The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology awarded $54 million to 13 research projects in seven states for pandemic response program development.
The awardees will use advanced manufacturing technologies to produce personal protective 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, the Commerce Department said Feb. 28.
“Rebuilding our manufacturing economy is an essential component to strengthening our communities and creating opportunity for all Americans," Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said.
The funding comes from the American Rescue Act, and it will support projects at eight manufacturing innovation institutes in the Manufacturing USA network. The institutes will collaborate with academic and private sector manufacturing organizations on applied research and development projects and advanced manufacturing skills training.
Each institute is a public-private partnership focused on an advanced manufacturing specialty such as additive manufacturing, advanced chip manufacturing or robotics. The institutes will collaborate with more than 80 partners including leading research universities, nonprofits and small and large manufacturers.
“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,” Raimondo said.
