The Polymer Science and Engineering Department is a research partner in Advanced Functional Fibers of America (AFFOA), a new $317 million public-private partnership announced April 1 by U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter in support of advances in textile technology. UMass Amherst is the only public university in New England participating in the MIT-led partnership, which includes 31 universities, 16 industry partners, 72 manufacturing entities and 26 startup incubators across 28 states.

Boston.com, New York Times, ABC News, Press release