Indiana Gets Federal Money For Composites Programs

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana will receive up to $15 million in federal money as part of the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation.

Indiana is one of six states chosen to collaborate with the federal Department of Energy in a project to expand research, development, and job creation in composite material technology.

The institute, which is backed by more than 90 manufacturing companies across the region, will operate as a public-private partnership, funded at $259 million over five years based on additional pledged commitments from industry, universities and the six partner states.

When combined with matching federal and industry funds, the state’s $15 million investment will be leveraged by a ratio of at least 2-to-1. All pledged state dollars would stay within Indiana.

Funds will be distributed according to the guidelines and procedures associated with the state’s 21st Century Fund.

“Composite materials are revolutionizing the manufacturing sector, especially in Indiana,” said Indiana Secretary of Commerce Victor Smith. “With this added bolt of support, composite material technology will help lift the future of advanced manufacturing in Indiana in partnership with our universities, national labs and neighboring states.”

Smith also said having stronger composite material technology will help strengthen the state’s economy as well as its number of jobs.

Composite materials and technology are used all over the state such as Dallara IndyCar Factory in Speedway, Toyota Indiana in Princeton and Honda Manufacturing of Indiana, LLC in Greensburg.

A state university will also benefit from the composite research and development. Purdue University will launch the Design, Modeling, and Simulation Enabling Technology Center. The center will focus on knowledge-transfer efforts, which will increase the affordability of composite manufacturing while also introducing more time for innovation into the manufacturing supply chain.

“The advanced composite market is poised for dramatic growth,” said Purdue President Mitch Daniels. “This important public-private partnership has a strong research, development and deployment mission, establishing a major sector of our manufacturing economy focused on advancing the use of composite materials such as carbon fiber to make lighter-weight cars, wind turbines, natural gas storage tanks and other products.”

The public-private partnership is the state’s second in the past two years. Last year, aerospace companies including General Electric are developing a turbomachinery research facility with the University of Notre Dame in South Bend.

Hannah Troyer is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.