University’s Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Artificial Intelligence to provide support for small, medium manufacturers
Menomonie, Wis. – A $647,000 grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) will allow University of Wisconsin-Stout’s Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Artificial Intelligence – CAM-AI – to provide advanced manufacturing and AI support to small- and medium-
sized manufacturers.
The newly announced grant is the result of ongoing conversations and the preexisting relationship between the WEDC, the State of Wisconsin’s lead economic development agency, and UW-Stout, Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University.
“The WEDC financial commitment will allow UW-Stout to fully build out the Center for Advanced Manufacturing and AI,” UW-Stout Chancellor Katherine Frank said. “This investment will enable UW-Stout to expand its delivery of cutting-edge, industry-focused support and services to small- and medium-sized businesses throughout the state.”
“Wisconsin has long been a manufacturing powerhouse, especially in the field of precision manufacturing,” said Missy Hughes, secretary and CEO of WEDC. “For our state’s small- and medium-sized manufacturers to remain competitive in the global marketplace, it’s absolutely critical for them to be able to harness the power of AI in their daily operations. CAM-AI is in the spirit of the Wisconsin Idea – helping businesses and residents access the knowledge and resources of the Universities of Wisconsin to keep our state moving forward.”
Seth Hudson, UW-Stout’s executive director for Corporate Relations and Economic Engagement, said the funding will allow the university to invest in state-of-the-art equipment to expand and enhance the services of CAM-AI. “This investment will allow us to further contribute to the growth of our industry partners through advanced manufacturing techniques and AI-driven solutions,” he said.
David Ding, director of the Robert F. Cervenka School of Engineering and an associate dean in the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Management, said the grant will allow UW-Stout to fully build out an Automated Demonstration line, enabling the university to showcase to its industry partners the applications of automation, robotics, vision inspection and AI-aided manufacturing. “The demonstration system will showcase the new technologies that CAM-AI can help manufacturers implement in their own processes,” Ding said.
CAM-AI was created in 2024 to leverage the broad array of university expertise for solving technical issues and conducting research to support private industry. The center works in partnership with the UW-Stout Manufacturing Outreach Center, one of two centers in Wisconsin affiliated with the National Institute of Standards and Technology/Manufacturing Extension Partnership national network. The Manufacturing Outreach Center, which also receives support from the WEDC, delivers comprehensive, proven solutions through consulting, training and workforce development.
Once fully operational, the WEDC investment will allow CAM-AI to serve approximately 20 companies and 100-plus students each year.
The goals of UW-Stout’s CAM-AI include:
- Partnering with the MOC to provide timely academic applied research expertise.
- Providing direct assistance in solving time-sensitive industry focused problems.
- Providing services, such as additive manufacturing and testing.
- Engaging with regional and statewide initiatives that support advanced manufacturing and AI.
“By leveraging the expertise of our faculty, students and advanced technologies as the state’s polytechnic university, we are able deliver timely and impactful solutions to meet the evolving needs of industry partners,” Hudson said.
Manufacturing is one of the largest components of Wisconsin’s economy: With more than 9,000 manufacturing companies employing 480,000 workers statewide, the sector is responsible for $66 billion in economic activity annually, according to the most recent annual report from the Wisconsin Center for Manufacturing & Productivity.
UW-Stout, a member of the Universities of Wisconsin, is Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University, with a focus on applied learning, collaboration with business and industry, and career outcomes. Learn more via the FOCUS2030 strategic plan.
