Technology innovation: Government seeks proposals for R&D funding
By Manufacturing Business Technology Staff -- Manufacturing Business Technology, 1/7/2009 10:27:00 AM
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is seeking proposals for potential areas of funded research and development (R&D) addressing “critical national and societal needs considered to be “high risk, high reward.”
The Technology Innovation Program (TIP)—now in its second year—cites advanced manufacturing technologies that “are more flexible, are rapidly reconfigurable, and would lead to shorter innovation cycles.”
According to Michael Baum of the NIST Public Affairs office, “The program’s ‘high risk, high return’ aspect emphasizes support for research into technologies that need government support due to high risk in terms of the difficulty to achieve desired objectives.”
It its inaugural year, the TIP initiative limited its preferred area of focus to technology that would advance the state of the art of monitoring the structural health of the national infrastructure. This year, NIST has expanded its priorities to other areas of interest, including manufacturing, complex networks and systems, energy, and nanomaterials and nanotechnology.
“We’re not closing off the prospect of other categories,” Baum states. “Anything that a group thinks meets the ‘critical need, high risk, high payoff’ criteria should feel welcome to make the case for their ideas.”
TIP promote innovation via cost-shared funding for U.S. research projects by small and medium-size businesses or by joint ventures that also may include institutions of higher education, nonprofit research organizations, and national laboratories.
Proposals—what NIST deems “white papers”—should include descriptions of the following:
1) The critical national need and the associated societal challenge;
2) Why government support is necessary;
3) The consequences of inaction;
4) A high level discussion of potential technical solutions; and
5) The audience for such a competition.
Proprietary information and specific project proposals should not be included.
Deadlines have been staggered throughout the year—the first set is January 15. Subsequent deadlines include March 9, May 11, and July 13.
White papers can be mailed to: NIST, Technology Innovation Program, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 4750, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-4750, or they can be submitted electronically to tipwhitepaper@nist.gov.
Click here for detailed discussion of the areas of interest.
Click here for guidance on developing white papers.
For more information, contact Michael Baum: 301-975-2763; or Michael.baum@nist.gov.
