NextFlex News – June 2022

Dear Members and Friends,

It’s hard to believe that 2022 is nearly at the half-way mark already. With graduations and other celebrations now fully underway, it’s a pleasure to reflect not only on the accomplishments thus far this year, but to also look ahead with a fresh perspective toward the second half of the year. We’re looking forward to hosting members again at Innovation Days August 2-3 here at the Technology Hub, with visionary speakers, FHE-enabled demonstrators, and lots of opportunities to network and find new partners and collaborators. Because we’re still cautious about what may happen with COVID protocols, we’re limiting attendance to members, government, and workforce development partners, and it’s shaping up to be a fantastic event.

Representatives from the DoD MIIs, USG program managers, and OSD ManTech demonstrate emerging technology at the Pentagon on May 24.

Last month, NextFlex, along with the other eight DoD-sponsored institutes, participated in technology demonstrations at the Pentagon as part of the Spring Network meeting hosted by OSD ManTech. Executive Directors from each of the Institutes, MII government program managers, and institute partners discussed best practices, lessons learned and areas to improve DoD engagement with the institutes. The objective of the meeting is to improve communications across the DoD institute network and explore opportunities for collaboration with emphasis on technology transition.

Pentagon leaders and technologists engage in discussions with MII Executive Directors at demonstration tables.

Presentations including one from Dr. Dev Shenoy, Principal Director for Microelectronics, and another from Mr. Jim Zunino of DEVCOM on “Joint Requirements for Point of Need Manufacturing,” were highlights from our perspective. Collectively, the DoD MII’s are catalysts for over $3.7B invested (initial investment and follow-on Federal investment + matching funds from institute members) across the institutes’ 1,590 members around the nation. We at NextFlex are proud to represent our member community at such an event and are honored to have been able to demonstrate funded project results in such good company.

As always, keep the good ideas coming and I hope to greet you at Innovation Days in August.

Sincerely,

Malcolm J. Thompson, Ph.D
NextFlex Executive Director