NextFlex News – June 2020 Newsletter

Dear Members and Friends,

We were extremely pleased to announce last week that NextFlex has secured seven years of government funding worth up to $154M in a cost-sharing agreement with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). The seven-year agreement also includes funding from the Office of the Secretary of Defense’s (OSD) Manufacturing Technology program, which focuses on cross-cutting defense manufacturing needs. You can read the full announcement here.

The funds will be used to directly support NextFlex’s ongoing mission to drive manufacturing technology needs for OSD Research & Engineering modernization priorities and developing FHE innovations to accelerate its adoption in the US. Particular focus will be given to Department of Defense technology transitions that increase military capabilities and on developing a robust advanced manufacturing workforce.

On Thursday, June 11, NextFlex hosted a webinar to announce the awarding of its second Cooperative Agreement to members and supporters.

Webinar speakers were:

• Malcolm Thompson, Executive Director, NextFlex
• Tracy Frost, Director, OSD ManTech and DoD Manufacturing USA Institutes
• Chuck Ward, Chief, Manufacturing and Industrial Technologies Division, Air Force Research Laboratory
• Eric Forsythe, NextFlex Government Program Manager and ERP SAMM Hybrid Thrust Lead at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command’s Army Research Laboratory
• Robert Smith, Technical fellow, Boeing Research and Technology, a Tier 1 corporate member
• Chris Stoessel, Sr. Manager, Process Development, Eastman Chemical, Co., a Tier 2 corporate member
• Joe Kunze, President and CEO, SI2 Technologies, a Tier 3 corporate member
• Mark Poliks, Professor; Director, Center for Advanced Microelectronics Manufacturing, Binghamton University, a Tier 1 academic member

Each speaker presented their unique perspective on the value that NextFlex and has created over the past five years and the opportunities that the new Cooperative Agreement will bring to the FHE community. You may watch the full recording of the webinar here.

We’re delighted to share this news and look forward to working with you all in the months and years to come. I wish to thank all our supporters, especially from OSD ManTech, AFRL and ARL, who make us better every day. I’d also like to thank our members, who inspire us to work together to transform how we make and use electronic systems, helping to improve the way that people live, work, and play.

Sincerely,

Malcolm J. Thompson, PhD
Executive Director