Mississippi Polymer Institute
Mississippi
Services
Meeting Objectives
The Mississippi Polymer Institute (MPI) plans to leverage the SEUS-CP Conference as an opportunity to establish strategic partnerships that support innovation, economic development, and advanced manufacturing growth in Mississippi, the Southeastern United States and Canada. Through targeted meetings with industry leaders, technology developers, manufacturers, and research organizations, MPI aims to identify opportunities for collaborative projects in clean energy, advanced materials, transportation infrastructure, and sustainable manufacturing. Particular emphasis will be placed on connecting with companies seeking technical expertise in materials testing, product development, prototyping, process optimization, bio-degradation, and technology validation. MPI also intends to explore opportunities for commercially viable clean energy demonstrations, including hydrogen and energy storage technologies, while promoting Mississippi as a competitive location for technology deployment and manufacturing investment. Additionally, the conference provides a valuable platform to expand cross-border relationships with Canadian organizations, develop future grant and commercialization partnerships, and strengthen supply chain connections that can benefit Mississippi businesses and support long-term economic growth.
Organization Profile
Founded in 1993, the Mississippi Polymer Institute (MPI) is a non-profit industrial outreach organization based in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, serving as the industrial outreach arm of the School of Polymers and High Performance Materials at the University of Southern Mississippi. MPI’s mission is to foster technically-oriented business growth through the delivery of high-value technical services and educational outreach, supporting clients ranging from established manufacturers to emerging technology ventures. MPI offers extensive technical capabilities in materials characterization, analytical and mechanical testing, product development, manufacturing troubleshooting, process optimization, rapid prototyping, additive manufacturing, scale-up and pilot production, third-party evaluations, and workforce training. MPI’s core technical capabilities encompass polymer synthesis, materials processing, scale-up, accelerated degradation testing, laser scanning, and CAD design, alongside a comprehensive suite of analytical services — including Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Electron Microscopy — enabling compositional analysis, unknown material identification, raw material contaminant detection, and ASTM-standardized physical testing. MPI has maintained an advanced rapid prototyping practice since 1995, leveraging 3D printing, CAD modeling, and laser scanning technologies to deliver full-service prototype and commercial product development. Operating out of The Accelerator — a state-of-the-art 60,000+ square-foot facility — MPI provides pilot processing and commercial scale-up capabilities, allowing new materials and products to be developed, tested for composition and performance, and advanced to commercial quantities in support of industries spanning coatings, composites, aerospace, automotive, medical, and advanced materials.