[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 120 (Friday, June 21, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37522-37524]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-14895]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and Technology
[Docket No. 130426414-3414-01]
Request for Information on Pilots to Inform the Creation of
Potential New Manufacturing Technology Acceleration Centers (M-TACs)
AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST),
Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; Request for Information (RFI).
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SUMMARY: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
invites interested parties to comment on NIST's planning for a Federal
Funding Opportunity (FFO), anticipated in fiscal year 2014 (FY14),
subject to the availability of appropriated funding. The anticipated
2014 FFO will competitively fund a select number of new Manufacturing
Technology Acceleration Centers (M-TACs).
The M-TACs will focus on addressing the technical and business
challenges encountered by small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers as
they attempt to integrate, adopt, transition, and commercialize both
existing and emerging product and process technologies into their
operations to help them grow and compete within manufacturing supply
chains as innovative, value-adding components of our nation's economy.
U.S. small and mid-sized manufacturers are a critical segment of our
economy, comprising over 90% of all manufacturing establishments and
approximately 45% of employment.\1\ U.S. small and mid-sized
manufacturers are also playing a growing role in technology innovation,
including product and process technologies.\2\ The emphasis of these
future M-TACs will be to conduct technology transition and
commercialization activities with small and mid-sized U.S.
manufacturers to foster their readiness to adopt and/or adapt advanced
technologies into their manufacturing processes and products.
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\1\ ``2010 County Business Patterns,'' U.S. Census Bureau Data,
release date 10/2012. For information on confidentiality protection,
sampling error, non-sampling error, and definitions, see http://www.census.gov/econ/susb/methodology.html.
\2\ ``International Benchmarking of Countries' Policies and
Programs Supporting SME Manufacturers,'' Stephen J. Ezell and Dr.
Robert Atkinson, The Information Technology and Innovation
Foundation, September 2011, http://www.itif.org/files/2011-sme-manufacturing-tech-programss-new.pdf.
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M-TACs will amplify the effectiveness of the current Hollings
Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) network, establishing teams
of experts in specific technology/supply chains, offering multiple
services and deep expertise through the national MEP network.
This Request For Information (RFI) seeks comments relating to four
primary issue areas regarding the M-TACs that are further defined
herein: (1) Technology transition and commercialization tools and
services that should be provided by M-TACs; (2) M-TAC roles relating to
supply chain needs; (3) potential business models for M-TACs; and (4)
M-TAC performance and impact metrics. In addition, NIST seeks comments
relating to other critical issues that NIST should consider in its
strategic planning for future M-TAC investments.
DATES: Comments are due on or before 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on July
22, 2013.
ADDRESSES: Comments will be accepted by email only. Comments must be
sent to [email protected] with the subject line ``M-TAC RFI
Comments.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diane Henderson, 100 Bureau Drive,
Mail Stop 4800, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-4800, 301-975-5105,
[email protected]; or David Stieren, 100 Bureau Drive, Mail Stop
4800, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-4800, 301-975-3197,
[email protected]. Please direct media inquiries to NIST's Office
of Public Affairs at (301) 975-NIST.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The objective of this RFI is to assist NIST
in the development of the anticipated 2014 FFO for the creation of M-
TACs, should NIST receive future appropriated funds for this purpose.
NIST notes that in advance of the targeted 2014 M-TAC FFO that is the
subject of this RFI, NIST will be releasing an FFO in 2013 to fund
approximately two pilot projects that will also inform the planning for
future M-TAC investments.
Small and mid-sized manufacturers have proven to be flexible and
adaptable in their approach to profitable growth through new markets,
customers, products, and processes. Yet there remains a gap between the
research being performed by universities, federal labs, consortia, and
other entities, and the readiness of many small and mid-sized
manufacturers to adopt both existing and emerging technologies into
their products and processes to respond to the quality and performance
requirements of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Recent reports
by the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology,\3\ as
well as the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation,\4\ point
out that small and mid-sized manufacturers lack the financial resources
and technical capabilities that large manufacturers have to be able to
stay abreast of, and gain access to, the universe of emerging
technologies and processes being constantly innovated around the globe.
As a result, technology adoption rates of smaller U.S. manufacturers
lag those of larger ones.
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\3\ ``Report to the President on Capturing Domestic Competitive
Advantage in Advanced Manufacturing,'' President's Council of
Advisors on Science and Technology, Executive Office of the
President, July 2012, http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ostp/pcast_amp_steering_committee_report_final_july_27_2012.pdf.
\4\ ``International Benchmarking of Countries' Policies and
Programs Supporting SME Manufacturers,'' Stephen J. Ezell and Dr.
Robert Atkinson, The Information Technology and Innovation
Foundation, September 2011, http://www.itif.org/files/2011-sme-manufacturing-tech-programss-new.pdf.
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Through the efforts of its existing network of Centers to provide
Next Generation innovation services, NIST's Hollings MEP program has
made strides forward to address these needs. However, to effectively
assist small and mid-sized manufacturing firms to compete in the global
economy, deep expertise specific to a given supply chain or sector is
required.
The lack of readiness of small and mid-sized manufacturers and the
corresponding lagging technology adoption rates of smaller
manufacturers will be primary focus areas of M-TACs. Bridging the gap
between available technologies and commercial adoption
[[Page 37523]]
by manufacturers is essentially a two-part problem that first requires
a critical step of translating available technologies into competitive
market advantage. Second, bridging the gap requires addressing a
variety of challenges that serve as barriers to small and mid-sized
manufacturers incorporating technology solutions into their processes
and new product portfolio. These challenges include technology and
knowledge transfer, technology transition, and technology diffusion
steps, along with numerous commercialization interventions needed to
bring a technology from lab to market. M-TACs will emphasize the
provision of technical and business assistance to small and mid-sized
manufacturers along the broad spectrum of process improvement and
product development services they may need.
A key success factor of the Administration's focus on enhancing
U.S. competiveness in advanced manufacturing is the support for highly
effective supply chains in technology intensive manufacturing sectors.
NIST envisions that future M-TACs will become the connective fabric for
efficiently connecting academia, researchers, scientists, engineers and
manufacturers with valuable supply chain and market demands, with a
particular focus on the needs of small and mid-sized U.S.
manufacturers. These M-TACs can serve as a coordination point within
key supply chains. The anticipated approach should result in increased
job creation and economic growth.
This M-TAC effort aligns with the President's plan to launch a
nationwide network of innovation institutes across the country that
will develop world-leading manufacturing technologies and capabilities
that U.S.-based manufacturers can apply in production to support U.S.
manufacturing sector growth.\5\ The expectation is that M-TACs will
work in collaboration with existing resources, including research
consortia and institutions such as those operating as part of or in
conjunction with the proposed National Network for Manufacturing
Innovation (NNMI), state and local technology-based economic
development intermediaries, industry associations, industry-university
partnerships, and manufacturing organizations. NIST envisions that M-
TACs will operate on a national level using sustainable business models
that will allow technology commercialization scale-up to occur to serve
substantial numbers of small and mid-sized manufacturers--on the order
of several thousand annually.
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\5\ ``Fact Sheet: The President's Plan to Make America a Magnet
for Jobs by Investing in Manufacturing,'' The White House Office of
the Press Secretary, February 13, 2013, http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/13/fact-sheet-president-s-plan-make-america-magnet-jobs-investing-manufactu.
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By providing direct technical and business assistance in technology
transition and commercialization areas, M-TACs will address the gap
between the research being performed by universities, federal labs,
consortia, and other entities, and the readiness of many small and mid-
sized manufacturers to adopt new and existing technologies into their
products and processes. The ultimate goal of the M-TACs is to deploy
scalable resources to increase and accelerate the commercialization of
existing and emerging technologies that lead to sustainable economic
growth and job creation through more robust domestic supply chains.
The goals of future M-TACs include:
Demonstrating the operation of business models that enable
small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers to effectively and efficiently
access--on a continuing and financially sustainable basis--the
assortment of technology transition and commercialization services they
need to adopt and/or adapt technology into their products and
processes;
Establishing the appropriate partnerships and
demonstrating the interfaces necessary to enable small and mid-sized
U.S. manufacturers to effectively access the diverse array of
technology transition and commercialization services they need;
Fostering connections between the existing MEP system and
its network of Centers, and other public and private initiatives tasked
with linking technologically promising research discoveries and ideas
for advanced, high-value-added products and processes with existing
U.S. manufacturers and aspiring start-up firms; and
Identifying where on the technology development and
commercialization continuum small and mid-sized manufacturers tend to
operate by identifying technology transition and commercialization
areas in which small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers most critically
need assistance.
M-TACs are expected to achieve these goals through:
1. Interacting with small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers through
the nationwide network of MEP Centers to operate an effort that is
focused on the provision of technology transition and commercialization
services to manufacturers, doing so in a manner that is locally driven
and nationally connected;
2. Creating teams of experts in specific technology or industrially
organized supply chains and offering multiple services and deep
expertise to support small and mid-sized manufacturer needs relating to
technology transition and commercialization;
Emphasis will be placed on assisting small and mid-sized
manufacturers in functions that apply to the spectrum of technology
transition and commercialization services that small and mid-sized
manufacturers may need. This may include those services associated with
technology and process integration, engineering, new product
development, existing product and process innovation, manufacturing
scale up, supply chain development, financing, legal (intellectual
property and regulatory), marketing, market analysis and research, and
workforce development.
3. Collaborating with research consortia and institutions such as
those operating as part of or in conjunction with the proposed NNMI,
state and local technology-based economic development intermediaries,
industry associations, industry-university partnerships, and
manufacturing standards organizations.
Request for Information
As noted above, this RFI will assist NIST in developing the
anticipated 2014 FFO for the creation of M-TACs, should NIST receive
future appropriated funds for this purpose. As such, the questions
below are intended to assist in the formulation of comments that will
be used to inform future strategic planning. These questions should not
be construed as a limitation on the number of comments that interested
parties may submit, or as a limitation on the issues that may be
addressed in such comments, and the fifth question here provides an
opportunity to comment on issues not specifically covered by the first
four questions. Submissions should clearly indicate which RFI questions
are being addressed by each comment. Comments containing references,
studies, research, and other empirical data that are not widely
published should include copies of the referenced materials. Comment
submissions must be kept to a maximum of 10 pages, using 12 point,
single-spaced font. Do not include in comments or otherwise submit
proprietary or confidential information, as all comments received by
the deadline will be made publicly available at www.nist.gov/mep/. NIST
is specifically interested in receiving input
[[Page 37524]]
on one or more of the following questions:
1. What are the specific types of technology transition and
commercialization tools and services that should be provided by M-TACs?
Emphasis is on the alignment of these tools and services with the most
pressing needs of small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers.
a. How would M-TAC services complement the services currently
offered by MEP Centers?
2. What role should future M-TACs play with respect to supply chain
needs? How should OEMs participate? How can industry associations,
professional societies, and other appropriate national organizations
participate?
3. Is there a particular long-term scalable and financially
sustainable business model that should be implemented by future M-TACs
that will enable small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers to effectively
access and benefit from the technology transition and commercialization
assistance and other resources they need?
a. Because of the programmatic connection to the NIST MEP Program,
M-TACs may require cost share. Are there cost share models for future
M-TACs that promote scale up to reach nationally dispersed clusters of
small and mid-sized manufacturers? If so, what are those models, and
why might they be successful?
b. The generation of intellectual property is possible, and even
likely as a result of M-TAC operations. What types of intellectual
property arrangements and management constructs would promote active
engagement of industry in these pilots, especially among small and mid-
sized U.S. manufacturers that would be supportive of the business
model? As appropriate, please include a set of potential options, and
please explain your responses.
4. How should an M-TAC's performance and impact be evaluated? What
are appropriate measures of success for future M-TACs? Please explain
your response including the value of the performance measure to
business growth.
5. Are there any other critical issues that NIST MEP should
consider in its strategic planning for future M-TAC investments that
are not covered by the first four questions? If so, please address
those issues here and explain your response.
Dated: June 12, 2013.
Phillip Singerman,
Associate Director for Innovation & Industry Services.
[FR Doc. 2013-14895 Filed 6-20-13; 8:45 am]
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