Remade releases circular economy workforce development roadmap

The institute also announced funding opportunities in areas of recycling, recovery, remanufacturing and more.

computer rendering of the united states

Norebbo | www.dreamstime.com

The Remade Institute, Rochester, New York, a public-private partnership established by the United States Department of Energy, has released its latest education and workforce development roadmap, which outlines the institute's training plans for the future.  

The Remade Institute says it enables early-stage applied research and development of technologies to reduce embodied energy and carbon emissions associated with industrial-scale manufacturing. In addition to research and development activities, its parallel objective is to prepare U.S. workers for careers in the circular economy. To date, Remade's workforce development accomplishments include: 

  • engaging more than 3,000 participants through online and in-person training opportunities;  

  • creating more than 70 hours of online training content developed by the nation's top circular economy experts; and  

  • supporting the next-generation workforce by facilitating the participation of more than 100 students in ongoing Remade research and development projects.   

According to the development roadmap, the institute says several factors are hindering the country’s workforce development. These factors include a lack of access to flexible training; a lack of certified reduce, reuse, recycle and remanufacture programs; and a limited understanding of sustainable practices and how to apply them.  

These challenges were identified through a series of Remade member interviews conducted in 2022 to understand how the institute can best support industry members and their evolving training needs.  

One of the ways the institute is working to address these issues is by advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in the areas of manufacturing materials optimization, remanufacturing, recycling, recovery and design. This includes pursuing joint funding opportunities with workforce development organizations focused on preparing underserved communities for careers.  

Remade’s 2022-2023 content development efforts center on three major categories: outreach training, short courses and tiered certificate pathways.   

Remade provides training through project webinars, conference presentations and thought-leadership events. Short courses cover one or multiple concepts, technologies and practices that are tailored for the workforce at three competency levels. The institute's tiered certificate pathways are developed by grouping similar short courses together to provide a deeper understanding of a broad topic.  

RELATED: Remade announces recycling training bootcamp

Additionally, Remade issued its education and workforce development request for proposals, representing a $1.2 million investment in training U.S. workers to accelerate the nation's transition to a circular economy. This investment focuses on training workers across the country to ensure they, and the companies who employ them, are skilled and well-versed in the technologies that will power the transition.  

Remade CEO Nabil Nasr says the institute is seeking education and workforce development proposals in the areas of manufacturing materials optimization, remanufacturing, recycling, recovery and design at the awareness, practitioner and expert levels.  

"By focusing Remade's investment in these areas, we can develop training that has a significant impact on U.S. manufacturers and their workers nationwide," Nasr says.  

Remade says the workforce development plan will guide the request for proposal. Those interested in learning more about this request for proposal can attend a live informational session and Q&A Dec. 1 at 12 p.m. EST. 

Get curated news on YOUR industry.

Enter your email to receive our newsletters.

Loading...