Engineering the Next Industrial Revolution: ASME Prepares for CATALYZE

We are truly on the cusp of a massive shift in the engineering field, with the opportunity to engineer, fund, and scale the next industrial revolution. And, we can spearhead this revolution using the power of clean energy.

The engineering community stands at a pivotal moment—one where global collaboration, technological maturity, and urgent climate realities converge to demand action, not just discussion. The industrial sector remains one of the largest contributors to carbon emissions, yet proven solutions for electrification, efficiency, and clean energy already exist and are ready to scale. What we need is a dedicated, execution-focused forum that brings together the engineers who design solutions, the investors who fund them, and the industry leaders who deploy them at scale. 

CATALYZE was created to meet this moment.  As the next industrial revolution takes shape—defined by sustainability, resilience, and advanced manufacturing—CATALYZE provides the connective tissue needed to move breakthrough technologies from concept to commercialization, accelerate decarbonization across hard-to-abate industries, and unlock the multi-trillion-dollar opportunity embedded in the net-zero transition. This conference is not about envisioning the future; it is about engineering it—together.

Speaking of the future, the UC Santa Barbara 2035 Initiative recently released an 18-month road map showing that electrification of low- and medium-grade heat processes could slash emissions in often overlooked sectors by about 26% (roughly 1 billion tons) by 2050, relative to 2023 levels.

A recent McKinsey report also underscores the need to decarbonize, adapt, and build resilience and highlights the multi trillion-dollar opportunity for those who can scale proven solutions. According to McKinsey, the net-zero decarbonization transition could lead to the largest transformation of the industrial sector since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution.

CATALYZE is focused on setting these predictions in motion. CATALYZE is ASME’s two-day summit assembling the community of engineers, investors, and broader ecosystem leaders who are driving the next industrial revolution through a sustainable lens.

Taking place June 17–18 in Detroit, Michigan, CATALYZE is an interactive, execution-focused convening designed to move promising technologies and partnerships from talk to action. Our team is building a program anchored in engineering excellence, with interactive sessions that go beyond panels to include roundtables, workshops, and demos. These formats will bridge perspectives between those who create solutions and those who enable them to scale.

The summit will focus on three intersecting themes:

• Engineering to Meet Energy Demand: Deploying affordable, resilient, low/zero-carbon energy systems
• Paths for Industrial Transformation: Advancing electrification, efficiency, and clean fuels across operations
• Unleashing Advanced Manufacturing: Driving innovation at scale through next-generation product design and production

We’re creating a sustainability platform that connects industry and investors directly, unlocking opportunities to accelerate technology from breakthrough to buildout. Beyond the event, CATALYZE is the start of a sustained community of practice that will continue to collaborate year-round. 

I’m excited to share more in the coming months and invite you to join us in Detroit as we engineer the next sustainable industrial revolution.



With regards,

Tom Costabile, P. E., FASME
ASME Executive Director/CEO