Penny Pritzker to discuss manufacturing in Chicago

U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker will join elected, business and education leaders Monday for a discussion about the future of manufacturing.

The round table at Chicago’s Aon Center will focus on the role of the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute. It works on using digital technologies to reduce the time and cost of manufacturing, strengthen the supply chain and cut Defense Department acquisition costs.

Pritzker will join leadership from UI LABS, a Chicago-based group of government, education and business representatives which developed the institute.

The institute is part of a national network President Barack Obama announced in February. UI LABS funds the institute with a $70 million Defense Department grant as well as $250 million from industry, education and local government.