February 26, 2014 — University of Tennessee (UT)-Oak Ridge National Laboratory Governor's Chair for Advanced Manufacturing Suresh Babu will lead the University of Tennessee's effort as part of a Detroit-based Lightweight and Modern Metals Manufacturing Innovation institute announced by President Obama on Feb. 25.
The institute is one of two -- the other based in Chicago -- funded by the Department of Defense to partner aluminum, titanium and high-strength steel manufacturers with universities and laboratories to develop new manufacturing technologies for consumer products and defense capabilities.
The president spoke beside a robotic arm manufactured by 3-D printing at ORNL's Manufacturing Demonstration Facility. ORNL's development of the robotic arms is funded by the Office of Naval Research.
The other institute announced is based in Chicago. The president also announced the competition for the first of four additional regional hub institutes.
See the stories from the White House and from UT.
