The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. (WEDC) is preparing a “concept paper” for submission to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in hopes of landing a new Manufacturing USA institute focused on artificial intelligence, according to a report from WisBusiness. If successful, Wisconsin could secure tens of millions of dollars in federal and private sector funding for the project, which would advance the state’s leadership in AI-driven manufacturing.
Missy Hughes, WEDC’s CEO, emphasized existing collaborations between academic institutions like UW–Milwaukee and technical colleges, along with major manufacturers such as Rockwell Automation and Milwaukee Tool, as key strengths in Wisconsin’s bid. Additionally, the state’s partnership with Microsoft on the forthcoming AI Co-Innovation Lab positions Wisconsin as a competitive contender.
The new institute would build on these collaborations and opportunities, further advancing AI innovation in the state’s robust manufacturing sector. NIST will select a few proposals from the initial submissions for further development.
