IACMI - the composites institute: doe-backed national advanced composites manufacturing institute

Overview

IACMI – The Composites Institute states its goal as driving research and development in advanced composites technology, accelerating commercialization, and delivering workforce solutions to fortify American manufacturing, strengthen the national supply chain, and enhance national defense. It cast its vision in 2015 and says more than 4,800 participants have joined IACMI Members Meetings since. It is part of Manufacturing USA, was established in 2015 and renewed in 2023 by the U.S. Department of Energy, and currently operates under DOE's Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation (CMEI). Since 2019 it has scaled up workforce programs for the U.S. Department of War, supported through the Office of Industrial Base Policy's Industrial Base Fund. Headquarters: 2730 Cherokee Farm Way, Suite 207, Knoxville, TN 37920.

Research focus areas

• Technology and R&D — accelerating development and adoption of cutting-edge manufacturing technologies for advanced composites.
• Commercialization — engaging nearly 200 members including industry OEMs and SMEs, academia, and national labs to move ideas into the marketplace.
• Workforce development — building the advanced manufacturing pipeline through in-person and online training for all ages, including the METAL and ACE programs, internships, apprenticeships, and K-12 initiatives.

Member-facing technical activity is organized through working groups, partner facilities, roadmapping workshops, and a project submission route. The institute cites composites adoption across aerospace, automotive, energy, and infrastructure markets.

Membership & engagement

IACMI publishes a real two-track annual membership structure — Premium and Consortium.

Annual industry membership fees:

• Large industry (>500 employees): Premium $50,000+ / Consortium $17,500
• Medium industry (51–500 employees): Premium $50,000+ / Consortium $6,000
• Small/medium industry (11–50 employees): Premium $50,000+ / Consortium $3,000
• Small industry (1–10 employees): Premium $50,000+ / Consortium $1,750

Annual academic membership fees:

• Academic partner: Premium at cost / Consortium $6,000
• Community college / workforce partner: Consortium $750

Each $50,000 increment provides additional representation and governance, with a limit of four seats per member; members can direct investments above $50,000 annually to specific projects or activities. Consortium members vote to elect one SME and one large-entity seat annually. Published member benefits include Members Meetings and member-exclusive events, technical project participation, leveraging cost-share from third-party funding, priority access to IACMI facilities, visibility through IACMI communications, conference speaking opportunities, the technical member repository, and leadership of roadmapping workshops and working groups. Custom membership arrangements will be considered for partners offering unique consortium-serving opportunities. IACMI publishes an antitrust policy for download.