Wazoku and Nterprisers partner to bring world-class innovation expertise to U.S. manufacturing

Simon Hill, CEO, Wazoku

Wazoku’s open innovation network and Nterprisers’ manufacturing connection and intelligence platform give SME manufacturers access to enterprise innovation

Manufacturing is now in an era where visibility and innovation capability determine competitive advantage. Yet innovation services have historically only been available to the biggest manufacturers.”

— Simon Hill, CEO, Wazoku

PROVIDENCE, RI, UNITED STATES, June 11, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Small and medium-sized manufacturers across the United States can now access world-class innovation capabilities through a new partnership between Rhode Island-based manufacturing intelligence startup Nterprisers and global innovation ecosystem provider Wazoku.

Nearly 99% of U.S. manufacturers are small and medium-sized businesses. Many remain effectively invisible and absent from the databases, networks, and innovation programmes that larger enterprises take for granted. The partnership will address this, allowing manufacturers to participate in open innovation challenges, access collaborative problem-solving, and connect with global R&D expertise.

“Manufacturing is now in an era where visibility and innovation capability determine competitive advantage,” said Simon Hill, CEO, Wazoku. “Yet innovation services have historically only been available to companies with dedicated innovation teams and significant budgets. Connecting Nterprisers’ infrastructure to our global problem-solving network means manufacturers who have never had access to open innovation now do. In an increasingly challenging business climate, that’s a major shift.”

Wazoku’s Innocentive is a global marketplace of 1M+ solvers, startups, subject matter experts, and vetted IP. Organisations including NASA, Enel, AstraZeneca and other leading organisations post challenges, source existing solutions and vetted IP, and commission invention on demand where no ready solution exists.

Founded in Rhode Island and launched in 2025, Nterprisers has already made tens of thousands of manufacturers visible and accessible to customers, suppliers, service providers, investors, and other stakeholders through its growing platform. Beginning in Rhode Island and rapidly expanding by region, Nterprisers is creating unprecedented visibility into the U.S. manufacturing base, unlocking new connections, opportunities, and insights across the industrial ecosystem.

“Manufacturing networks are critical to the economy, but the U.S. manufacturing base has been fragmented and hard to find,” said Deepa Krishnamurthy, co-founder and CEO, Nterprisers. “We have already built the visibility and connection layer that makes manufacturers discoverable, but partnering with Wazoku means we can now connect them directly to innovation ecosystems and global expertise that were previously out of reach. Together, we are closing a gap that has held back millions of American manufacturers from fully participating in innovation-driven growth.”

What the Nterprisers-Wazoku partnership delivers

The initial focus of the partnership will be on helping manufacturers and the wider industrial ecosystem to:

● Access open innovation challenges and global problem-solving networks via Innocentive

● Increase supply chain resilience through better capability discovery and sourcing intelligence

● Collaborate on shared industry-wide challenges in areas where pre-competitive cooperation can drive collective gains

● Connect with researchers, startups, and technology partners relevant to their sector

● Accelerate modernisation and digital transformation with access to proven innovation methodologies

The partnership brings capabilities typically available only to large enterprises within reach of smaller manufacturers across the United States. It is especially relevant for manufacturers operating in aerospace, defence, advanced manufacturing, energy, and critical infrastructure sectors, where the need to modernise operations, strengthen supply chains, and accelerate innovation has never been greater.

– ENDS –

About Wazoku

Wazoku’s combination of human and synthetic intelligence enables enterprises, public sector organisations and academic institutions to discover opportunities, access external expertise, manage innovation portfolios, commercialise IP, track value creation or simply outsource for a specific outcome.

About Nterprisers

Nterprisers is building the intelligence and connection infrastructure for the U.S. manufacturing economy, enabling manufacturers to become visible, discoverable, and actionable at scale. By transforming fragmented data into structured manufacturing intelligence, Nterprisers helps OEMs, investors, lenders, policymakers, and manufacturers make faster, better-informed decisions across sourcing, investment, and industrial strategy.

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Argonne and the Department of Energy Launch New Partnership to Speed up U.S. Manufacturing Innovation | Press Releases

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory has launched a new effort to help American companies develop and scale new products and manufacturing technologies more quickly.

Called the “National Science-at-Scale Collaborative,” the effort is supported by DOE’s Office of Critical Materials and Energy Innovation (CMEI). The collaborative brings together industry, government and the national laboratories to address complex challenges in critical materials and chemical manufacturing in the United States.

Argonne will work with industry partners on projects designed to move promising technologies from research to commercial production faster. Researchers will use advanced computer modeling, artificial intelligence, rapid synthesis tools and pilot-scale manufacturing systems at Argonne’s Materials Engineering Research Facility to help companies test and scale new production processes.

“American manufacturing has an opportunity to lead the next generation of innovation in critical materials and chemical processing,” said Paul Kearns, director of Argonne. “The National Science-at-Scale Collaborative will help connect discovery, engineering and deployment in ways that strengthen U.S. competitiveness and advance our economic security.”

The announcement followed an industry roundtable chaired by CMEI. Leaders from the chemical and critical materials sectors met to discuss manufacturing challenges and opportunities for collaboration.

“To compete globally, the U.S. must bring new technologies into domestic production more quickly,” said Assistant Secretary of Energy Audrey Robertson. “This collaborative will help connect DOE, the national laboratories and private industry to speed up that process.”

The collaborative supports CMEI’s broader mission to strengthen America’s critical minerals supply chains and accelerate next-generation energy technologies.

Industry roundtable participants list:

• DOE: Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation Office.
• National Laboratory System: Argonne National Laboratory.
• Manufacturers: Aclara, Albemarle, ATALCO, BASF North America, Chemours, Dow, Entegris, Exxon Mobil, Orbia and Standard Lithium.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260610953163/en/

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Department of Energy Selects 10 Projects to Receive Nearly $5 Million for Manufacturing Cybersecurity Innovation

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), in collaboration with the Cybersecurity Manufacturing Innovation Institute (CyManII), announced the selection of 10 projects with a combined total of $4.8 million in research and development funding to enhance the cybersecurity landscape within American manufacturing. These projects will advance cybersecure, energy efficient manufacturing, aligning with the missions of DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and EERE’s Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO) to drive U.S. manufacturing and supporting the nation’s collective push for a competitive, clean, and decarbonized economy.

“Each of these projects represents a significant investment into American manufacturing resiliency,” said AMMTO director Christopher Saldana “By working with CyManII and each of our project partners to build secure and sustainable process that evolve with new innovations, we can help ensure a robust and cybersecure manufacturing sector here in the United States.”

These 10 projects were selected within three critical industry use cases:

1. Industrial Control Systems: These projects will explore industry-relevant security controls for the production and supply chain of Industrial Control Systems (ICS). The goal is to ensure digital integrity, supply chain traceability, and resilience to cyber events.
2. Secure Industrial Digitalization: These projects will help small and medium-sized manufacturers to secure the digital transformations of their companies by identifying and developing effective digitalization practices without introducing new cyber risks.
3. Industrial Additive Manufacturing: These projects will demonstrate how additive manufacturers can secure product integrity and supply chain traceability, reducing costs by securely tracking the digital histories of their products.

View a list of selected projects here

CyManII is one of DOE’s seven Clean Energy Manufacturing Innovation Institutes and is managed by EERE’s AMMTO, which funds the institute in consultation with the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response. CyManII is also a part of Manufacturing USA®, a network of federally funded institutes that have a specialized technology focus to increase U.S. manufacturing competitiveness and promote a robust and sustainable national manufacturing R&D infrastructure.

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ACMI and NSWC Indian head break ground on $250 million Maryland Energetics Innovation Hub for defense manufacturing

The American Center for Manufacturing & Innovation has broken ground on the Maryland Energetics Innovation Hub near Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division. The hub is intended to modernize how the United States develops, tests and scales critical technologies and energetics production for the military.

The project is backed by an initial $50 million award from NSWC Indian Head Division. ACMI said the hub is expected to catalyze more than $200 million in additional private investment.

The Maryland Energetics Innovation Hub will include multiple new state-of-the-art buildings outside the gates of NSWC Indian Head Division. The site will host companies and research institutions working on U.S. military priorities.

The hub will focus on eight priority innovation areas. These include energetics for uncrewed systems, next-generation propulsion systems, manufacturing automation and other capabilities needed to strengthen the U.S. munitions industrial base.

“This is a generational investment. ACMI is helping America become faster at moving from ideas to production – faster to innovate, faster to manufacture, and faster to scale the technologies that strengthen our national defense,” said John Burer, Founder and CEO of ACMI.

“MEIH brings together the infrastructure, capital, and private-sector talent needed to rapidly advance new producers and technologies. By leading the effort to recruit and convene top defense technology companies around NSWC Indian Head Division’s priority mission areas, ACMI is creating a new kind of industrial ecosystem designed to accelerate collaboration, compress timelines, and turn breakthrough innovation into operational capability at unprecedented speed,” Burer said.

ACMI also announced that Energetics Technology Center and Applied Research Associates will serve as inaugural tenants and partners. The organization said it is in active talks with several leading defense technology companies about expanding to the hub.

The groundbreaking ceremony brought together military leaders, elected officials, industry executives, academic partners and manufacturing stakeholders. Participants included representatives from the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, National Nuclear Security Administration, National Defense Industrial Association, Parsons, Leidos and Rafael-USA.

“This initiative ensures that NSWC Indian Head Division remains at the forefront of energetics innovation, scale-up, and production,” said Captain Steve Duba, NSWC IHD Commanding Officer.

“By bringing together government and industry partners in a collaborative environment, we can accelerate the development and fielding of critical capabilities that strengthen the Navy’s Arsenal and the larger munitions industrial base,” Duba said.

“Southern Maryland has long been a cornerstone of the nation’s energetics enterprise, and the Maryland Energetics Innovation Hub builds on that strong foundation,” said William Durant, CEO and President of ETC.

“ETC is excited to work alongside ACMI and NSWC Indian Head Division to advance critical technologies and support the next generation of capabilities for the nation’s warfighters,” Durant said.

“Local manufacturing is critical to our economy and our workforce. The new Maryland Energetics Innovation Hub is an important investment in supporting local manufacturing and will further cement our state’s leadership in this critical space,” said U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen.

“This trailblazing facility will help strengthen our national security, create good-paying jobs, and drive economic growth here in Indian Head,” Van Hollen said.

“Today’s groundbreaking for the Maryland Energetic Innovation Hub marks a crucial and exciting step in supporting Indian Head’s mission, expanding off base partnerships, and improving our nation’s military readiness,” said U.S. Representative Sarah Elfreth.

“The Naval Surface Warfare Center at Indian Head is already at the cutting-edge of energetics research for the Department of Defense. This new partnership will only broaden their horizons and solidify Maryland’s role at the forefront of innovation in this ever-evolving global arena,” Elfreth said.

“I’m grateful to see funding and partnerships like these that not only bolster our national security, but invest in our communities,” Elfreth added.

“The Western Charles County Technology Corridor continues to strengthen its position as a competitive hub for defense, energetics, and advanced technology industries,” said Jim Chandler, Director of the Charles County Economic Development Department.

“We are seeing growth in partnerships, investment, and innovation that are expanding opportunities for both new and existing businesses while reinforcing Charles County’s long-term economic competitiveness. The groundbreaking of the Maryland Energetics Innovation Hub marks an important milestone,” Chandler said.

The Maryland investment builds on ACMI’s regional manufacturing campus model. ACMI said the model is designed to revitalize U.S. manufacturing capacity through shared infrastructure, advanced production ecosystems and public-private partnerships.

Earlier this year, ACMI broke ground on its 1,100-acre National Security Industrial Hub in Indiana. That defense manufacturing campus is backed by an initial $75 million award from the Department of War.

ACMI said the Maryland and Indiana hubs together represent more than $1 billion in investment in the defense industrial base. Initial operations at the Maryland Energetics Innovation Hub are expected to begin in 2027 as phased construction advances.

The hub is expected to create high-quality jobs, attract additional private investment and support the growth of domestic manufacturing capabilities critical to national security. ACMI said it will also help accelerate defense manufacturing modernization and expand domestic energetics capacity.

ACMI is an industrial group focused on revitalizing the U.S. manufacturing base by building infrastructure and supporting manufacturers as they scale. NSWC Indian Head Division is a Naval Sea Systems Command field activity focused on ordnance, energetics and explosive ordnance disposal solutions.

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Trump Pharma Tariffs: Wrong Rx for U.S. Patients, Manufacturing, and Innovation | Blogs | Apr 3, 2026

Concluding a Section 232 investigation into pharmaceuticals launched last year, the Trump administration has announced it will impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on imports of branded pharmaceutical drugs (generic drugs are exempt). While numerous carveouts, exceptions, and exemptions will apply, the proclamation is misguided for many reasons. Most notably, it will harm both American patients and the nation’s drug innovation capacity, even as the administration’s continued fixation on tariffs overlooks far more effective policies to strengthen U.S. biopharmaceutical manufacturing and innovation. With the right mix of policies, the administration could achieve the increase in domestic drug manufacturing it seeks without the harmful side effects that tariffs would bring.

It should be noted that companies exporting from nations with which the United States has recently completed new trade deals will face capped tariffs—15 percent in the case of the European Union, Japan, South Korea, and Switzerland, and 10 percent for the United Kingdom. Moreover, 17 major drugmakers have already entered into so-called “most-favored nation” (MFN) drug-pricing agreements with the U.S. government that would exempt them from the 100 percent tariff. The announcement also gives companies not covered by a trade agreement or an existing MFN deal 120 days to either announce new or expanded manufacturing facilities in the United States or conclude an MFN agreement with the administration.

Thus, while the top-line 100 percent tariff figure sounds—and is—quite high, the numerous carveouts and exemptions mean the effective tariff rate will likely be lower. Nevertheless, this outcome of the Section 232 pharma investigation is misguided. As ITIF has warned, the tariffs will needlessly harm U.S. patients and, ultimately, U.S. biopharmaceutical innovation.

These tariffs will hit American patients—especially those who depend on innovative medicines from foreign drugmakers—extremely and unnecessarily hard. This is especially true for small firms that make treatments for rare diseases (which affect small patient populations) that simply lack the scale to expand manufacturing operations to the United States. For example, the Japanese companies Ono Pharmaceutical and Kyowa Kirin Co. produce innovative treatments for rare gastrointestinal stromal tumors and rare cutaneous T-cell lymphomas, respectively. Meanwhile, the Indian biopharmaceutical company Biocon produces itolizumab, an innovative biologic treatment for acute psoriasis that inhibits the improper immune response that causes psoriatic blemishes. Elsewhere, in Saudi Arabia, ITIF has highlighted breakthrough research into innovative stem cell treatments for leukemia.

Whether the section 232 tariffs raise prices for critical imported drugs to 15 percent, 100 percent, or to some other level, they will needlessly increase the cost of imported medicines Americans depend on and harm patients who benefit from innovations developed around the world to treat or cure difficult diseases.

Another critical problem with these 232 pharma tariffs is that they further entrench the misguided MFN drug price control regime that, as ITIF has documented, is already inflicting tremendous damage on the U.S. biopharmaceutical innovation system. The Trump administration’s MFN price controls build on the previous administration’s price controls for Medicare Part D drugs introduced in 2022 through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

Studies examining the IRA’s impact have found that since its drug-pricing framework (i.e., the proposed legislation) was first drafted in 2021, venture capital funding for small-molecule research and development (R&D) has fallen by nearly 70 percent. Other studies show that since the IRA’s enactment, the number of clinical trial starts for new, unapproved small-molecule medicines has fallen by 25 percent, while clinical trials for new uses of existing small-molecule medicines have fallen by 30 to 45 percent. Drug price controls weaken drug innovation, and by further entrenching the MFN regime through the threat of tariffs, the administration’s Section 232 pharma tariffs will inflict serious long-term damage on the ability of drug innovators worldwide to earn the returns needed to invest in the R&D required to produce the next generation of cures.

Furthermore, extending the tariffs to intermediate ingredients—such as active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and other key starting materials—will amplify the harm. Manufacturers will face higher input costs at all stages of production, not just at the final point of sale, compounding cost pressures across the supply chain. Unlike tariffs on finished branded drugs, which primarily affect the price of the final product, new tariffs on APIs raise costs for all manufacturers that rely on those ingredients, including producers of medicines not themselves subject to the tariff. This approach risks creating supply chain disruptions and price pressures beyond the intended scope of the policy, particularly given that the production of certain critical ingredients is concentrated among a few suppliers.

Finally, U.S. drug manufacturers could be harmed if other nations respond by raising their tariffs to match these newly announced U.S. rates, thus harming exports of American drugs.

If the Trump administration seeks to increase drug manufacturing in the United States—a desirable goal—it should pursue this objective in ways that don’t unnecessarily harm American patients or long-term biopharmaceutical innovation. ITIF has highlighted a wide range of proactive policies that could achieve these aims without the harmful side effects of tariffs.

One approach to strengthen biopharmaceutical R&D and manufacturing while addressing systemic cost pressures would be to expand public-private partnerships that accelerate technological innovation. For example, the National Science Foundation (NSF) could increase support for university-industry research centers working on biopharma production technology and potentially establish new centers. Policymakers should also create an additional Manufacturing USA Institute alongside the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL) to focus on manufacturing innovations for APIs and generic drugs.

The Trump administration’s Section 232 pharma tariffs will harm patients and both American and global drug innovators—a remedy far worse than the disease. These tariffs should be fully rescinded.

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Johnson & Johnson Reaches Agreement with U.S. Government to Improve Access to Medicines and Lower Costs for Millions of Americans; Delivers on U.S. Manufacturing and Innovation Investments

Voluntary agreement will allow millions of Americans to purchase medicines at significantly discounted rates

Agreement provides Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical products an exemption from U.S. tariffs

Company announces two new additional manufacturing facilities to be built in North Carolina and Pennsylvania; continues to deliver on $55 billion U.S. investment

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) (the “Company”), healthcare’s leading, most comprehensive innovation powerhouse, today announced a voluntary agreement with the Trump Administration to improve access to medicines and lower costs for millions of American patients. The joint agreement meets the requests laid out by President Trump to the industry and provides the Company’s pharmaceutical products an exemption from tariffs1.

“Today’s agreement shows that when the public and private sectors work together towards shared goals, we can deliver real results for patients and the U.S. economy,” said Joaquin Duato, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Johnson & Johnson. “I’m proud that Johnson & Johnson is answering President Trump’s call to lower drug prices for everyday Americans while maintaining our role in improving and saving lives and ensuring that the United States continues to lead the world in healthcare innovation.”

Improving Access and Lowering Costs for U.S. Patients

Johnson & Johnson is working with the Trump Administration to improve access to medicines and lower costs for millions of American patients. The Company is:

• Participating in TrumpRx.gov, a direct to patient platform, which will allow millions of American patients to purchase medicines from Johnson & Johnson at significantly discounted rates.
• Enabling American patients to access medicines at comparable prices to other developed countries.
• Providing Medicaid program access at comparable prices to other developed countries.
• Continuing to support the Administration’s efforts to ensure better recognition of the value of health care across developed markets globally.

Delivering On Our $55B U.S. Investment

Johnson & Johnson also continues to deliver on our previously announced $55 billion investment to support U.S. manufacturing, research and development, and technology investments by early 2029. In just the last 10 months, the Company has initiated billions of dollars in investment in U.S. manufacturing, which will support the Company’s goal of manufacturing the vast majority of its advanced medicines in the U.S. to meet the needs of U.S. patients.

Today, as part of the $55 billion investment, the Company is announcing two new U.S. manufacturing facilities, including a next generation cell therapy manufacturing site in Pennsylvania and a state-of-the-art drug product manufacturing facility in North Carolina.

Additionally, construction is progressing on our $2 billion state-of-the-art biologics manufacturing facility in Wilson, North Carolina, which the Company broke ground on last year. That project will create approximately 5,000 skilled manufacturing and construction jobs in the state. Johnson & Johnson is already ramping up the hiring of advanced manufacturing employees to work at the facility.

In September, the Company also secured a new 160,000+ square foot dedicated biopharmaceutical manufacturing site in Holly Springs, North Carolina. The $2 billion commitment over the next 10 years will create approximately 120 new jobs in North Carolina.

Johnson & Johnson expects to announce additional U.S. investments later this year.

About Johnson & Johnson:

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at www.jnj.com.

Cautions Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections of Johnson & Johnson. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: challenges and uncertainties inherent in product research and development, including the uncertainty of clinical success and of obtaining regulatory approvals; uncertainty of commercial success; manufacturing difficulties and delays; competition, including technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges to patents; product efficacy or safety concerns resulting in product recalls or regulatory actions; changes in behavior and spending patterns of purchasers of health care products and services; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including global health care reforms; and trends toward health care cost containment. A further list and descriptions of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in Johnson & Johnson’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, including in the sections captioned “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Item 1A. Risk Factors,” and in Johnson & Johnson’s subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of these filings are available online at www.sec.gov, www.jnj.com, www.investor.jnj.com or on request from Johnson & Johnson. Johnson & Johnson does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information or future events or developments.

1 Specific terms of the agreement remain confidential.

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