What is DIBCON
The number of small manufacturers in the U.S. defense industrial base is shrinking. Thousands of businesses - more than 40% of the total - have left the space over the past decade. In order to keep our nation’s armed forces moving, we must create new bridges between the Department of Defense and the nation’s manufacturing base.
The Defense Industrial Base Conference (DIBCON) was created to address this need. While other defense industry conferences and manufacturing expos exist, there is no single national event that brings together small manufacturers, economic development organizations, defense industry leaders, and DoD.
Until now.
Only direct engagement will get new manufacturers to raise their hand and say they want to help. We need to empower these small businesses to compete to aid our nation’s defensive surge capacity. The purpose of DIBCON is to create that opportunity.
Who is The Knudsen Institute
The Knudsen Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Chickasha, Oklahoma. The Institute’s mission is to strengthen the surge capacity of the U.S. defense industrial base with a focus on small and medium sized manufacturers (SMMs). We seek to embody the spirit of the Institute’s namesake, William S. Knudsen – the architect and driving force behind establishing America’s defense manufacturing base leading up to and throughout World War II.
Our organization develops public policy, workforce development, and applied research solutions through an interdisciplinary approach to re-establish America’s domestic manufacturing base in support of our nation’s warfighters. In addition to our partnership with ARCTOS to host DIBCON, the Institute has begun developing promising technology solutions using deep learning and machine learning; new methods of data collection; and new approaches to Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). Additionally, Knudsen has launched Project 81, a manufacturing small business incubator program that provides access to cutting edge manufacturing equipment to small manufacturers seeking to engage with the DoD, as well as to career technical centers and universities to supplement their educational opportunities.
Visit us at www.surgetheory.org to learn more and to get involved.
Who is ARCTOS
From focused webinars and workshops, restricted and classified meetings, hybrid and virtual events, to large technical conferences with 2000+ national and international attendees, ARCTOS’ Meetings Management Department has the proven experience to foster communication and collaboration across the technical community to meet your organizational goals.
You set the subject matter and goals, and we’ll bring the rest.
Visit us at www.ARCTOS-US.com to learn more.
ARCTOS Organized Event Series Include:
