Durbin Delivers Remarks Highlighting MxD’s Leadership In Technology And Manufacturing During Annual Member Summit

October 21, 2026 Durbin Delivers Remarks Highlighting MxD’s Leadership In Technology And Manufacturing During Annual Member Summit During MxD’s annual Member Summit today, Durbin delivered remarks on the organization’s success in developing technologies that advance cybersecurity and domestic manufacturing CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, today attended the annual MxD Member Summit, where he delivered remarks about Illinois’ leadership in technology advancement and research. MxD—previously known as the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute—is one of the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) leading manufacturing institutes that equips U.S. factories with the digital tools, cybersecurity, and workforce expertise to strengthen domestic manufacturing. MxD has developed several outstanding technologies that support both the public and private sector, including the development of a supply chain risk alert that helps companies prepare for disruptions caused by extreme weather; an automated robotic inspection system to modernize additive manufacturing processes at Rock Island Arsenal; and a workforce program that trains more than 10,000 people in a single year on advanced manufacturing, AI, and cybersecurity. “Whether it’s quantum computing, artificial intelligence, supply chain resiliency, cyber security, or everyday manufacturing, MxD is consistently at the forefront of innovation. This success didn’t happen by accident,” Durbin said. “Every single person and partner in this room has worked alongside MxD to bolster our national security, our economy, and our competitive advantage in the world. And it has been an honor to do my small part in Congress to support you all.” Photos of the event are available here . Between Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 and FY2026, Durbin secured $48 million in defense appropriations funding to support MxD’s collaboration with DoD on supply chain mapping, cybersecurity enhancements, modernizing Rock Island Arsenal and other Army facilities, and workforce development. -30- Print Email Share Tweet