§278r Collaborative manufacturing research pilot grants

Summary

The Director must run a pilot grant program that gives awards to teams made up of at least one manufacturing company and at least one non‑industry partner. Awards are peer‑reviewed and competitive. The program supports cost‑shared collaborations among companies, schools, research labs, state agencies, and nonprofits to do applied research that creates new manufacturing processes, techniques, or materials to improve U.S. manufacturing performance, productivity, and competitiveness and to build lasting partnerships. Grants can pay no more than one‑third of a project’s costs, and no more than another one‑third may come from other federal funds. Applicants must apply as the Director requires and explain each partner’s role, the research to be done, and how it will help U.S. manufacturing. Projects are chosen for broad impact, novelty and technical merit, and the team’s ability to carry them out. The Director will try to fund different industries and firm sizes. There will be one pilot competition, and each award is for 3 years.