The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has announced 16 awards totaling USD$7.8 million to help accelerate the growth of advanced manufacturing in the United States. The grants will support industry-driven consortia in developing research plans and charting collaborative actions to solve high-priority technology challenges.

Called the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Consortia (AMTech), the program supports newly funded projects spanning a variety of industries and technologies, from next-generation gas turbines and aerospace manufacturing to hybridized semiconductor and synthetic-biology devices and glass manufacturing. Thirteen of the projects will launch new consortia. All will initiate technology roadmapping activities or similar efforts intended to identify, prioritize, and align research and development in targeted industry sectors.

This round of grants—ranging from $413,000 to $500,000 for a period of up to two years—has been awarded to universities and other nonprofit organizations. In addition, more than 250 businesses, trade associations, universities, and other organizations will collaborate as unfunded partners.

“The awards … will support public–private partner collaboration that boosts advanced manufacturing, which is critical to supporting economic growth,” said US Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker.