NERDIC was formed in late 2017, as an applicant for a grant with the Department of Defense (DoD) Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA), now known as the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (OLDCC).
The initial joint discussions which lead to the formation of the collaboration, identified that the six states of New England face similar challenges in their efforts to support and promote the defense industry diversification and strengthening. The initial grant period (Phase 1) was from January 2018 to June 2019. With adjustments made due to the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, Phase 1 of the project concluded in October 2021.
The NERDIC structure and collaboration consolidated in Phase 1 to create a core Steering Committee, an Industry based Advisory Network and subcommittees in the areas of Cybersecurity, Industry 4.0 Readiness and Workforce. Individual work programs ran in the areas of Cybersecurity and Industry 4.0 Readiness.
Phase 2 of the project commenced in 2023.
Phase 2 is building upon this work from Phase 1 and is concentrating on Workforce, Industry 4.0 and Defense Modernization and Ecosystem Development. NERDIC be hosting Ecosystem Quarterly Meetings to be held in each State and each event will be focused on a defense related topic with a local Defense Contractor.
