Hyde Park, NY – The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has awarded $80 million to a national
public-private partnership in which The Culinary
Institute of America is a collaborating member. The Advanced Robotics
Manufacturing (ARM) Innovation Hub is receiving the five-year grant to further
the development of robotics. The CIA is among the 40 academic partners working
with industry, government, and non-profit organizations as part of the Carnegie
Mellon University-based ARM Institute.
Supported by the DoD,
the ARM Institute is a collective effort to help revitalize American
manufacturing and provide companies with a reason to invest in new technology. The
CIA became involved when the college submitted a proposal to ARM focused around
the further development of foodservice automation and manufacturing through
advancements in smart robotics solutions.
“We are hopeful that our project in collaboration with ARM will
be selected for development, considering its unique nature and ability to
disrupt the foodservice industry,” says CIA President Dr. Tim Ryan. “Specifically,
we believe the development of these technologies will cut down on food waste
and increase efficiency and consistency.”
According to the January DoD announcement, “Robotics are increasingly necessary to achieve the level of
precision required for defense and other industrial manufacturing needs, but
the capital cost and complexity of use often limits small to mid-size
manufacturers from utilizing the technology. The ARM Institute’s mission
therefore is to create and then deploy robotic technology by integrating the
diverse collection of industry practices and institutional knowledge across
many disciplines.”
Other higher education institutions that are part of the ARM
Institute include Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, MIT, University of
Connecticut, Rochester Institute of Technology, Yale, and Purdue.
Photo Caption and Hi-Res Image:
CIA President Tim Ryan talks about the potential benefits of
robotics in foodservice and hospitality during The Culinary Insttute of America’s reThink Food conference at the college’s
California campus in November 2016. (Photo
credit: Kristen Loken/CIA)
View hi-res image >
Media Contact:
Jeff Levine
Communications Manager
845-451-1372
j_levine@culinary.edu
Founded in 1946, The Culinary Institute of America is the world’s premier
culinary college. Dedicated to developing leaders in foodservice and
hospitality, the independent, not-for-profit CIA offers bachelor’s degree
majors in management, culinary science, and applied food studies; associate
degrees in culinary arts and baking and pastry arts; and executive education
through its Food Business School. The college also offers certificate programs
and courses for professionals and enthusiasts. Its conferences and consulting
services have made the CIA the think tank of the food industry and its
worldwide network of 49,000 alumni includes innovators in every area of the
food business. The CIA has campuses in New York, California, Texas, and
Singapore.
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