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Article from IMTS Insider
http://www.imts.com/visitor/newsletter/insider/2011Jul14/lead_PresidentUnveilsAMP.html

President Unveils Advanced Manufacturing Partnership

July 14, 2011
Last month, President Obama announced the launch of the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership (AMP) to create highly-skilled, good-paying jobs and improve U.S. global competitiveness.
AMP is a national effort to bring industry, universities and the federal government together to invest in emerging industries, particularly those critical to national security. It is based on the recommendations of a study by the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) titled "Ensuring Leadership in Advanced Manufacturing." The $500 million plan uses existing funds and future appropriations from the budgets of various federal agencies to boost innovation in manufacturing technologies such as small, high-powered batteries, advanced composites, metal fabrication, bio-manufacturing and alternative engineering. The goal is to enhance defense-critical industries; build U.S. leadership in next-generation robotics; and increase energy and technological efficiency in manufacturing.
The Department of Energy has announced two initiatives supporting AMP. The first is an investment of up to $120 million over three years to support the development of transformational manufacturing technologies and innovative materials that would improve energy efficiency at manufacturing plants. The second is a partnership between DoE's National Training and Education Resource (NTER), National Association of Manufacturers' Manufacturing Institute, the Ford Partnership for Advanced Studies, and Macomb Community College to explore opportunities to support manufacturing job training.
In Congress, House Democrats have been touting their own manufacturing agenda. The "Make It in America" plan includes several bills aimed at strengthening the "smartforce" and stimulating innovation and R&D. To read more about "Make It in America," see the related article in this Insider issue.
Thus far, the Republican congressional leadership has offered no specific agenda to boost manufacturing, and the field of GOP candidates for President has been virtually silent on the subject. However, many GOP members of Congress have been vocal on the need to rein in taxes and regulations, especially on small businesses, which they believe is key to restoring confidence to the industrial sector.