SOUTHFIELD, Mich., [Nov. 3, 2025] – SME has been selected as one of five organizations nationwide to receive funding and participate in the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Industrial Systems Energy Efficiency Development (ISEED) Collaborative. Over the next two years, SME will receive technical support and guidance from several DOE national laboratories to develop and pilot technical assistance programs that strengthen the U.S. manufacturing workforce and increase the adoption of energy efficiency practices across the industrial sector—including manufacturing and other energy-intensive industries.

Currently, the industrial sector enables more than 21 million stable, well-paying jobs—supporting communities across America and contributing to the nation’s economy. But, as the sector evolves to keep pace in national and global markets, the demand for skilled workers is rising rapidly. To help fill this need, the ISEED Collaborative strives to prepare the next generation of industrial workers by providing specialized training and resources for current and future manufacturers.

“As one of the largest drivers of our economy, the industrial sector is critical to our nation’s prosperity, security, and competitiveness,” said Jeannine Kunz, executive director and CEO of SME. “Through this partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, we’re not only helping manufacturers implement energy-efficient practices that make their operations more sustainable, but also ensuring they have a skilled workforce ready to support this transformation. The future of manufacturing depends on our ability to develop people as quickly as we develop technology—and this collaboration is a powerful step forward in that mission.”

Through this collaboration, SME will work in partnership with Lawrence Technological University to create and expand workforce development opportunities that prepare America’s next generation of industrial workers. The effort will help manufacturers nationwide build specialized training programs that improve energy efficiency on factory floors, strengthen the nation’s manufacturing competitiveness, and ensure long-term industrial adaptability.

The ISEED Collaborative, made possible by DOE’s EERE, will provide a total of $3 million in federal funding and technical assistance over a two-year period to five awardees. Each participating organization will work with DOE’s national laboratories — including Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and the National Energy Technology Laboratory — to design and pilot programs that can be expanded regionally and nationally.

To learn more about the ISEED Collaborative and its goals to prepare the next generation of industrial workers, visit https://www.ornl.gov/iseed.

About SME

Established in 1932 as a nonprofit organization, SME represents the entire North American manufacturing industry, including manufacturers, academia, professionals, students, and the communities in which they operate. We believe manufacturing holds the key to economic growth and prosperity, and champion the industry's potential as a diverse, thriving, and valued ecosystem. SME accelerates new technology adoption and builds North America’s talent and capabilities to advance manufacturing and drive competitiveness, resiliency, and national security. SME designs new ways to understand and solve problems, and our solutions advance the next wave of growth in manufacturing. Learn more at SME.org.