The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has awarded nearly $54 million in grants from the American Rescue Act, which will go to 13 research, development and testbed projects for pandemic response. These projects are at eight manufacturing innovation institutes in the Manufacturing USA network and will involve more than 80 partners, from leading research universities, nonprofits, and small and large manufacturers.

“Rebuilding our manufacturing economy is an essential component to strengthening our communities and creating opportunity for all Americans,” said Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. “The breadth and variety of these awards shows that manufacturing can be an economic driver in every community. From creating an advanced manufacturing testbed in Appalachia, to building clean, reliable power in Native American communities, these grants are essential to creating manufacturing jobs and skills in every corner of America.”

Each institute in the Manufacturing USA^® network is a public-private partnership focused on an advanced manufacturing specialty such as additive manufacturing, advanced chip manufacturing or robotics. The institutes collaborate with academic and private sector manufacturing organizations on applied research and development projects and advanced manufacturing skills training.

The awardees will use advanced manufacturing technologies to produce personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical equipment; create new, sustainable domestic supply chains; improve resilience in existing supply chains; produce novel COVID-19 tests; provide shared-access equipment and facilities; produce health alert systems; and train and develop the next-generation manufacturing workforce.  Read more