The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has initiated a competition to identify an organization capable of establishing and operating a new institute dedicated to leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) in order to enhance the "resilience" of manufacturing in the United States. Once established, this new institute will become part of Manufacturing USA, a network of public-private partnership institutes committed to advancing the field of manufacturing. NIST anticipates providing funding of up to $70 million over a period of five years, subject to the availability of federal funds. The primary focus areas of this institute will revolve around technology development, the cultivation of a knowledgeable and skilled workforce, and the creation of shared infrastructure and facilities, as outlined in a release by the agency. Interested parties such as higher education institutions, US-based non-profit organizations, majority US-owned or controlled for-profit corporations, and state, local, territorial, and tribal governments can access the notice of funding opportunity, which was posted on Grants. gov on Monday. Concept papers must be submitted by the end of September. NIST, a component of the Department of Commerce, is requesting applicants to outline the desired outcomes and proposed timeline for project delivery in their submissions.

Furthermore, these documents must address a compelling industrial need in the US, demonstrate significant industry buy-in, and avoid overlapping with the initiatives of existing Manufacturing USA institutes and the planned Department of Commerce-sponsored Digital Twins Institute for Semiconductor Manufacturing. The competition will be conducted in two phases. The first phase entails the submission of concept papers, following which full proposals will be requested from those who presented the strongest concepts. NIST plans to organize an informational webinar and an in-person event related to this opportunity, with specific dates to be announced soon.