| About Us |
The Chicago Manufacturing Renaissance Council (CMRC) is a partnership of the region's labor, business, government, education and community leaders working together to establish the Chicago area as a global leader in high-performance, high value-added manufacturing. Why manufacturing? |
| Support the CMRC |
Your support makes our success possible. We need your help to deliver the resources, networks, and programs to help develop a skilled workforce and keep us on the cutting edge of innovation.
Please make your check payable to the Center for Labor & Community Research and mail it to us at 3411 West Diversey, Suite 10, Chicago, Illinois 60647.
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| | Contact Us | 3411 West Diversey, Suite 10
Chicago, Illinois 60647
P: 773-278-5418
F: 773-278-5918
chicagomanufacturing.org
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Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer to visit APA sister school Chi Tech
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By Dan Swinney
Executive Director
The CMRC was founded on the knowledge that if we are to become the global leaders in manufacturing complex products, we must have a world class education system. We started with Austin Polytech.
Last year, our Center
for Polytechnical Education opened the Chicago Academy for Advanced
Technology
-- or Chi Tech, as the students call it -- in partnership with Mayor Daley's Council of Technology Advisors, the Illinois Technology Association, and Chicago Public Schools.
Today, Chi Tech will welcome a very important visitor: Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. Microsoft was one of Chi Tech's founding sponsors. We're very excited that Mr. Ballmer is coming to meet our students, who've prepared interactive multimedia presentations to showcase their high-tech skills.
This is an exciting moment for the students, staff, and supporter of this new school. And the growth of this new school is an equally exciting development for the CMRC and our manufacturing companies. This is our life-line to the future.
Stay tuned for photos and updates from the event, but meanwhile, check out our press release.
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Partner Spotlight | Micro Tech
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The varied capabilities of Microtech Machine Company can be summarized
by two of its signature products: tennis ball hoppers and the sophisticated
machines such Carbon Fiber Placement Head used on Boeing Dreamliner. This
Wheeling, Illinois based company has developed an international reputation for its
proto-type engineering and precision manufacturing capabilities, as well as its
creativity and resourcefulness. In 1983, less than 3 years after moving from
Poland to Chicago, Elizabeth Iwanicki started Microtech Machine Co. when she
purchased the ailing punch press plant where she was employed. Today she is the
President and owner of Microtech and she has built the foundation of a dynamic
company with the remarkable ability to serve highly diverse industries.
Continue Reading
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Executive Committee Focuses on Innovation at Latest Meeting
|  At its May 19 meeting, the CMRC Executive Committee welcomed keynote speaker Dr. Rob Atkinson, founder and president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), a non-partisan innovation policy think tank.
Dr. Atkinson discussed his view on the status of innovation economics today, and shared his policy recommendations to bolster US leadership in innovation. The Executive Committee also heard a response from Rick Mattoon of the Chicago Federal Reserve.
"The view in Washington is that we're number one," Dr. Atkinson said. However, an ITIF study found that out of 36 countries, the US ranks only sixth in innovation-based competitiveness. The US also ranks dead last in progress toward the new knowledge-based innovation economy over the last decade.
So why aren't we doing anything? The short answer is politics. "The Competes Act would have funded new research for nanotechnology, but the bill was defeated because of a provision to ban NSF employees from looking at porn," Dr. Atkinson pointed out.
In order for the US to stay competitive in the global innovation economy, Dr. Atkinson argues we need smarter innovation policies, including a national innovation office, foundations to support regional innovation, and better trade policies to encourage consumption of US goods.
Special thanks to Dr. Atkinson for a lively and intellectual discussion!
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