South Kansas - Driving Adoption: Smart Manufacturing Technologies led by Wichita State University

The South Kansas Region, is employing funding from the EDA’s Build Back Better Regional Challenge to increase the adoption of smart manufacturing technology among small and medium businesses to create a resilient, diversified advanced manufacturing hub.
Since the funding was awarded in 2022, South Kansas has made significant progress to strengthen capabilities and expertise at Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research and WSU Tech. Primary efforts include hiring of new staff, procurement of specialized equipment, set-up of training labs and classrooms, development and execution of training programs, and development of a new headquarters building for future activity.
South Kansas’ efforts are broken into focus areas which include Additive Manufacturing, Advanced Machining, Automated Fiber Placement and Smart Factory Training, all of which will occupy space in the new Hub for Advanced Manufacturing Research across from the NIAR headquarters.