ARM Institute Opens Florida Office to Expand Regional Support for Manufacturing Innovation in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence
The new office will enable the ARM Institute to expand its regional support of existing and new partnerships in Florida’s growing technology and manufacturing ecosystem and catalyze new work in the region
ST PETERSBURG, FL – October 3, 2022 – The Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute proudly announces that it has opened an office in St Petersburg, FL. The ARM Institute, a Manufacturing Innovation Institute (MII) funded by the Department of Defense, has the mission of catalyzing robotic technologies and workforce skilling solutions to strengthen and grow U.S. manufacturing, working with a national consortium of over 360 member organizations.
The new office is located in the Tampa Bay Innovation Center in St. Petersburg, FL. The ARM Institute headquarters has been in Pittsburgh, PA since its formation in 2017.
“Florida was the logical choice for the ARM Institute’s second location”, stated Suzy Teele, ARM Institute Chief Strategy Officer. “There are over 13,000 manufacturing organizations in critical industry sectors such as aerospace, electronics, defense, apparel, and food production that can greatly benefit from advanced automation. Florida is also widely recognized as a fast-growing state for technology and innovation. These facts, along with our active Florida-based projects with member organizations such as Johnson and Johnson, Lockheed Martin, and AmSkills, among others, convinced us that we could further our regional support and execute our mission on a significant level by opening an office in this region.”
Added Arnie Kravitz, ARM Institute Chief Innovation Officer, “Over the past several years, our Institute has brought about $13M in both technology and workforce projects to the region, with funding from the Department of Defense, Department of Commerce, and the Department of Labor. Twenty percent of the ARM Institute’s consortium membership is in the region, and we expect that number to grow.”
A key focus for the ARM Institute’s Florida office will be to leverage the investments made over the past five years in robotics, workforce development, and artificial intelligence.
“We have the technology and wisdom needed to strengthen manufacturing by leveraging what robots and humans do best,” stated Teele. “Our goal is to expand the work we are currently doing with regional manufacturers, universities, entrepreneurs, and economic development organizations, as well as new partners, to pioneer a better and more equally just advanced manufacturing model for the nation.”
ABOUT THE ARM INSTITUTE
The Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute is the nation’s leading Robotics and AI Manufacturing Innovation Institute, headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA since 2017. The Institute leverages a unique, robust, and diverse ecosystem of over 360 consortium members and partners across industry, academia, and government to make robotics, autonomy, and artificial intelligence more accessible to U.S. manufacturers large and small, train and empower the manufacturing workforce, strengthen our economy and global competitiveness, and elevate national security and resilience.
The ARM Institute is one of nine Manufacturing Innovation Institutes established by the DoD Manufacturing Technology Program as public-private partnerships and is part of the Manufacturing USA network. The Institute was launched by the Office of the Secretary of Defense under Agreement Number W911NF-17-3-0004 continues to be financially supported by the Department of Defense, with additional funding from the Department of Commerce, Department of Labor, state and local agencies, and membership dues.
The ARM Institute is leading the way to a future where people & robots work together to respond to our nation’s greatest challenges and to produce the world’s most desired products. For more information, visit www.arminstitute.org and follow the ARM Institute on LinkedIn and Twitter.