A new innovation resource has come to St. Petersburg. The Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute, the nation’s leading robotics and artificial intelligence manufacturing innovation institute, has opened a satellite office in the Tampa Bay Innovation Center in St. Petersburg. The Institute strengthens U.S. manufacturing through innovations in advanced manufacturing technology, particularly robotics and artificial intelligence, and prepares the workforce to work alongside these technologies.
ARM’s Chief Innovation Officer, Arnie Kravitz, noted that in St. Pete, the Institute saw many opportunities to partner with people and companies manufacturing in the state of Florida. “St. Petersburg is a perfect fit for us, with the state’s focus on the manufacturing industry and the City’s emphasis on specialized manufacturing, much of which incorporates robotics and AI. We were drawn by St. Pete’s culture of innovation.”
A key focus for the ARM Institute’s Florida office will be to leverage the investments made over the past five years in robotics, workforce development, and artificial intelligence.
“St. Petersburg is a perfect fit for us, with the state’s focus on the manufacturing industry and the City’s emphasis on specialized manufacturing, much of which incorporates robotics and AI. We were drawn by St. Pete’s culture of innovation.”
ARM’s Chief Strategy Officer Suzy Teele added, “We have the technology and wisdom needed to strengthen manufacturing by leveraging what robots and humans do best.” She said, “Our goal is to expand the work we are currently doing with regional manufacturers, universities, entrepreneurs, and economic development organizations, as well as new partners, to pioneer a better and more equally just advanced manufacturing model for the nation.”
With the deep resources ARM can offer to specialized manufacturing companies in the robotics space, the St. Pete EDC already has connected them with existing local companies and to companies considering a St. Petersburg location. Pinellas County has the largest manufacturing base among eight Tampa Bay counties and employs the third highest number of manufacturing employees in the state of Florida, primarily in electronics and medical device manufacturing.
“Our goal is to expand the work we are currently doing with regional manufacturers, universities, entrepreneurs, and economic development organizations, as well as new partners, to pioneer a better and more equally just advanced manufacturing model for the nation.”
“The ARM Institute is a wonderful addition to St. Pete,” said St. Pete EDC President & CEO J.P DuBuque. “ARM will be a great resource for the manufacturing companies in our region as robotics and AI continue to grow in importance. We also will be able to continue to connect them to local specialized manufacturing companies and to manufacturing companies considering relocation to the Sunshine City. ARM now is a fantastic resource in St. Pete’s innovation ecosystem that will help us attract additional companies that use high-tech manufacturing methods.”
The ARM Institute’s St. Pete office is located in the Tampa Bay Innovation Center at 501 1st Avenue North in downtown St. Petersburg. They intend to add roles in St. Pete in the next several years.
For more about the ARM Institute’s new St. Petersburg location, see “ARM Institute Opens Florida Office.”
