Mission
The NextFlex Massachusetts Node will facilitate and coordinate teaming to propel innovation in flexible hybrid electronics (FHEs) in Massachustts and accelerate the commercialization and manufacturing of FHEs in the United States.
The Node will:
1. Develop and maintain a strategic vision specific to the MA FHE ecosystem
Identify and support the areas where we have strengths and that intersect the national NextFlex roadmap
2. Reinforce the national NextFlex mission
Promote a unique MA ecosystem that best facilitates the national mission for FHE technology innovation
3. Promote collaboration among all Massachusetts NextFlex members to fast-track FHE design, development and manufacturing adoption in these focused process areas, including:
Enable access to any shareable facilities, equipment and infrastructure
Enable access to faculty, undergrads and grad students at our universities for intellectual interaction
4. Anchor a regional mechanism for workforce development
Advance the development of the manufacturing workforce and promote sustainable advanced manufacturing ecosystems in a way that maximizes success in MA
Include workforce needs of the entire emerging regional supply chain: materials suppliers, system integrators, equipment manufacturers, academic institutions and research centers
5. Complement and improve connectivity to NextFlex Technology Hub in San Jose
Participate on the NextFlex Governing Council via the Node’s MA seat
Include a NextFlex executive representative on the Node Advisory Board
Affiliations
Manufacturing USA is a network of 14 national Institutes, each with a 5-year goal of securing the future of US manufacturing through innovation, collaboration and education.
Formed in 2015 through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), NextFlex® is a consortium of companies, academic institutions, non-profits and state, local and federal governments with a shared goal of advancing U.S. manufacturing of flexible hybrid electronics (FHE). When combined with the power of silicon integrated circuits (ICs), adding electronics to new and unique materials that are part of our everyday lives can create conformable, thin and flexible smart products that are making the era of “electronics on everything” a reality.
The Massachusetts Manufacturing Innovation Initiative (M2I2) is a program of Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MassTech) and Executive Office of Housing an Economic Development (EOHED) that provides capital cost shares for projects and discovery centers located within the Commonwealth’s borders, as part of the state’s on-going commitment to the Manufacturing USA program put forth by the federal government.
Advisory Board
| Companies | |
|---|---|
| E Ink | Dr. Mike McCreary, Chief Innovation Officer |
| SI2 | Dr. Joseph Kunze, Founder, President/CEO; Jon Lathrop, VP, Programs and Business Development |
| Carpe Diem | John Berg, CEO |
| Lockheed Martin | Jon Nichols, Staff Engineer |
| Jabil | Girish Wable, Senior Manager, Strategic Capabilities |
| MassMEP | Kathie Mahoney, Center Director |
| MassMEP | Richard Sullivan, Advanced Manufacturing Technology Manager |
| Education | |
|---|---|
| Northeastern University | Dr. Ahmed Busnaina, Distinguished University Professor and Director, The Advanced Nanomanufacturing Cluster for Smart Sensors and Materials CSSM |
| UMass Lowell | Dr. Julie Chen, Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation |
| UMass Lowell | Dr. Joey Mead, Distinguished University Professor and Department Chair |
| UMass Amherst | Loren Walker, Director of Research Development |
| WPI | Ellen Piccioli, Director of Manufacturing Innovation, Research Solutions Institute |
| WPI | Dr. Pratap M. Rao, Assistant Professor |
| Government | |
|---|---|
|
MassTech/M2I2 |
Farhad Vazehgoo, Director, Advanced Technology Programs & Workforce Development |
|
NextFlex |
Dr. Scott Miller, Director of Strategic Programs |