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The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) has issued notice that it will announce a competitive pilot program for existing MEP Centers to accelerate the adoption and commercialization of advanced manufacturing technologies that enhance the competitiveness of the domestic industrial base in the critical sectors of:
- advanced manufacturing for aerospace components, and
- the domestic critical minerals supply chain.
This pilot program aims to leverage the MEP National Network™, NIST’s measurement science programs, the NIST-coordinated Manufacturing USA network, and partnerships with other federal agencies to identify pathways for technology demonstration and transition to market to revolutionize industrial supply chains in the United States.
NIST expects to provide approximately $20 million per pilot project over a 2-year period using available funds appropriated in FY2025 and FY2026. The competition will be open to current MEP Center primary awardees and to consortia of such awardees.
NIST expects to announce the competition via a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) on Grants.gov in the second quarter of calendar year 2026. The NOI issued today is intended to allow potential applicants time to begin developing collaborations among critical stakeholders.
Questions about this notice may be directed to mfg [at] nist.gov (mfg[at]nist[dot]gov), with the subject line: “MEP Technology Accelerator Pilot Program.” An informational webinar is tentatively planned for to explain the landscape, pilot program goals, and expectations for teaming. Webinar details will be provided soon on the MEP Notice of Funding Opportunities web page.