Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) kicked off its celebration of Manufacturing Day with a groundbreaking ceremony for the Missouri Protoplex on October 5. When it opens in fall 2025, the Protoplex will anchor S&T’s planned manufacturing and innovation campus. 

“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,” said Missouri S&T Chancellor Mo Dehghani. “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.”

The Protoplex will serve as a hub for the network of companies S&T is building through partnerships with the Missouri Association of Manufacturers, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, and other universities, community colleges, and technical schools across the state. In addition to offering an opportunity for manufacturers to learn about new methods and technologies, the school said the full-sized advanced manufacturing machines housed in the Protoplex will enable S&T students to be industry-ready to build Missouri’s innovative products of the future.