The Nationwide Institute of Requirements and Expertise (NIST) within the US is providing as much as $70 million in funding for a brand new Manufacturing USA institute to develop AI for productiveness and safety for the US manufacturing sector. It has opened a contest and requested idea papers from industrial AI analysis institutes and specialist corporations. The winner will set up and function the brand new institute with the $70 million jackpot, scheduled over a 5 yr interval, and be required to acquire “cost-share funds” from non-federal sources.
The deadline for the primary stage of the applying is September 30, 2024; candidates with the perfect plans can be requested to formalise their papers in full proposals. Manufacturing USA is a public-private partnership initiative round good manufacturing and logistics, sponsored by the departments of commerce, power, and protection. It contains a community of nationwide Business 4.0 centres, co-funded by not less than six extra company companions. In 2022, the community labored with 2,500 member teams, together with 1,500, principally small, producers, on over 670 utilized R&D initiatives.
The community generated investments of $416 million from state, federal, and trade funds in 2022. The brand new industrial AI institute is to develop “cost-effective, AI-based superior manufacturing capabilities” by bringing collectively trade, academia, and authorities. An announcement stated: “This public-private partnership will combine experience in AI, manufacturing and provide chain networks to advertise manufacturing resilience. Proposals can reduce throughout a number of industrial sectors or give attention to only one.”
Industrial resiliency for US manufacturing is the headline goal, however NIST, a part of the US division of commerce, is placing a give attention to workforce growth and abilities, and in addition shared infrastructure and services. Proposals should handle a compelling US industrial want, display vital trade buy-in, and keep away from duplicating the efforts of present Manufacturing USA institutes, which incorporates the deliberate Digital Twins Institute for Semiconductor Manufacturing, sponsored by the division of commerce. The funding alternative is printed right here.
Gina Raimondo, secretary of commerce, stated: “AI has monumental potential to make us smarter, sooner and extra modern, however we’ve to work collectively to maximise its advantages and mitigate its dangers. Via this new AI-focused Manufacturing USA institute, we are going to assist leverage AI to supercharge manufacturing, empower our workforce and create safe, resilient provide chains.”
Laurie Locascio, below secretary of commerce for requirements and expertise and director at NIST, stated: “This new institute will strengthen the US economic system by serving to producers make good use of AI to spice up their productiveness and improve their resilience within the face of provide chain disruptions and different surprising occasions. We look ahead to reviewing modern proposals that can assist home producers maximize the potential of AI.”
