NIU, in conjunction with other universities and businesses, has begun work for the Department of Defense to develop a new generation of military vehicles.

With a $2.5 million grant, NIU is working with its partners at a new, high-tech lab in Rockford.

The project will combine NIU’s expertise with the work of people at Hamilton-Sundstrand, W.A. Whitney and Ingersoll to help the U.S. military develop better combat vehicles at a more reasonable cost, NIU President John Peters said at the lab’s opening May 26.

“This project is really about taking the best practices of the commercial and manufacturing sectors and translating those to our country’s defense system. If we’re successful – and we will be – we will help Rockford manufacturing capture a much bigger piece of defense department spending,” Peters said.

The vehicle project is one of the first projects the new EIGERlab will undertake.

“There will be several research projects ongoing that are funded with federal grants,” said John L. Lewis, associate vice president of University Outreach. “The lab will also be available to assist local companies in solving manufacturing problems. These projects provide research opportunities for NIU faculty and provide the community access to research and technical expertise to assist in making local business competitive in a world market.”

The lab will become a place where manufacturers can look for modernization, expansion, commercial, research and competitive needs, said Promod Vohra, acting dean of the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology.

“If successful, this has the potential of being a national model, and NIU is proud to be an active member in such an important project with high impact and scope,” Vohra said.

EIGERlab, which is open to all members of the community and businesses, is located in the engineering building of the Ingersoll Machine Tool Company.

Partners include Northwestern University, University of Illinois, Rock Valley College, Alion Science and Technology, the Illinois Coalition, Rockford Area Ventures, W.A. Whitney, Hamilton-Sundstrand, Caterpillar, Boeing, Rockford Art Museum and the Rockford Council of 100.

“Universities align the research and education programs to match the strategic direction of the regions they serve,” Peters said. “Universities help commercialize research results – otherwise known as ‘technology transfer.’ All of these activities are most successful when done in partnership with private industry, and that’s what EIGERlab is all about.”

The Department of Defense, the National Institute for Standards & Technology and the Small Business Administration have committed a total of about $5.65 million to the lab, and $1.6 million will come from the state.