[CCoE Notice] National Robotics Initiative - update

Thu Sep 13 14:31:03 CDT 2012

 *From:* "Steinberg, Franklyn" <franklyn at lewis-burke.com>

*Date:* September 13, 2012 8:49:29 AM CDT

*Subject:* *FW: National Robotics Initiative - update*

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We wanted to make sure you are aware that the National Science Foundation
(NSF) has issued a new solicitation for the National Robotics Initiative
(NRI), which was first announced by the Obama Administration in June 2011
(see original report below).  As expected, NRI is now an ongoing initiative
with regular solicitations, and is a major component of the
Administration’s efforts in Advanced Manufacturing.****

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Like the original NRI solicitation, the new competition involves NSF, the
National Institutes for Health (NIH), the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA), and the *National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).  Both
* small (1 to 5 years) and large projects (3 to 5 years) are supported
through this solicitation.  Up to $50 million per year is available to
support 20-30 small awards and 5-10 large awards.  Full proposals are due
December 11, 2012 for small proposals, and January 23, 2013 for large
proposals; letters of intent are not required.  ****

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More information, including program contacts and the full solicitation is
available at http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503641. ****

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Thanks,****

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Frank****

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*Frank Steinberg*

Lewis-Burke Associates LLC****

1341 G Street, NW****

Washington, DC 20005****

(202) 289-7475****

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*Policy Update: Obama Administration Announces Launch of Advanced
Manufacturing Partnership Initiative and National Robotics Initiative*

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*Lewis-Burke Associates LLC – June 24, 2011 *

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On June 24, President Obama delivered an address at Carnegie Mellon
University’s National Robotics Engineering Center to announce the new
Advanced Manufacturing Partnership (AMP) initiative through the White
House.  As part of this larger address, the Obama Administration also
launched the National Robotics Initiative (NRI) today.****

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Highlights of the event:****

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   - The AMP initiative builds upon the recommendations made in a June,
   2011 report by the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and
   Technology (PCAST) which identified ways to build a stronger advanced
   manufacturing sector in the U.S.  The initiative seeks to facilitate
   partnerships between the government, academia, and industry to better
   disseminate advanced manufacturing design methodologies. ****
   - AMP will be led by Andrew Liveris, Chairman, President and CEO of Dow
   Chemical, and Susan Hockfield, President of the Massachusetts Institute of
   Technology.  The initiative will also initially involve several U.S.
   engineering universities and private sector manufacturers.  Further
   additions are expected.****
   - As part of the initiative, the President announced a new Materials
   Genome Initiative aimed at reducing the time period to develop and deploy
   advanced materials.  ****
   - Separately, the Obama Administration also launched the NRI today,
   (first reported in February, 2011) which is intended to complement the AMP
   initiative by advancing robotics technology that can be utilized by the
   advanced manufacturing industry, among others.  ****

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*Advanced Manufacturing Partnership Initiative*

During the address, President Obama outlined the economic development
opportunities that an advanced manufacturing sector in the U.S. could
offer, stating that a robust manufacturing sector will help secure our
economic leadership in the world. He cited examples from U.S. history, such
as the development of more cost efficient steel that allowed the U.S. to
lead the world in steel production.****

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The President commissioned PCAST to conduct an analysis of the American
manufacturing sector and provide recommendations on how the federal
government can facilitate the development of a robust advanced
manufacturing sector that would spur economic growth, create high-quality
jobs and ensure American leadership in the development of promising new
technologies.  PCAST issued a report in June, 2011 (
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ostp/pcast-advanced-manufacturing-june2011.pdf)
which advises the President to launch an advanced manufacturing
initiative.  According to the report, the initiative should create an
environment for innovation within the private sector through changes to tax
policies and business regulations, robust support for basic research, and
support to train a highly skilled workforce.  The initiative should also
invest to help overcome market failures by supporting the development and
dissemination of broadly-applicable manufacturing technologies and
investing in shared technology infrastructure with private industry.****

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The new AMP initiative will facilitate partnerships between various U.S.
federal agencies, academia, and private sector manufacturers to foster
collaborative research and development (R&D) and build the necessary
infrastructure, with the end goal of developing best practices for
manufacturers and reducing their bottom line.  ****

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AMP will be led by Andrew Liveris, Chairman, President and CEO of Dow
Chemical, and Susan Hockfield, President of the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology.  The initiative seeks to address four strategic goals right
away including: building domestic manufacturing capabilities in critical
national security industries; reducing the time to develop and deploy
advanced materials; investing in next-generation robotics; and developing
innovative energy-efficient manufacturing processes.  ****

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As part of the initiative, the President announced a new Materials Genome
Initiative (more information on the initiative can be found here:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ostp/materials_genome_initiative-final.pdf),
aimed at reducing the time period to develop and deploy advanced
materials.  Additionally, he announced that the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration (NASA) will support new research into next generation
robotics, and starting this summer, various federal agencies will begin
partnering with industry to boost manufacturing in areas of national
security.  He also made special mention of several universities that are
already engaged in the initiative, including the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, the Georgia Institute of Technology, Carnegie Mellon
University, Stanford University, the University of California-Berkley, and
the University of Michigan.  The manufacturers involved in AMP include
Allegheny Technologies, Caterpillar, Corning, Dow Chemical, Ford,
Honeywell, Intel, Johnson and Johnson, Northrop Grumman, Procter and
Gamble, and Stryker.  ****

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*National Robotics Initiative*

The Obama Administration also launched the National Robotics Initiative
(NRI) today, an interagency collaboration to develop advanced robotics
systems which was unveiled in the President’s FY 2012 budget request to
Congress.  While they are separate initiatives, the NRI is intended to
complement the AMP initiative by advancing the science and engineering of
robotics technology that can be utilized by the advanced manufacturing
industry, among others.  The NRI will be led by the National Science
Foundation (NSF), in partnership with NASA, the National Institutes of
Health (NIH), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).  The agencies
will provide $40 to $50 million in the first year of the initiative to
support cross-cutting, collaborative research proposals.  The budget is
expected to grow as other federal agencies and industry partners become
engaged.  The solicitation for funding can be found here:
http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2011/nsf11553/nsf11553.htm****

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Disclaimer:  This message is intended only for the named
recipient.  If you are not the intended recipient you are notified
that disclosing, copying, distributing or taking any action in
reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited.

-- 
Fritz Claydon Ph.D.
Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Associate Dean of Administration and Research
University of Houston
Cullen College of Engineering
713.743.4204
fclaydon at uh.edu

  [image: Carnegie Designation Tagline Logotype - UH Logotype only]

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