Metals Innovation Initiative Celebrates Its Part as Finalist Selection in National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines Competition

[Image: NSF Engines Finalists web banner]

The Metals Innovation Initiative (MI2), a Kentucky-based nonprofit, is excited to announce its role as a partner in an initiative recently named as a finalist for funding through the National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines competition. This recognition resonates with MI2’s mission to drive collaborative, industry-led executive leadership that catalyzes advanced research, sustainability, commercialization, and talent development in Kentucky's metals industry.

Led by the Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation (KSTC), the Additive Manufacturing Forward Engine (AMFE) proposal has emerged as one of only 16 national finalists. The potential funds of $160 million over a decade into the regions of Kentucky, West Virginia, and Ohio through the AMFE project align with MI2’s goal to advance metals-related technologies in Kentucky. The transformative power of additive manufacturing technologies is poised to reshape industries in profound ways.

Vijay Kamineni, CEO of the Metals Innovation Initiative stated, “Providing partnership to KSTC on this initiative resonates with our mission here at MI2. We are excited to be selected as a finalist and we look forward to this endeavor and how it will usher in innovative, sustainable solutions and high-quality manufacturing jobs for the Commonwealth.”

“AMFE’s selection as an NSF Engines finalist speaks to the immense impact additive manufacturing can have both regionally and nationally,” said KSTC President and AMFE project lead Terry Samuel. “This project builds upon Kentucky’s strong partnerships among research institutions, nonprofit organizations and industry leaders such as MI2 to drive industrial and economic growth, particularly in our region’s automotive, aerospace and logistics supply chains.”

The AMFE initiative is rooted in the aspiration to streamline and advance additive manufacturing technologies, heralding a new era of manufacturing practices. By reducing part lead times, material costs, energy consumption, and waste generation, additive manufacturing emerges as a critical technology for sectors like aerospace and semiconductor manufacturing.

MI2's partner role in the AMFE project involves fostering an industry-driven technology cluster, bolstered by university research and fortified by government support, presenting a fresh perspective on public-private partnerships. Spearheaded by the KSTC, AMFE's core collaborators include many other institutions and organizations like Kentucky Community and Technical College System, University of Louisville, Kentucky State University, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Siemens Energy, The Boeing Company, Honeywell Aerospace, GE Aviation, and many others.

The NSF Engines program's launch in 2022 addressed crucial concerns outlined in the "CHIPS and Science Act." The upcoming and final phase of the competition will involve NSF reviewers conducting on-site evaluations to assess each team's ability to mobilize within the initial two years, competitive advantages, budgets, workforce development strategies, risks, and resources. The competition commenced with 188 proposals, narrowing down to 34 semifinalists in June. Awardees are set to be unveiled in the forthcoming fall.

As a partner on this initiative, MI2 is committed to providing a collaborative, industry-led executive leadership to attract and promote advanced research, sustainability, commercialization, and talent development in Kentucky’s metals industry–and, ultimately, for Kentucky to be seen as the preeminent destination for metals innovation. For more information, please visit www.mi2ky.org.