NIST announces intent to open competition for Manufacturing USA Institute focused on AI

The Office of Advanced Manufacturing at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, intends to announce an open competition for a new Manufacturing USA institute. The expected competition, according to the notice of intent (NOI), will seek to establish a Manufacturing USA institute “focused on the use of artificial intelligence to improve resilience of U.S. manufacturing.”

The U.S. Government intends to enter into a five-year agreement with the winning institute, with the possibility of a non-competitive extension for up to an additional two years and provide federal funding of up to $70 million. This funding is to be matched or exceeded by funding from private industry and other non-federal sources, with a minimum 1:1 cost share.

The competition is expected to be announced in early Spring 2024, with a formal announcement on Grants.gov, the NIST Office of Advanced Manufacturing website ( www.nist.gov/​oam), and the Manufacturing USA website ( https://www.manufacturingusa.com/​).

Because the agency has announced this intent but has not yet opened the actual funding opportunity. Potential applicants should monitor www.nist.gov/​oam for announcements about webinars, a Proposer’s Day, and updates to frequently asked questions.

There will be a two-step application process. Applicants will first submit a concept paper; selected applicants will then be invited to submit full proposals. NIST anticipates that the due date for submission of concept papers will be a minimum of 45 days from the publication of the funding opportunity announcement.

The winning institute, according to the NOI, is expected to integrate expertise in AI, manufacturing, and optimization of supply chain networks to strengthen the resilience of domestic manufacturing. It will be able to choose an industrial sector or a combination of sectors.

The awardee, according to the NOI, will lead the institute partners in activities such as

• 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,
• supporting market transition of institute-developed technologies, ultimately supporting technology maturation into scale-up and industry use, and
• facilitating AI-related education and workforce development partnerships and programs.

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