CMU's Block Center Announces 2024-25 Build Back Better Subawards
Awards build the robotics and advanced manufacturing talent ecosystem in Southwestern Pennsylvania
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Carnegie Mellon University’s Block Center for Technology and Society(opens in new window) has announced the recipients of the 2024-25 Build Back Better subawards. This year’s round of applications doubled the number of applicants from last year and with an unprecedented level of community engagement. Nine projects across Southwestern Pennsylvania have been awarded funding to drive innovation and workforce development in robotics, advanced manufacturing and technology equity.
“The Block Center is deeply committed to fostering economic growth in Southwestern Pennsylvania through strategic community partnerships,” said Ramayya Krishnan(opens in new window), Block Center faculty director and dean of CMU's Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy. “By supporting these nine projects with funding over the next year, we aim to bridge the gap between innovation and opportunity, ensuring that the region’s workers are equipped to thrive in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. These subawards represent a crucial step in building a resilient talent ecosystem that benefits both individuals and the local economy.”
The Block Center is part of the New Economy Collaborative(opens in new window), which oversees the $62.7 million Department of Commerce Build Back Better Regional Challenge grant to foster the growth of robotics and AI-enabled technologies across 11 counties in Southwestern Pennsylvania. These subawards directly support educational programs that equip both students and transitioning workers with the skills needed to succeed in these fields.
The following projects have been selected for funding through the Block Center’s 2024 Build Back Better subawards:
- PrototypePGH “Maker to Manufacturer” Incubator 2025 — Prototype PGH (opens in new window)
- Phase 4 Virtual Manufacturing Pro Trainer (P4VMPT) — Phase 4 Learning Center, Inc.(opens in new window)
- Efficiency and Safety Optimization in Human-Robot Interaction: A Curriculum for Generative Automation — Peter Zhang(opens in new window) and Swarun Kumar(opens in new window), CMU
- Workforce Development and Manufacturing Assistance — Robert Morris University(opens in new window)
- Robotic Oriented Operators and Technicians (ROOT) — Melisa Orta Martinez(opens in new window), CMU Robotics Institute (opens in new window)
- Forging Your Future Curriculum Expansion — Catalyst Connection(opens in new window)
- Robotics/Automation Training That Meets the Needs of the Future Workforce, Today — New Century Careers (opens in new window)
- Equity, Energy, Education, and Jobs: Using Robots and Advanced Sensing Technology to Make a Pathway for a Better Future — Erica Cochran Hameen(opens in new window), CMU
- Creating a Diverse Pipeline of Future Robotics and Advanced Manufacturing Employees — Locally Grown (D/B/A Community Forge(opens in new window))
“These projects exemplify our mission to blend innovation with inclusivity and prepare the workforce for the future,” said Steve Wray(opens in new window), executive director of the Block Center. “We’re especially excited by the number of applicants this year, reflecting a growing commitment to ensuring that all share the benefits of the robotics and AI industries.”
