Company will contribute $10 million over five years to the Advanced
Tissue Biofabrication Initiative
MILWAUKEE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Breakthrough innovation in the life sciences industry is needed to bring
regenerative medicine technology to scale. Automating new
biomanufacturing processes holds the promise of profoundly improving the
quality of life for wounded servicemen and women, as well as for
civilians needing healthy, new organs.
Rockwell Automation has been selected as a critical industrial
automation partner in the Department of Defense’s new public-private
Manufacturing USA initiative, the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing
Institute (ARMI). Federal funding of $80 million will be combined with
$214 million of contributions from a prominent consortium, including $10
million from Rockwell Automation, to innovate mass production of tissue
and organ biofabrication.
“ARMI brings together advances in manufacturing, biotech, medicine and
life sciences to create new possibilities for those with immediate need
for human tissue and organs,” said Blake Moret, CEO of Rockwell
Automation. “This is literally a life-changing approach and adds a new
chapter to medicine. Our contribution is to integrate biomanufacturing
science with production techniques that increase the capacity, speed,
modularity and consistent quality of new tissue and organ production. We
are thrilled to have the opportunity to contribute our expertise to an
initiative critical to the well-being of both civilians and service
members.”
Biofabrication – Automated Production of Tissues and Organs
Biofabrication is an innovative manufacturing industry segment at the
intersection of biology-related research, computer science, materials
science and engineering that creates innovations, such as biomaterial
and cell processing.
“Importantly, ARMI has plans to develop a new generation of skilled
technicians within this growing industry,” said Moret. “Workers with the
skills to compete and win in new industries are critical to the future
competitiveness of our country.”
The Advanced Tissue Biofabrication Manufacturing Innovation Institute
(ATB-MII), a coalition of ARMI, will be led by one of our country’s most
prolific inventors, Dean Kamen, chairman of the Advanced Regenerative
Manufacturing Institute (ARMI) and the founder of FIRST (For Inspiration
and Recognition of Science and Technology), which inspires young
people’s interest and participation in science and technology.
U.S. Manufacturing Pushing Envelopes in DoD Institutes
ARMI is the 12th Manufacturing USA institute. Eight are led by the DoD,
and each focuses on a technology area critical to future
competitiveness. According to Defense Secretary Ash Carter, the
investments in advanced manufacturing ensure that the innovations needed
to develop, manufacture and commercialize cutting-edge processes and
materials happen in the U.S.
“The products will provide important benefits to our warfighters and
help strengthen the economy that is the bedrock of our national
security,” Carter said.
ARMI is based in Manchester, New Hampshire, and will integrate a diverse
portfolio of industry practices and research to advance a robust
biofabrication ecosystem.
About Rockwell Automation
Rockwell
Automation Inc. (NYSE: ROK), the world’s largest company dedicated
to industrial automation and information, makes its customers more
productive and the world more sustainable. Headquartered in Milwaukee,
Wisconsin, Rockwell Automation employs approximately 22,000 people
serving customers in more than 80 countries.
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Source: Rockwell Automation Inc.