BEGIN:VCALENDAR PRODID:-//Microsoft Corporation//Outlook MIMEDIR//EN VERSION:1.0 BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART:20111116T201500Z DTEND:20111116T211500Z LOCATION:TCC LL2 DESCRIPTION;ENCODING=QUOTED-PRINTABLE:ABSTRACT: Of growing importance nationally and internationally is the focus on the “missing middle,” representing around 95% of all manufacturing in the United States. Historically, the cost of HPC has been an impossible barrier to entry for smaller organizations that need help accessing and mastering the tools of tomorrow’s innovative manufacturers and product designers. In particular, HPC, or advanced modeling, simulation, and analysis, will drive the digital smart manufacturing of the 21st century. =0A=0AThe barriers to greater deployment of HPC in small- and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises (SME) are well known; the three documented in the research literature are the lack of affordable software solutions tailored to SMEs; lack of trained talent to make use of HPC technologies; and lack of educational tools to elevate awareness of the value associated with transitioning to HPC-driven manufacturing. =0A=0AThe Alliance for High Performance Digital Manufacturing (AHPDM) is a collaborative group of HPC industries, economic development organizations, and supercomputing centers dedicated to changing the way America manufactures by bringing the power of high performance computing (HPC) to the value chain. =0A=0AAHPDM’s major objective is the elimination of barriers by identifying and providing hardware, software, and expertise as a service, accessible to missing middle manufacturers through secure web-based portals. The Alliance also supports the development of a national innovation network, a knowledge infrastructure that leverages the wealth of talent, ideas and facilities within our nation’s universities, national labs and industrial research centers so that we can innovate smarter, faster and more predictably, called Predictive Innovation Centers (PIC). The proposed network comprised of facilitating regional centers will be the bridge driving sustained economic growth and creating quality jobs. Ultimately, AHPDM’s goal is collaboration, innovation, commercialization and education among government and public/private partnerships. SUMMARY:Alliance for High Performance Digital Manufacturing – HPC for the “Missing Middle” PRIORITY:3 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR