Intelligent systems – smart phones, smart materials, smart cars and smart homes – are all part of the IoT revolution. A longtime leader in the IoT movement, CALIT2 focuses its multidisciplinary expertise in core research areas with an emphasis on the end user. The institute doesn’t develop technology for the sake of developing it, instead CALIT2’s strength has always been developing technology solutions for empowering people. When President Barak Obama launched the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership in 2011 to help the U.S. regain its global leadership position, Director G.P. Li saw it as an opportunity to apply CALIT2’s IoT expertise to a worker-centric approach. CALIT2 initiated the Sustainable Manufacturing Alliance for Research and Training (SMART), with the vision of empowering skilled workers to have greater autonomy and decision-making responsibilities – resulting in not only a more satisfied, masterful workforce, but also plants and factories that are more energy-efficient, productive and safer.