136 
governments in advanced manufacturing re-
search and development. 
‘‘(b) ACTIVITIES.—As part of the program estab-
lished under this section, the Director shall— 
‘‘(1) support the formation of industry-led con-
sortia composed of representatives from industry (in-
cluding small and medium-sized manufacturers), in-
stitutions of higher education, the Federal Govern-
ment, State, local, and tribal governments, and other 
entities, as appropriate; 
‘‘(2) collaborate with consortia participants in 
the development of technology roadmaps that iden-
tify research needs in the area of advanced manufac-
turing; 
‘‘(3) support precompetitive research directed at 
meeting the research needs identified in the road-
maps developed under paragraph (2); 
‘‘(4) promote the transfer of precompetitive 
technology platforms and infrastructure resulting 
from consortia research to the private sector and fa-
cilitate open access to the intellectual property un-
derpinning those platforms and technology; and 
‘‘(5) facilitate the development of new tech-
nologies into commercial products. 
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137 
‘‘(c) SELECTION CRITERIA.—In selecting applica-
tions for awards under this section, the Director shall con-
sider, at a minimum— 
‘‘(1) the degree to which the activities proposed 
under the consortia will broadly impact manufac-
turing, including regional manufacturing efforts, and 
increase the productivity and economic competitive-
ness 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 be-
come self-sustaining, if appropriate.’’. 
SEC. 404. NETWORK FOR MANUFACTURING INNOVATION. 
The National Institute of Standards and Technology 
Act (15 U.S.C. 271 et seq.) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating section 34 as section 36; 
and 
(2) by inserting after section 33 (15 U.S.C. 
278r) the following: 
‘‘SEC. 34. NETWORK FOR MANUFACTURING INNOVATION. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF NETWORK FOR MANUFAC-
TURING INNOVATION PROGRAM.— 
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138 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish within the Institute a program to be known as 
the ‘Network for Manufacturing Innovation Pro-
gram’ (referred to in this section as the ‘Program’). 
‘‘(2) PURPOSES OF PROGRAM.—The purposes of 
the Program are— 
‘‘(A) to improve the competitiveness of 
United States manufacturing and to increase 
domestic production; 
‘‘(B) to stimulate United States leadership 
in advanced manufacturing research, innova-
tion, and technology; 
‘‘(C) to facilitate the transition of innova-
tive technologies into scalable, cost-effective, 
and high-performing manufacturing capabili-
ties; 
‘‘(D) to facilitate access by manufacturing 
enterprises to capital-intensive infrastructure, 
including high-performance computing, in order 
to improve the speed with which such enter-
prises commercialize new processes and tech-
nologies; 
‘‘(E) to accelerate the development of an 
advanced manufacturing workforce; 
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139 
‘‘(F) to facilitate peer exchange of and the 
documentation of best practices in addressing 
advanced manufacturing challenges; and 
‘‘(G) to leverage non-Federal sources of 
support to promote a stable and sustainable 
business model without the need for long-term 
Federal funding. 
‘‘(3) SUPPORT.—The Secretary, acting through 
the Director, shall carry out the purposes set forth 
in paragraph (2) by supporting— 
‘‘(A) the Network for Manufacturing Inno-
vation established under subsection (b); and 
‘‘(B) the establishment of centers for man-
ufacturing innovation. 
‘‘(4) DIRECTOR.—The Secretary shall carry out 
the Program through the Director. 
‘‘(b) ESTABLISHMENT OF NETWORK FOR MANUFAC-
TURING INNOVATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—As part of the Program, 
the Secretary shall establish a network of centers for 
manufacturing innovation. 
‘‘(2) DESIGNATION.—The network established 
under paragraph (1) shall be known as the ‘Network 
for Manufacturing Innovation’ (referred to in this 
section as the ‘Network’). 
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140 
‘‘(c) CENTERS FOR MANUFACTURING INNOVATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of this sec-
tion, a ‘center for manufacturing innovation’ is a 
center that— 
‘‘(A) has been established by a person to 
address challenges in advanced manufacturing 
and to assist manufacturers in retaining or ex-
panding industrial production and jobs in the 
United States; 
‘‘(B) has a predominant focus on a manu-
facturing process, novel material, enabling tech-
nology, supply chain integration methodology, 
or another relevant aspect of advanced manu-
facturing, as determined by the Secretary, with 
the potential— 
‘‘(i) to improve the competitiveness of 
United States manufacturing; 
‘‘(ii) to accelerate investment in ad-
vanced manufacturing production capacity 
in the United States; and 
‘‘(iii) to enable the commercial appli-
cation of new technologies or industry-wide 
manufacturing processes; and 
‘‘(C) includes active participation among 
representatives from multiple industrial entities, 
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141 
research universities, community colleges, and 
such other entities as the Secretary considers 
appropriate, which may include career and tech-
nical education schools, Federal laboratories, 
State, local, and tribal governments, businesses, 
educational institutions, and nonprofit organiza-
tions. 
‘‘(2) ACTIVITIES.—Activities of a center for 
manufacturing innovation may include the following: 
‘‘(A) Research, development, and dem-
onstration projects, including proof-of-concept 
development and prototyping, to reduce the 
cost, time, and risk of commercializing new 
technologies and improvements in existing tech-
nologies, processes, products, and research and 
development of materials to solve pre-competi-
tive industrial problems with economic or na-
tional security implications. 
‘‘(B) Development and implementation of 
education and training courses, materials, and 
programs. 
‘‘(C) Development of innovative methodolo-
gies and practices for supply chain integration 
and introduction of new technologies into sup-
ply chains. 
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142 
‘‘(D) Outreach and engagement with small 
and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises, in 
addition to large manufacturing enterprises. 
‘‘(E) Such other activities as the Sec-
retary, in consultation with Federal depart-
ments and agencies whose missions contribute 
to or are affected by advanced manufacturing, 
considers consistent with the purposes described 
in subsection (a)(2). 
‘‘(3) ADDITIONAL
CENTERS
FOR
MANUFAC-
TURING INNOVATION.—The National Additive Man-
ufacturing Innovation Institute and pending manu-
facturing centers under interagency review shall be 
considered centers for manufacturing innovation. 
‘‘(d) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ESTABLISH AND 
SUPPORT
CENTERS
FOR
MANUFACTURING
INNOVA-
TION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the Pro-
gram, the Secretary shall award financial assistance 
to a person to assist the person in planning, estab-
lishing, or supporting a center for manufacturing in-
novation. 
‘‘(2) APPLICATION.—A person seeking financial 
assistance under paragraph (1) shall submit to the 
Secretary an application therefor at such time, in 
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143 
such manner, and containing such information as 
the Secretary may require. 
‘‘(3) OPEN PROCESS.—In soliciting applications 
for financial assistance under paragraph (1), the 
Secretary shall ensure an open process that will 
allow for the consideration of all applications rel-
evant to advanced manufacturing regardless of tech-
nology area. 
‘‘(4) SELECTION.— 
‘‘(A) COMPETITIVE, MERIT
REVIEW.—In 
awarding financial assistance under paragraph 
(1), the Secretary shall use a competitive, merit 
review process. 
‘‘(B) COLLABORATION.—In awarding fi-
nancial assistance under paragraph (1), the 
Secretary shall, acting through the National 
Program Office established under subsection 
(e)(1), collaborate with Federal departments 
and agencies whose missions contribute to or 
are affected by advanced manufacturing. 
‘‘(C) CONSIDERATIONS.—In selecting a 
person who submitted an application under 
paragraph (2) for an award of financial assist-
ance under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall 
consider, at a minimum, the following: 
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‘‘(i) The potential of the center for 
manufacturing innovation to advance do-
mestic manufacturing and the likelihood of 
economic impact in the predominant focus 
areas of the center for manufacturing in-
novation. 
‘‘(ii) The commitment of continued fi-
nancial support, advice, participation, and 
other 
contributions 
from 
non-Federal 
sources to provide leverage and resources 
to promote a stable and sustainable busi-
ness model without the need for long-term 
Federal funding. 
‘‘(iii) How the center for manufac-
turing innovation will engage with small 
and medium-sized manufacturing enter-
prises, to improve the capacity of such en-
terprises to commercialize new processes 
and technologies. 
‘‘(iv) How the center for manufac-
turing innovation will carry out educational 
and workforce activities that meet indus-
trial needs related to the predominant 
focus areas of the center for manufac-
turing innovation. 
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‘‘(v) How the center for manufac-
turing innovation will advance economic 
competitiveness. 
‘‘(vi) How the center for manufac-
turing innovation will strengthen and lever-
age the assets of a region. 
‘‘(5) LIMITATION ON PERIOD FOR AWARDS.— 
No award of financial assistance may be made under 
paragraph (1) to a center of manufacturing innova-
tion after the 7-year period beginning on the date on 
which the Secretary first awards financial assistance 
to a center under such paragraph. 
‘‘(e) NATIONAL PROGRAM OFFICE.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall es-
tablish or designate, within the Institute, an Ad-
vanced Manufacturing National Program Office (re-
ferred to in this section as the ‘National Program 
Office’), which shall oversee and carry out the Pro-
gram. 
‘‘(2) FUNCTIONS.—The functions of the Na-
tional Program Office are— 
‘‘(A) to oversee the planning, management, 
and coordination of the Program; 
‘‘(B) to enter into memorandums of under-
standing with Federal departments and agen-
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199 
(A) accelerate breakthroughs and new 
knowledge that will enable cost-effective sus-
tainable production of— 
(i) biomass-based liquid transpor-
tation fuels; 
(ii) bioenergy; and 
(iii) biobased materials; 
(B) improve understanding of the global 
carbon cycle, including processes for removing 
carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, through 
photosynthesis and other biological processes, 
for sequestration and storage; and 
(C) understand the biological mechanisms 
used to transform, immobilize, or remove con-
taminants from subsurface environments. 
(2) BIOENERGY RESEARCH CENTERS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out activi-
ties under paragraph (1), the Director shall 
support at least 3 bioenergy research centers to 
accelerate advanced research and development 
of biomass-based liquid transportation fuels, 
bioenergy, or biobased materials that are pro-
duced from a variety of regionally diverse feed-
stocks. 
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