UW’s Manufacturing Works to Support Federally Funded Nuclear Energy Tech Hub

The Intermountain-West Nuclear Energy Corridor (INEC) Tech Hub, a regional coalition that includes the University of Wyoming's Manufacturing Works, has received an implementation funding award from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA).

The award will support work to accelerate advanced nuclear energy deployment and strengthen the industry's domestic supply chain and workforce across Idaho and Wyoming.

Led by the Idaho Advanced Energy Consortium (IAEC), the INEC Tech Hub is the only nuclear energy-focused tech hub among the 31 regional hubs designated by EDA in 2023. Its coalition includes more than 45 stakeholder partners from universities, community colleges, private companies, utilities, manufacturers, Idaho National Laboratory, workforce organizations and communities.

The implementation award moves the coalition into phased work intended to speed the commercialization and deployment of next-generation reactors, strengthen domestic fuel production, expand the nuclear energy workforce and build a more capable regional supplier network.

Manufacturing Works, Wyoming's Manufacturing Extension Partnership center, will contribute to the INEC Tech Hub's supply chain component project. The project is designed to assess regional manufacturing and construction supply chains; document existing capabilities; identify gaps in technical capacity and workforce skills; and help prepare suppliers to support advanced reactor development and deployment.

Working with consortium partners, Manufacturing Works will engage Wyoming manufacturers; assess supplier capabilities and readiness; help identify technology, quality and workforce gaps; and connect companies with technical assistance, training and other resources. The work also will help manufacturers better understand nuclear energy industry expectations, including ISO 9001, and Nuclear Quality Assurance-1 (NQA-1) requirements and other quality systems needed to compete for opportunities in the advanced nuclear energy supply chain.

"We are excited to contribute to this effort and help ensure Wyoming manufacturers are represented in the region's growing advanced nuclear energy supply chain," says Rocky Case, center director of Manufacturing Works. "Wyoming manufacturers already have tremendous capabilities. Our role is to help make those capabilities visible, understand what the advanced nuclear energy supply chain requires and support companies as they prepare to pursue new opportunities."

The broader supply chain component project will pair supplier and workforce assessments with classroom and virtual training, hands-on construction mock-ups, quality assurance and quality control practices, and workforce development and credentialing efforts. These activities are intended to strengthen the regional capacity to fabricate, transport, assemble, inspect and maintain components and facilities for advanced nuclear energy projects.

For Wyoming manufacturers, the effort could create new pathways into a growing national industry while helping companies improve the systems, skills and certifications that also strengthen their competitiveness in other markets. For the region, the INEC Tech Hub is expected to support high-quality jobs, private investment and long-term energy security.

"This is the kind of work Manufacturing Works was built to do: understand what industry needs, meet manufacturers where they are and help them close practical gaps," Case says. "We are proud to represent Wyoming's manufacturers in this regional partnership and eager to help build a strong, durable domestic supply chain."

The INEC Tech Hub's implementation work will be coordinated by IAEC in collaboration with partners across Idaho and Wyoming.

For more information about Manufacturing Works, visit www.manufacturing-works.com or email Case at [email protected].

About Manufacturing Works

Manufacturing Works is Wyoming's Manufacturing Extension Partnership center, hosted by the University of Wyoming. The center provides technical assistance, business support, training and resources to help Wyoming manufacturers improve performance, increase competitiveness and growth.