Institute of Digital Engineering touts Mooresville as a defense manufacturing hub
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Summary
David Jerome of the Institute of Digital Engineering told the Mooresville board the IDE is expanding research and internships to grow defense and aerospace manufacturing locally, citing a $2.6 million research commitment, an intern program expansion to 15 placements, and a pipeline of companies that could create hundreds of jobs.
David Jerome, director of the Institute of Digital Engineering (IDE), told the Mooresville Town Board on Feb. 11 that the nonprofit is building a local ecosystem for defense and aerospace manufacturing that could boost jobs and investment in the region.
“The United States is at 17%,” Jerome said, summarizing global manufacturing shares and warning of global competition, “China now produces 30% of the world's manufactured goods.” Jerome framed digital engineering and university–industry collaboration as essential to retain and grow advanced manufacturing jobs in the region.
Jerome described four pillars guiding the IDE: collaboration (CEO roundtables and summits), research leadership, an expanded paid-intern program branded Digital Horizons, and business expansion to bridge the so-called “valley of death” between prototype and production. He said the IDE is managing a $2,600,000 research investment focused on areas including hypersonics and biotechnology and has moved from eight paid interns in a pilot year to a planned 15 interns across three companies in 2026.
The IDE director highlighted a pipeline of roughly 13 prospective companies that, if all were to locate or expand locally, could yield an estimated 830 jobs and a 10-year economic impact of “well over $600 million,” with one recent company in the pipeline projected at about $750 million of potential investment. Jerome also said the organization is pursuing university partnerships and state and federal funding to close remaining financing gaps.
Board members emphasized local advantages—homegrown engineering talent and existing firms with defense expertise—and cited the IDE’s role in attracting smaller, nimble companies that can collaborate with larger contractors. The board asked staff to consider the IDE’s KPIs and to align local support with the organization’s goals.
The presentation closed with Jerome inviting board members to an IDE summit and asking the town to continue supporting research, internships and policy tools that go beyond tax incentives to help companies locate and scale in Mooresville.
