an MIT program bridging the gap between technicians and engineers, AI-driven teaching tools, professional education, and expanded manufacturing education on campus.
The leadership team includes faculty co-directors John Hart, Suzanne Berger, and Chris Love, with Julie Diop serving as executive director. The initiative’s launch was previewed at a symposium on May 7, titled “A Vision for New Manufacturing,” featuring over 30 speakers from various manufacturing sectors.
“The rationale for growing and transforming U.S. manufacturing has never been more urgent than it is today,” Berger said at the event. Love added, “New life-saving medicines can’t reach patients without manufacturing… There is a real urgency about this issue for both economic prosperity and creating jobs.”
Hart emphasized the enduring importance of manufacturing, stating, “Manufactured products enable our daily lives and manufacturing is critical to advancing the frontiers of technology and society… Working with industry — from small to large companies, and from young startups to industrial giants — will be instrumental to creating impact and realizing the vision for new manufacturing.”
Kornbluth concluded by highlighting the initiative’s goal to drive transformation by making manufacturing more productive, resilient, and sustainable, aiming to foster a broad, healthy manufacturing ecosystem that can drive decades of innovation and growth.
Editor’s note: A seventh founding member, Autodesk, was announced on May 30.
