Industry News

NIST announces competition for new Manufacturing USA institute that focuses on AI

March 14, 2024

The new institute will receive approximately $70 million in federal funds over five years, with additional contributions coming from private and other nonfederal funding sources.

Alexis Gajewski

A new competition has been introduced by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The competition, which is designed to create a new Manufacturing USA institute, will focus on ways to utilize artificial intelligence (AI) to improve the strength of domestic manufacturing. According to NIST, Manufacturing USA, created in 2014, is a nation-wide network of institutes that connects people, ideas, and technology. Each institute is a collaboration between public and private interests and focuses on various aspects of manufacturing, including supply chain, education, and workforce development.

The latest AI-focused institute will concentrate on “conducting research and development projects, establishing employer-led sectoral partnerships to develop training resources, and creating pathways for the skilled workforce needed to move innovation into industrial practice.” The new institute will receive approximately $70 million in federal funds over five years, with additional contributions coming from private and other nonfederal funding sources.

In a recent quote, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said, “AI is an accelerator of our productivity and of human abilities — it can make us better, faster and stronger in so many ways. I’m particularly excited about the potential for AI to supercharge manufacturing and the ways it can strengthen American workers and businesses and make our country more competitive in the global economy. This new Manufacturing USA AI-focused institute will build on the Biden-Harris administration’s extensive work to revitalize American manufacturing, invest in innovation, and ensure American workers are ready to meet the challenges of the future.”

About the Author

Alexis Gajewski | Senior Content Strategist

Alexis Gajewski has over 15 years of experience in the maintenance, reliability, operations, and manufacturing space. She joined Plant Services in 2008 and works to bring readers the news, insight, and information they need to make the right decisions for their plants. Alexis also authors “The Lighter Side of Manufacturing,” a blog that highlights the fun and innovative advances in the industrial sector.