January 23, 2024

2030 Manufacturing Moonshot

We must think differently about the future of US manufacturing throughout the Delaware Valley and across the nation. We have to be bold in our planning and executing this renaissance.

As such, DVIRC’s mission has evolved. I believe that it is on us to reimagine manufacturing’s role in the creation of regional economic prosperity and to strengthen and accelerate America’s industrial competitiveness across key sectors.  

We will execute on our mission through: 

  • Strategic workforce initiatives.
  • Advanced technology integration and commercialization.
  • Deploying supply chain resiliency best practices.
  • Providing access to capital, expertise, and growth opportunities; and
  • Supporting regional manufacturing business retention and expansion.

Working together with our partners in business, academia, and government, we are creating one of the most passionate and purpose-driven manufacturing clusters in the world.

 

Our Moonshot

We believe that Southeastern Pennsylvania can be a globally recognized technology and innovation launch pad for advanced manufacturing. Our vision is expressed through our Manufacturing Moonshot: 

By the year 2030 DVIRC and our partners will…

Connect the brightest minds, most advanced technologies, and boldest innovations.

Transform Southeastern Pennsylvania into a globally recognized hub for advanced manufacturing excellence.

Design and build next-generation, life-sustaining, life-enriching, and life-defending goods, services, and technologies, and

Create family-sustaining careers, a thriving regional economy, and the benchmark for an American Manufacturing Renaissance.

 

Working Together to Advance our Region

DVIRC’s Manufacturing Moonshot will require focused and sustained efforts aimed at accelerating regional innovation and advanced manufacturing technology adoption, within an ecosystem of over 5,500 entrepreneurial startups and established small- and midsized manufacturing firms (SMMs) located in Southeastern Pennsylvania. 

Accelerating the rates of innovation, technology adoption, and market expansion means bridging the gap between a change-adverse and often introverted current state within many SMMs, to a desired future state in which access to regional growth initiatives, business best practices, emerging trends, a stronger peer network, and a diverse talent pool provides increased awareness around—and an on-ramp to—sustainable growth opportunities. 

Though simple in theory, the broad initiatives required to bridge such a gap on a grand scale will necessitate an expansion of existing public-private partnerships, and better alignment and collaboration between stakeholders in business, academia, government, and economic development communities. 

We are especially proud of our recent contract award from Blue Forge Alliance to help address the intense and urgent demand to build capacity for the U.S. NAVY’s regional Submarine Industrial Base (SIB); see the press release featured in this newsletter.

DVIRC efforts will focus on the creation and deployment of a regional strategy and task force that will spur enterprise engagement and support to enhance the skill sets and capacity of the defense industrial base workforce across Southeastern Pennsylvania. 

DVIRC supports over 5,500 manufacturers within Southeastern Pennsylvania, 25% of which currently support the defense industrial base.  This award will help DVIRC to increase the number of current manufacturing suppliers and strengthen all companies, expand access to a trained labor market, engage and support underserved populations, modernize manufacturer’s technical capabilities, and implement best-in-class product and process improvements. 

Our region has tremendous opportunities. By working together and using our unique assets we will ensure a bright future for generations to come.