LIFT Expands Relationship With Department of Defense, Signs Agreement with U.S. Army

LIFT and its partners will enhance mission-effectiveness of materials, components, systems and supporting platforms in use by the military

DETROIT – LIFT, the Detroit-based Department of Defense-supported national manufacturing innovation institute, announced today it has signed an agreement with the Army to lead new technology programs to support the U.S. warfighter.

The Other Transactional Agreement (OTA) between LIFT and the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Ground Vehicle Systems Center (CCDC GVSC), located at Detroit Arsenal in Warren, Michigan, allows LIFT to deliver new technologies over the next five years.

CCDC GVSC, the nation’s laboratory for advanced military automotive technology, is one of eight science and technology domains in place to ensure decisive overmatch for unified land operations that empower the Army, the joint warfighter and the nation. Its mission is to support Army ground vehicle equipment throughout its lifecycle and research, develop, engineer, leverage and integrate advanced technology into ground systems.

Under this OTA, LIFT will research materials maturation, product design and manufacturing process improvements and the development of models to evaluate the feasibility and usefulness of various lightweight materials and manufacturing processes. Research and development will lead to prototypes, directly relevant to enhancing the mission-effectiveness of military personnel and the materials, components, systems and supporting platforms in use by the armed forces.

“Our core mission as an institute is to develop technologies to enhance the effectiveness and better protect the warfighter, and this agreement gives us the opportunity to continue that mission for years,” said Nigel Francis, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, LIFT. “This partnership also continues Michigan’s strong heritage of innovation and manufacturing in support of the Department of Defense.”

LIFT’s technology focus areas include: Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME) and Computational Engineering; Advanced Alloy and Process Development; Multi-Material Joining, and Applications of Additive, Metamorphic and Future Manufacturing.

Since its founding in 2014, LIFT now has secured more than $174 million in funding for technology and talent development in support of the U.S. industrial and defense manufacturing bases.

In late 2019, LIFT announced the extension of the lease on its 100,000 square foot Detroit facility. Earlier in 2020, LIFT celebrated its sixth anniversary and announced it extended its original agreement with the Department of Defense.

ABOUT LIFT

LIFT, operated by the American Lightweight Materials Manufacturing Innovation Institute, is the Detroit-based, public-private partnership between the Department of Defense, industry and academia, committed to the development and deployment of advanced manufacturing technologies, and implementing talent development initiatives to better prepare the workforce today and in the future. LIFT funded in part by the Department of Defense with management through the Office of Naval Research. Visit www.lift.technology or follow on LinkedIn at LIFT or on Twitter @NewsFromLIFT to learn more.