Advancing Innovative Manufacturing Act of 2013

To accelerate research, development, and innovation in advanced manufacturing, to improve the competitiveness of American manufacturers, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Advancing Innovative Manufacturing Act of 2013 2. Advanced manufacturing technology consortia Section 33 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act ( 15 U.S.C. 278r 33. Advanced manufacturing technology consortia (a) Authority (1) In general The Director shall carry out a program to facilitate the development of and provide support to industry-led consortia that will identify, prioritize, and address long-term, precompetitive industrial research needs in the area of advanced manufacturing. (2) Program objectives The objectives of the program established under this section include the following: (A) To promote collective public-private efforts to develop key technology platforms and infrastructure for advanced manufacturing. (B) To enable the prioritization of public research portfolios to be more responsive to the long-term technology development needs of industry. (C) To leverage Federal investment in advanced manufacturing with shared investment by the private sector. (D) To increase industrial research and development investment in precompetitive technology platforms and infrastructure. (E) To accelerate technological innovation in advanced manufacturing. (F) To foster broad participation by industry, the Federal Government, institutions of higher education, and State, local, and tribal governments in advanced manufacturing research and development. (b) Activities As part of the program established under this section, the Director shall— (1) support the formation of industry-led consortia composed of representatives from industry (including small and medium-sized manufacturers), institutions of higher education, the Federal Government, State, local, and tribal governments, and other entities, as appropriate; (2) collaborate with consortia participants in the development of technology roadmaps that identify research needs in the area of advanced manufacturing; (3) support precompetitive research directed at meeting the research needs identified in the roadmaps developed under paragraph (2); (4) promote the transfer of precompetitive technology platforms and infrastructure resulting from consortia research to the private sector and facilitate open access to the intellectual property underpinning those platforms and technology; and (5) facilitate the development of new technologies into commercial products. (c) Selection criteria In selecting applications for awards under this section, the Director shall consider, at a minimum— (1) the degree to which the activities proposed under the consortia will broadly impact manufacturing and increase the productivity and economic competitiveness of the United States; (2) the level of technical risk to be addressed by the consortia; (3) the potential to produce fundamental new knowledge; and (4) the likelihood that the consortia will become self sustaining, if appropriate. (d) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated for carrying out this section $120,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018. . 3. Small manufacturer innovation program The National Institute of Standards and Technology Act ( 15 U.S.C. 271 et seq. (1) by redesignating section 34 as section 35; and (2) by inserting after section 33 the following: 34. Small manufacturer innovation program (a) In general The Director shall carry out a pilot program to enhance the innovative capabilities and competitiveness of small and medium-sized manufacturers through support for research and development that will promote the field of advanced manufacturing and lead to the commercialization of new products, processes, or technologies for use in advanced manufacturing. (b) Objectives The objectives of the program under this section are— (1) to accelerate the development of processes and, as appropriate, incremental innovations that will improve how goods are designed, produced, or distributed; (2) to advance the development and commercialization of novel products and technologies for use in advanced manufacturing; (3) to reduce the technical and economic risks associated with developing new products, processes, or technologies for use in advanced manufacturing; (4) to foster cooperative research and development between small and medium-sized manufacturers and research institutions; and (5) to promote research and development collaboration among small and medium-sized manufacturers facing similar technical challenges or obstacles, including collaboration along a supply chain. (c) Program (1) Award phases The Director shall award competitive, merit-reviewed grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts to small or medium-sized manufacturers in the United States through a uniform process having— (A) a first phase for determining, insofar as possible, the scientific and technical merit and feasibility of a proposal; and (B) a second phase to further develop proposals, including the development of prototypes, for which scientific and technical merit and feasibility was demonstrated in the first phase. (2) Applications A small or medium-sized manufacturer seeking an award under this section shall submit an application to the Director at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Director may require. (d) Stakeholder input In carrying out the program under this section, the Director shall solicit stakeholder input on how best to carry out the program. (e) Coordination and nonduplication To the maximum extent practicable, the Director shall ensure that the activities carried out under this section are coordinated with, and do not duplicate the efforts of, other programs within the Federal Government. (f) Report Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of the Advancing Innovative Manufacturing Act of 2013 (1) a summary of the activities carried out under the program; (2) an assessment of whether the program is achieving its goals, including a description of the metrics used to determine progress in meeting such goals; (3) any recommendations on how the program may be improved; and (4) a recommendation as to whether such program should be continued or terminated. (g) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to the Director to carry out this section— (1) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2014; (2) $25,500,000 for fiscal year 2015; (3) $39,750,000 for fiscal year 2016; (4) $42,250,000 for fiscal year 2017; and (5) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2018. . 4. Innovation voucher pilot program Section 25 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 ( 15 U.S.C. 3720 (d) Innovation voucher pilot program (1) In general The Secretary, acting through the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship and in conjunction with the States, shall establish an innovation voucher pilot program to accelerate innovative activities and enhance the competitiveness of small and medium-sized manufacturers in the United States. The pilot program shall— (A) foster collaborations between small and medium-sized manufacturers and research institutions; and (B) enable small and medium-sized manufacturers to access technical expertise and capabilities that will lead to the development of innovative products or manufacturing processes, including through— (i) research and development, including proof of concept, technical development, and compliance testing activities; (ii) early-stage product development, including engineering design services; and (iii) technology transfer and related activities. (2) Award size The Secretary shall competitively award vouchers worth up to $20,000 to small and medium-sized manufacturers for use at eligible research institutions to acquire the services described in paragraph (1)(B). (3) Streamlined procedures The Secretary shall streamline and simplify the application, administrative, and reporting procedures for vouchers administered under the program. (4) Regulations Prior to awarding any vouchers under the program, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations— (A) establishing criteria for the selection of recipients of awards under this subsection; (B) establishing procedures regarding financial reporting and auditing— (i) to ensure that awards are used for the purposes of the program; and (ii) that are in accordance with sound accounting practices; and (C) describing any other policies, procedures, or information necessary to implement this subsection, including those intended to streamline and simplify the program in accordance with paragraph (3). (5) Transfer authority The Secretary may transfer funds appropriated to the Department of Commerce to other Federal agencies for the performance of services authorized under this subsection. (6) Administrative costs All of the amounts appropriated to carry out this subsection for a fiscal year shall be used for vouchers awarded under this subsection, except that an eligible research institution performing the services described in paragraph (1)(B) may retain a percentage of any amount received from the Secretary under this subsection to defray administrative costs associated with the services. The Secretary shall establish a single, fixed percentage for such purposes that will apply to all eligible research institutions. (7) Outreach The Secretary may use centers established under section 25 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act ( 15 U.S.C. 278k (8) Reports to Congress (A) Plan Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall transmit to Congress a plan that will serve as a guide for the activities of the program. The plan shall include a description of the specific objectives of the program and the metrics that will be used in assessing progress toward those objectives. (B) Outcomes Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall transmit to Congress a report containing— (i) a summary of the activities carried out under this subsection; (ii) an assessment of the impact of such activities on the innovative capacity of small and medium-sized manufacturers receiving assistance under the pilot program; and (iii) any recommendations for administrative and legislative action that could optimize the effectiveness of the pilot program. (9) Coordination and nonduplication To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall ensure that the activities carried out under this subsection are coordinated with, and do not duplicate the efforts of, other programs within the Federal Government. (10) Eligible research institutions defined For the purposes of this subsection, the term eligible research institution (A) an institution of higher education, as such term is defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001(a) (B) a Federal laboratory; (C) a federally funded research and development center; or (D) a Hollings Manufacturing Extension Center established under section 25 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act ( 15 U.S.C. 278k (11) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the pilot program in this subsection $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018. . 5. Advanced manufacturing education Section 506(b) of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 ( 42 U.S.C. 1862p–1(b) (b) Advanced manufacturing education The Director shall award grants, on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis, to community colleges for the development and implementation of innovative advanced manufacturing education reforms to ensure an adequate and well-trained advanced manufacturing workforce. Activities supported by grants under this subsection may include— (1) the development or expansion of educational materials, courses, curricula, strategies, and methods that will lead to improved advanced manufacturing degree or certification programs, including the integration of industry standards and workplace competencies into the curriculum; (2) the development and implementation of faculty professional development programs that enhance a faculty member’s capabilities and teaching skills in advanced manufacturing, including efforts to understand current advanced manufacturing technologies and practices; (3) the establishment of centers that provide models and leadership in advanced manufacturing education and serve as regional or national clearinghouses for educational materials and methods; (4) activities to enhance the recruitment and retention of students into certification and degree programs in advanced manufacturing, including the provision of improved mentoring and internship opportunities; (5) the establishment of partnerships with private sector entities to ensure the development of an advanced manufacturing workforce with the skills necessary to meet regional economic needs; and (6) other activities as determined appropriate by the Director. .

Summary: Advancing Innovative Manufacturing Act of 2013 - Amends the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act to require the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to carry out a program to develop and support industry-led consortia that will identify, prioritize, and address long-term, precompetitive industrial research needs in the area of advanced manufacturing, including through the use of technology roadmaps and transfer of technology platforms and infrastructure. Requires the Director to carry out a pilot program (through the award of competitive, merit-reviewed grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts to small- or medium-sized manufacturers) to enhance the innovative capabilities and competitiveness of such manufacturers through support for research and development that will promote the field of advanced manufacturing and lead to the commercialization of new products, processes, or technologies. Amends the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 to direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish an innovation voucher pilot program to accelerate innovative activities and enhance the competitiveness of small- and medium-sized manufacturers, which shall: (1) foster collaborations between such manufacturers and research institutions, and (2) enable the manufacturers to access technical expertise and capabilities that will lead to the development of innovative products or manufacturing processes. Amends the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 to revise the program of grants for education and training in advanced manufacturing so that such grants are provided to community colleges for the development and implementation of innovative education reforms to ensure an adequate and well-trained advanced manufacturing workforce. Lists activities that may be supported by such grants, including for: (1) the development of teaching materials and methods, (2) faculty professional development, (3) centers to provide models and leadership, (4) activities to enhance student recruitment and retention, and (5) partnerships to ensure the development of an advanced manufacturing workforce with skills necessary to meet regional economic needs.