Welcome to the Fall 2023 NC DMCSP Newsletter
Since our summer issue, much has been happening across the DMCSP ecosystem. This issue will summarize a series of textile, innovation and manufacturing-related events conducted or supported by NC DMCSP partners in Raleigh, Red Springs, Greensboro and several other locations since June 2023. The events included in this newsletter are the North Carolina Military Business Center Medical, Biomedical and Biodefense: Support to the Warfighter Symposium, the NC DMCSP Company Cohort Demo Day, the NCMBC Defense Technology Summit, the Defense Manufacturing Summit and Exhibition and several other grant-related events.
We have also included links to relevant articles you may find interesting and upcoming events you may want to attend.
Happy Holidays!
— Michael Mullins, Director, Defense Industry Initiatives, NC State Industry Expansion Solutions
The International Textile Machinery Association (ITMA)
Several members of the NC DMCSP ecosystem (Wilson College of Textiles, Textile Technology Center, Southern Textile Association, etc.) attended the International Textile Machinery Association (ITMA) 2023 at the Fiera Milano Rho exhibition center in Milan, Italy, from June 8-14, 2023. The 19th edition of the world’s largest textile and garment technology exhibition showcased the forefront of innovation in the textile industry, unveiling cutting-edge technologies presented by 1709 exhibitors from 47 countries. Spanning 200,000 square meters of the Fiera Milano Rho venue, ITMA 2023 is the most extensive textile machinery exhibition in the world.
Don Rusch (2nd from left), Director of the Textile Technology Center (DMCSP partner) and Jasmine Cox (Center), Executive Director, Textile Technology & Fiber Innovation Centers at ITMA 2023 in Milan, Italy.
Dr. Andre West (seated on the right), Director, Zeis Textiles Extension and Assistant Professor, Wilson College of Textiles (DMSCP partner) at ITMA 2023.
Medical, Biomedical and Biodefense: Support to the Warfighter Symposium
On June 13–14, 2023, The North Carolina Military Business Center (DMCSP partner) and the North Carolina Biotechnology Center hosted the Medical, Biomedical and Biodefense: Support to the Warfighter Symposium in Chapel Hill.
The Medical, Biomedical and Biodefense: Support to the Warfighter Symposium connected businesses in North Carolina with military and other federal agencies that require or purchase medical supplies, equipment, devices, pharmaceuticals, medical information technology and medical services. Representatives from the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs and Health and Human Services, their prime vendors and major contractors – from national commands and bases, commands and facilities in North Carolina – highlighted current technology, resource gaps and needs, future requirements and procurement processes to supply military and federal medical facilities and agencies. The symposium also focused on establishing a dialogue between industry and academia-based technology innovators and military and government officials to address the current and future biomedical and biodefense needs of the military and our nation.
Symposium partners included:
- First Flight Venture Center (DMCSP partner)
- University of North Carolina System
- North Carolina Defense Technology Transition Office (DEFTECH) (DMCSP partner)
- North Carolina Center for Optimizing Military Performance (NC-COMP) (DMCSP partner)
- Defense Alliance of North Carolina (DMCSP partner)
https://businessnc.com/prepping-for-future-battles-requires-advances-in-battlefield-care/
Stephen M. DeLellis, Senior Technical Advisor, Fort Liberty Research Institute (FLRI)/Geneva Foundation (DMCSP partner), speaking at the Medical, Biomedical & Biodefense: Support to the Warfighter Symposium.
Propeller First Flight Venture Center DMCSP Demo Day
On June 28, 2023, Emil Runge, First Flight Venture Center (DMCSP partner), led the Propeller First Flight Venture Center DMCSP Demo Day at the Wilson College of Textiles (DMCSP partner). The Demo Day featured a product presentation from four of the five DMCSP Year 2 Cohort companies. The agenda included:
The cohort companies that presented at the demo day included:
- Gates Hinds, Lumiton
- Robert Hughes, RockSpring Bio
- Dr. Ericka Ford & Cheryl Wooten, Nicelle Technologies
- Robert Cooley, Lauren Munton, & Nathan Munton, Nuream, Inc.
Cheryl Wooten and Dr. Ericka Ford, Nicelle Technologies, presenting at the DMCSP Year 2 Cohort Demo Day.
Nathan Munton and Robert Cooley, CEO, Nuream, Inc. presenting on how Nuream’s innovations will support the U.S. military.
Second Annual Defense Technology Summit
On July 25, 2023, the second annual Defense Technology Summit (DTS) was hosted by the North Carolina Military Business Center (DMCSP partner) and the North Carolina Defense Technology Transition Office (DMCSP partner).
The DTS highlighted the advanced technology needs of major military commands in North Carolina, the Department of Defense (DoD), and the correlating capabilities of the innovation ecosystem in North Carolina and the southeast. The DTS established a dialogue and partnerships between industry, academia and government to address the future technology needs of America’s warfighters.
Major General Patrick B. Roberson, Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Special Operations Command and Senator Thom Tillis providing keynote remarks at the Defense Technology Summit.
Representatives from the 10th Mountain Division, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Liberty Garrison, Army Special Operations Command and JSOC discuss Forced Entry in a Complex Environment.
Roadshow of the North Carolina DMCSP
Matt Bogoshian, the Executive Director of the American Manufacturing Community Collaborative (AMCC) and David Van Siclen, Project Operations Director, conducted a Roadshow of the North Carolina DMCSP on August 15 – 18, 2023. As part of AMCC’s collaborative partnership with the U.S. EDA, serving as the nation’s manufacturing Community of Practice, AMCC is working to co-create meetings organized together with key regional manufacturing community organizations.
AMCC described many emerging best practices, federal interventions available to regions and tactics learned from other regions that can be implemented in regions across the country. The AMCC visit was meant to be a catalyst to strengthen existing and proposed regional public-private consortium initiatives organized to accelerate sustainable development with a manufacturing-related theme. The AMCC visit to North Carolina helped the collaborative learn about state successes and challenges and how AMCC can help North Carolina consortium partners be more successful in weaving together regionally relevant federal, state, local, and private interventions that can produce desired outcomes.
The AMCC roadshow highlighted the state’s North Carolina Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program (NC DMCSP), economic development practices, workforce development initiatives and defense innovation programs.
Read more about the AMCC visit »
Emil Runge, Director of Programs, DRIVe Initiative, First Flight Venture Center, describes the DMCSP Cohort Year 2 companies and propeller program.
Phil Mintz, Executive Director, NC State University Industry Expansion Solutions and Director, North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership, opening Day 2 of the NC DMCSP roadshow.
Matt Bogoshian, Executive Director, AMCC describing the Build Back Better Regional Challenge program.
The DEFTECH Coffee Call on the American Manufacturing Community Collaborative (AMCC) being held at the NC State University College of Engineering.
The Women Business Leaders Forum
August 21, 2023: ‘Michael, Loree, Pam and several other IES personnel attended the Defense Alliance of North Carolina (DMCSP partner) Women Business Leaders forum at Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington. This event launched the Women’s Business Leaders (WBL) forum in partnership with NC State University Industry Expansion Solutions (IES) Defense Industry Initiatives. Secretary of State Elaine Marshall and Secretary of the NC Department of Commerce Machelle Baker Sanders served as keynote speakers.
Iris Phillips, CEO, Grace Federal Solutions and Machelle Baker Sanders, North Carolina Secretary of Commerce at the Women’s Business Leaders Forum.
Elaine Marshall, NC Secretary of State, describes the challenges she faced being elected the first woman in North Carolina to be elected to a Council of State office.
The Inaugural Defense Manufacturing Summit and Exhibition
On September 7, 2023, the Inaugural Defense Manufacturing Summit and Exhibition was hosted by Emerging Technology Institute (ETI) and partners, NC State University Industry Expansion Solutions (IES) Defense Industry Initiatives, Fayetteville Cumberland Economic Development Corporation and Children of Fallen Heroes. The event connected manufacturers with Department of Defense (DoD) organizations, regional manufacturers, research and development facilities, manufacturing and academic resources.
Attendees met industry leaders, exchanged ideas, attended informative sessions and explored the latest technologies and innovations in the field. The exhibition featured cutting-edge products and services from top companies in the industry.
The free event was open to all manufacturers, economic development organizations, defense industry supply chains, veteran’s transition groups, entrepreneurs and academia.
Bill McMillian, Transition Services Manager, Fort Liberty, speaking at the Defense Manufacturing Summit on Veterans Transition programs.
Daniel Quinn, North Carolina Military Business Center, conducting an Introduction to Federal Contracting class at the Defense Manufacturing Summit.
Children of Fallen Heroes skydiving team member displaying the NC State IES flag (middle) before landing at the Defense Manufacturing Summit.
The DARPAConnect North Carolina Regional Pop-up
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the Applied Research Institute (ARI), Tougaloo College Research and Development Foundation (TCRDF) and the North Carolina Defense Technology Transition Office (DMCSP partner), a component of the NC Military Business Center (DMCSP partner), hosted the DARPAConnect North Carolina Regional Pop-up event on September 10, 2023 at The Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, a partnership between North Carolina A&T and UNC Greensboro in Greensboro, NC.
DARPAConnect is designed to broaden DARPA’s reach and stimulate growth and collaboration between DARPA and small businesses and education institutions new to the agency or the national security space. To break down entry barriers, this event is designed to educate, motivate, and inspire potential performers to engage with DARPA to grow the national security innovation ecosystem.
Over 150 in-person and approximately 250 online industry, university and government representatives attended the DARPAConnect event in Greensboro.
Dr. John Hardin, Director of the NC Department of Commerce Board of Science, Technology and Innovation (DMCSP partner) providing a “Lightning Talk” at DARPAConnect.
The Association of Defense Communities North Carolina Defense Summit
On September 26 and 27, 2023, the Association of Defense Communities North Carolina Defense Summit was held in Raleigh. The North Carolina Defense Summit 2023 (NCDS) focused on building our military, community and defense industry through sharing state and national best practices. The Summit presented “best practices” in advancing North Carolina as the nation’s most military, veteran and defense industry-friendly state.
Key Objectives of the summit included:
- Installation and Garrison Opportunities
- Host-Community Communications and Partnerships
- Public/Private Initiatives
- Military Child Care Opportunities
- Military K-12 Education
- Installation Scorecard
- Business Opportunities with Government
- Military Transition Assistance
- Military/Defense Research
- Military License Portability
- Military Spouse Employment
Rob Cooley, CEO of Nuream and NCDMCSP cohort company, providing opening remarks at the NC Defense Summit in Raleigh.
Scott Dorney (center), North Carolina Military Business Center (NCDMCSP partner) speaking during the Small Business Opportunities panel at the NC Defense Summit.
In The News
Upcoming Events
- Government Relation Forum
November 13, 2023 - Courageous Conversation: Celebrating Veterans Year-Round
November 14, 2023 - Defense Techconnect: Innovation Summit and Expo
November 28, 29, 30, 2023 - 3 DAY TIMER PRO TRAINING FOR CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT PROFESSIONALS
November 30, 2023 - Science and Technology Forum
National Security Challenges, DoD Priorities, and the NDAA for Small Businesses
November 30, 2023 - Fabric Property Development & Characterization 2023
December 5, 2023 - Annual Defense Industry Celebration 2023
December 13, 2023 - Introduction to Federal Contracting Part 1
December 5-6, 2023 - MILITARY MEDICAL INNOVATION OPERATIONAL FORUM
December 7, 2023 - THE SANDHILLS PROJECT – “FUTURE BREACHING EXPERIMENT”
December 11, 2023 - UNDERSTANDING AND UTILIZING MATCHFORCE.ORG
December 13, 2023 - DANC Science & Technology Forum Roundtable on Artificial Intelligence
January 25, 2024 - Advanced Textiles Association (ATA) Women in Textiles Summit
February 12-14, 2024 - Southern Textile Association’s Winter Seminar
Feb 21, 2024
