Robert Gavin of the Boston Globe writes - “Massachusetts and New England are thriving centers of advanced manufacturing, which, if supported with the right policies, could generate thousands of high-paying jobs a year, a new study concludes.

While often dismissed as dirty, dangerous, and declining, manufacturing in New England has evolved into a cutting-edge industry of sophisticated products and highly skilled workers, according to the study by the New England Council, a nonprofit regional advocacy group. Few places in the world can match the concentration of skills, innovation, and capital that drives advanced manufacturing in New England and provides a competitive advantage that could generate up to 8,000 new jobs a year.

“This is a sector with underrealized potential,’’ said New England Council president James T. Brett. “If we do the right thing, we can create jobs.’’

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