NOFO: Manufacturing USA Institute – AI for Resilient Manufacturing (US)

Through this competition, NIST expects to select an applicant or applicant team most capable of establishing and leading a public-private partnership that will integrate expertise in AI, manufacturing processes, and supply chain networks to conduct applied R&D projects that address industry-wide needs for innovation leading to greater resilience of manufacturing systems. The AI MFG USA institute is also expected to cultivate the development of a world-leading workforce needed to deploy institute-developed AI technologies into industrial use. The award will provide financial resources to establish the AI MFG USA institute, conduct startup activities and operate a national effort to accelerate manufacturing innovation and increase U.S. global competitiveness.

Purposes

• Statutory Purposes of Manufacturing USA. The purposes of Manufacturing USA are to:
  • Improve the competitiveness of United States manufacturing and to increase the production of goods manufactured predominantly within the United States.
  • Stimulate United States leadership in advanced manufacturing research, innovation, and technology.
  • Facilitate the transition of innovative technologies into scalable, cost-effective, and high performing manufacturing capabilities.
  • Facilitate access by manufacturing enterprises to capital-intensive infrastructure, including high-performance electronics and computing, and the supply chains that enable these technologies.
  • Accelerate the development of an advanced manufacturing workforce.
  • Facilitate peer exchange of and the documentation of best practices in addressing advanced manufacturing challenges.
  • Leverage non-federal sources of support to promote a stable and sustainable business model without the need for long-term federal funding.
  • Create and preserve jobs.
  • Contribute to the development of regional innovation initiatives across the United States.

Funding Information

• NIST anticipates funding one award for up to $70 million per award with an initial period of performance of five (5) years.

Benefits

• The awardee selected from the upcoming competition is expected to lead the AI MFG USA institute partners in technical initiatives that promote ecosystem-wide benefits such as, but not limited to, the following:
  • Establishing a trusted manufacturing-centric AI data commons.
  • Developing standards for AI risk assessment tools.
  • Creating validated and interoperable AI manufacturing and/or supply chain network models.
  • Building shared testbeds to support the integration between software and hardware needed for deployment by U.S manufacturers; and/or
  • Supporting market transition of institute-developed technologies, ultimately supporting technology maturation into scale-up and industry use.

Eligibility Criteria 

• Eligibility for the program listed in this NOFO is open to all: accredited institutions of higher education; non-profit organizations and for-profit organizations that are organized and operated in the United States (including U.S. territories) with majority domestic ownership or control; and  State, Tribal, local, and Territorial Governments.
• For purposes of this NOFO, individuals and unincorporated sole proprietors are not eligible to apply. Foreign public entities and foreign organizations are not eligible to apply. Federal agencies and Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) are not eligible to apply for this NOFO. Existing Manufacturing USA institutes are not eligible to apply to this NOFO.
• An eligible applicant may work individually or include proposed sub recipients, contractors, and/or unfunded collaborators in its application, effectively forming a team or consortium. In a team or consortium, eligible sub recipients at the application phase must meet the applicant eligibility requirements stated above. Organizations that are ineligible to apply because they are majority foreign-owned or foreign-controlled may be included in a team or consortium as an unfunded collaborator, provided that they are organized and operated in the United States.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.