A new paradigm: The investment casting cooperative arrangement

Under the leadership of five collaborating companies, the Investment Casting Cooperative Arrangement (ICCA) is in the first two years of a six-year vision that will contribute to maintaining the U.S. competitive advantage in aerospace and, more specifically, aeropropulsion. Equally important is the new paradigm that is being developed for other technologies and industries; it includes the ability of competitive companies to work together as a team in the development of generic technologies that will enhance overall competitiveness. A critical component in the success of a program such as the ICCA is the team’s ability to network and interact with other consortia operating with the same technologies so that the efforts are aligned, all resources are being leveraged, and frequent lines of communication have been established at all levels. As a result, the ICCA provides a model framework for genuine interaction among industry, federal laboratories, and universities.