$480 million research fund for US-made military textiles
The US Department of Defence has launched a manufacturing innovation institute to revitalise domestic production of advanced military textiles and reduce reliance on foreign sources. The 10-year Department of War initiative brings together industry, government, university and nonprofit partners and is supported by a budget that includes $36 million in its first year, capped at $480 million over the coming decade.
Six academic partners are part of the programme: Gaston College, NC State, Drexel University, Georgia Tech, Industrial Sewing and Innovation Centre (ISAIC) and UMass Lowell.
Photo shows Georgia Tech School of Materials Science and Engineering researchers Sungmee Park (left) and Sundaresan Jayaraman with their "Smart Shirt” that seamlessly combines textiles and electronics.
