NSF and NIST to fund new consortium to answer questions about the future of advanced manufacturing
Investment in fundamental advanced manufacturing R&D continues to be a federal priority.
April 22, 2015
Federal investments in advanced manufacturing research have led to breakthrough technologies with societal benefits worldwide, such as 3-D printing, engineered biology and smart systems.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) will fund an estimated $164 million in multidisciplinary advanced manufacturing research in fiscal year 2015 alone.
To support continued innovation, NSF and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will fund a new advanced manufacturing consortium that will rapidly provide a variety of viewpoints in response to questions about future manufacturing technologies.
NSF and NIST will jointly provide up to $2 million per year for three years to an existing organization to fulfill this role. In addition to facilitating input, the consortium may also organize and conduct activities that incorporate community outreach, such as national summits or regional workshops.
NSF issued the award solicitation today, which has further details.
“Manufacturing is at the heart of advanced industrial societies,” said Pramod Khargonekar, assistant director for the NSF Directorate for Engineering, which leads NSF’s advanced manufacturing activities. “It’s imperative that we provide a vehicle for manufacturing stakeholders from across the country to share their insights, ideas and enable the most innovative, potentially transformative, ideas to rise to the top. This new consortium is yet one more way in which we can help ensure those voices are heard.”
The consortium’s creation is a response to the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology 2014 report on accelerating U.S. advanced manufacturing.
In the report, the council recommends creating a group to offer “private-sector input on national advanced manufacturing research and development priorities.”
The consortium is intended to provide timely and novel perspectives on broad issues, challenges and opportunities facing U.S. manufacturing. Consortium input will help inform the advanced manufacturing community and federal agencies as they engage in manufacturing research, and shape national technology priorities and investments at all stages of technology development.
“By creating a channel to draw on the perspectives, knowledge and insights of industry and academia, the consortium can better position the nation to seize on emerging science and technology opportunities that will drive future growth and success in U.S. manufacturing,” said Willie May, acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and Acting NIST Director.
NSF has a history of collaboration with public and private partners to leverage investments in research and education.
NSF is cooperating with NIST and other federal agencies to design the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation, which engages regional hubs to accelerate the development and adoption of cutting-edge manufacturing technologies to make new, globally competitive products.
Read more on NSF investments in advanced manufacturing.
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Media Contacts
Sarah Bates, NSF, (703) 292-7738, sabates@nsf.gov
Jennifer Huergo, NIST, (301) 975-6343, jennifer.huergo@nist.gov
Program Contacts
Bruce Kramer, NSF, (703) 292-5348, bkramer@nsf.gov
Related Websites
National Network for Manufacturing Innovation http://www.manufacturing.gov/nnmi.html
President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology AMP 2.0 Report https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ostp/PCAST/amp20_report_final.pdf
Advanced Manufacturing: Made to Order http://www.nsf.gov/madetoorder
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