President Barack Obama announced two new "manufacturing hubs" in Michigan and Illinois on Tuesday, which he said would spur middle-class job growth in America.
Obama extolled advanced manufacturing at a White House event about the hubs, which help universities and businesses partner over technological and manufacturing developments.
"It has a ripple effect throughout the economy. So we've got to focus on advanced manufacturing to keep that manufacturing here in the United States," Obama said of the hubs. "The point is, I don't want the next big, job-creating discovery to come from Germany or China or Japan. I want it to be made here in America."
The Michigan-based hub will focus on advanced lightweight materials, Obama said. The Illinois hub would focus on digital design and innovation.
Obama's push fits with the "year of action" initiative he first detailed during the State of the Union, which emphasizes executive actions he can take as president to advance his agenda.
"If we want to attract more good manufacturing jobs to America, we've got to make sure we're on the cutting edge of new manufacturing techniques and technologies," he said.
He later added: "If we stay focused on winning this race, we'll make sure the next manufacturing revolution is an American revolution."