Reports

The Departments of Commerce, Defense (DOD), and Energy (DOE) have established a network of innovation institutes—known as Manufacturing USA institutes—to promote research, development, and commercialization of advanced manufacturing technologies. Manufacturing USA institutes reported making progress toward achieving their technology goals.

Advanced manufacturing is essential to our economic and national security. American manufacturers contribute more than $2.35 trillion to the U.S. economy which, taken alone, would represent the eighth-largest economy in the world. Every dollar spent in manufacturing results in an additional $2.79 added to the economy, making it the highest multiplier effect of any sector. This leads to jobs and economic opportunities in local and regional communities.

This annual report to Congress provides updates on the Manufacturing USA network response to COVID-19, as well as manufacturing technology development and workforce impacts from across the manufacturing innovation institutes.

Since 1988, the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) has worked to strengthen and empower U.S. manufacturing. The MEP program was created in 1988 by the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act to improve the competitiveness of U.S.-based manufacturing by making manufacturing technologies, processes and services more accessible to small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs) through MEP Centers in every state and Puerto Rico.

Manufacturing USA’s original 2014 legislative program authority prohibited renewing funding for institutes sponsored by the Department of Commerce (DOC). The Program’s 2019 reauthorization removed this restriction, authorizing the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to renew institute support, subject to a “rigorous merit review,” with each renewal period not longer than the initial period of the award.