Reports

In FY 2021, the Manufacturing USA network collaborated across agencies and institutes to share research progress and discuss lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the American Rescue Plan appropriations, NIST-sponsored grant competitions will fund projects to Manufacturing USA institutes to focus on domestic research, development, and testbeds to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus.

As domestic and international challenges continue to affect U.S. public health, the economy, and national security, the advanced manufacturing sector is responding. Innovative, resilient, and sustainable manufacturing systems are transforming the U.S. to become stronger, smarter, greener, and more secure.

This 2022 National Strategy for Advanced Manufacturing, developed by the SAM following extensive public outreach, is based on a vision for United States leadership in advanced manufacturing that will grow the economy, create quality jobs, enhance environmental sustainability, address climate change, strengthen supply chains, ensure national security, and improve healthcare.

Congress maintains a strong interest in the health of U.S. manufacturing due to its central role in the U.S. economy and national defense. Manufacturing USA is a network of institutes focused on facilitating the development and commercialization of emerging manufacturing technologies. The existing network consists of 16 institutes sponsored by the Departments of Commerce (DOC), Defense (DOD), and Energy (DOE) and co-funded with private sector partners.

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 study was conducted by the Applied Economics Office (AEO) in the Engineering Laboratory (EL) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The study provides aggregate manufacturing industry data and industry subsector data to develop a quantitative depiction of the U.S. manufacturing industry.

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.