G. P. “Bud” Peterson, president of the Georgia Institute of Technology, has been named by President Barack Obama to a steering committee that is to assist in the development of new research and education agendas related to advanced manufacturing.

 The Advanced Manufacturing Partnership steering committee is to bring together industry, universities and the federal government to identify and invest in key emerging technologies, such as information technology, biotechnology and nanotechnology.

“Many of our challenges can be solved through innovation and fostering an entrepreneurial environment, as well as collaboration between industry, education and government to create a healthy economic environment and an educated workforce” Dr. Peterson said in a news release.

The president also announced a new National Robotics Initiative as part of the advanced manufacturing and technology initiative.

Henrik Christensen, a distinguished professor of computer science in the School of Interactive Computing at Georgia Tech, is to serve as an academic and research leader for this initiative.

In addition to Dr. Peterson, other committee members include University of California at Berkeley Chancellor Robert Birgeneau, University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman, Stanford President John Hennessey and Carnegie Mellon President Jared Cohon.

For more information, call Matt Nagel, Georgia Tech media relations, at 404-894-7460 or send an email to mattnagel@gatech.edu