Carnegie Mellon University Awards Build Back Better Recipients in Robotics and Advanced Manufacturing

Last week, Carnegie Mellon University’s Block Center for Technology announced the 2023 recipients of the Southwest Pennsylvania Build Back Better subgrants. The nine awardees, chosen from projects submitted in June, support skills-focused training programs intended to help Southwestern Pennsylvanians secure jobs in robotics and advanced manufacturing.

“Carnegie Mellon University is committed to connecting today’s workers with cutting-edge robotics and advanced manufacturing skills,” said Farnam Jahanian, president of Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). “The nine grants we’re awarding — and the nine projects they support — will position our fellow residents and Southwest Pennsylvania to capture economic opportunities and catalyze inclusive growth that our region can build upon for years to come.”

Pennsylvania gets Build Back Better funding

Southwestern Pennsylvania was one of 21 regions receiving grants through the Build Back Better Regional Challenge grant last year. The U.S. Department of Commerce awarded it $62.7 million to fund regional projects focusing on robotics adoption and commercialization.

The Build Back Better grant is just one of several initiatives CMU has implemented to support the Pittsburgh robotics ecosystem. Last month, the free Pittsburgh Robotics Discovery Day event opened its doors to the public, affording attendees an inside look at the over 140 robotics organizations that make up the Pittsburgh Robotics Network (PRN).

CMU lists recipients

CMU confirmed the finalized list of recipients for the Block Center’s Southwest Pennsylvania Build Back Better grants:

• “Bridging the Gap Between Education and Talent” — Pittsburgh Technology Council/Fortyx80
• “Pittsburgh Gateways Corp/CorePower Job Training Program” — Pittsburgh Gateways
• “Essentials of Robotics: Short-Term Certificate Program” — Justin Starr, Community College of Allegheny County
• “Providing Robotics Skills Training to Manufacturing Pre-Apprenticeship Program” — New Century Careers
• “Manufacturing Career Readiness Curriculum Pilot” — Catalyst Connection
• “Growth Mindset Training for and in the Labor Market” — Ashley Orr, CMU Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy
• “AI Tech Training” – Vu Nguyen, Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy
• "Machine Learning Augmented Youth Welding Training Support from Ideation, Planning, to Manufacturing" — Dina El Zanfaly, CMU School of Design and Daragh Byrne, CMU School of Architecture
• “New Bridges to the Digital Economy” – Lee Branstetter, CMU Heinz College

Grants spurs employment opportunities

Stefani Pashman, CEO of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, praised CMU’s Build Back Better Regional Challenge grant in the award announcement announcement. She observed that projects funded through the grant will help create employment opportunities for Pennsylvania residents.

“Autonomy has the potential to catalyze exciting, well-paying, next-generation jobs across Southwestern Pennsylvania, and these employment opportunities must be available to everyone who wants to find their place in this industry,” Pashman said. “That’s why we are being deliberate about investing — through the Build Back Better Regional Challenge grant — in putting all the necessary infrastructure in place for inclusive workforce development."

Pashman also noted how the success of initiatives like Build Back Better will ultimately benefit job seekers and autonomy workers across the region.

“With support from the Block Center’s Build Back Better subgrants, more regional organizations, institutions, and educators will offer programs that provide accessible avenues to training and skills development for all who want to work in the region’s burgeoning autonomy sector,” she said.