UTRGV Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (IAM), formally known as CAMICS (Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Cyber Systems), contributes to build the world-class America manufacturing base. The Institute for Advanced Manufacturing offers strategically restructured research, education, and workforce development programs, through which we prepare world-class engineers and workers who are acquainted with skills needed to operate, design, develop, and manage the advanced manufacturing processes and systems.The mission of UTRGV IAM is to integrate engineering disciplines that together support excellence in Advanced Manufacturing in South Texas Region, the U.S. and beyond. Through multiple external funded projects, we build strong research, education and exposure programs for defense materials and manufacturing, energy manufacturing and systems, leveraging our strength in Additive, Convergent and Transformative Manufacturing processes.
Events / Conferences
AAF Entrepreneurship Awareness
America's Additive Foundry (An organization of IAM), in partnership with America Makes, successfully hosted an awareness and entrepreneurship event in Brownsville, Texas. During the event, AAF's Director of Business Development highlighted the organization's accomplishments in 2024 and unveiled ambitious plans for business incubation and economic development in 2025, setting the stage for continued growth and innovation.
Building the Guide to 21st Century Talent
America's Additive Foundry (An organization of IAM), in collaboration with America Makes, hosted a transformative session bringing together manufacturing executives, trainers, HR professionals, and workforce partners. This initiative focused on shaping the future of 21st-century talent by addressing the unique challenges and opportunities within the region. Participants contributed their expertise to develop a comprehensive workbook designed to help manufacturers enhance their recruitment, onboarding, training, and retention strategies, fostering a more capable and resilient workforce.
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Best Robotics
BEST Robotics was one of the most significant events hosted at UTRGV, bringing together high school and middle school teams from across the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas. The competition challenged students to design and build robots capable of thriving in a Mars-like environment. This initiative provided schools with an incredible opportunity to compete at the National Robotics Tournament, with top-performing teams advancing to the finals in Dallas, Texas, to vie for the State Championship. The event fostered community engagement and inspired the next generation to explore and pursue opportunities in STEM fields.
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Li: Join America’s Additive Foundry Consortium’s journey towards tech-driven entrepreneurial success
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Dr. James Li is president and endowed professor of manufacturing engineering at UT-Rio Grande Valley and director at I-DREAM4D and America’s Additive Foundry Consortium.
Li hosted recently spearheaded a presentation about America’s Additive Foundry at the eBridge Center for Business & Commercialization in downtown...
Malki: How the RGV can forge strong manufacturing and tech ties with Sweden
UT-Rio Grande Valley professor gives a presentation to manufacturing industry professionals at the eBridge Center in downtown Brownsville.
![[Student Success] First-generation graduate Brittany Rodriguez advances manufacturing science at ORNL](_files/images/features/rodriguez.jpg)
[Student Success] First-generation graduate Brittany Rodriguez advances manufacturing science at ORNL
Raised in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley by hardworking parents who were not given the opportunity to obtain any type of higher degree, Brittany Rodriguez never imagined she would pursue a science career at a Department of Energy national laboratory. However, after some encouraging words from her mother, input from key mentors at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, or UTRGV, and a lot of hard work, Rodriguez landed at DOE’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility, or MDF, at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
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