Missouri University of Science and Technology (S&T) in the US has announced plans to hold a ground-breaking ceremony on its proposed Missouri Protoplex project next month.

The Protoplex will serve as a key hub of Missouri S&T’s proposed manufacturing and innovation complex.

Furthermore, the facility will operate as a centre for the network of companies that Missouri S&T is developing through collaborations in the US state.

Some of the partnerships that Missouri S&T is building are with the Missouri Association of Manufacturers, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, as well as other universities, community institutions, and technical schools within the state.

The full-sized advanced manufacturing equipment included in the Protoplex will help S&T students develop the required skills, knowledge, and experience to develop Missouri’s inventive goods of the future and also provide manufacturers with a chance to learn about these new processes and technologies.

This facility is supported by both federal and state funding, in addition to private funds from the Kummer Foundation Board of Directors.

The 116,000ft² building is scheduled to open in late 2025.

Missouri S&T chancellor Mo Dehghani said: “We are dedicated to creating a powerful collaborative community that includes our students and researchers, Missouri’s manufacturers, and the innovative equipment manufacturers we’re partnering with.

“Together, we are committed to making sure our students, upon graduation, possess an unparalleled understanding of the technology that will help move Missouri manufacturing companies forward.

“The equipment and expertise that will be housed in the Protoplex will provide a unique opportunity for manufacturers to learn about new methods and technologies and for students to develop skills that are increasingly critical to their ability to excel.”