Advanced Manufacturing Roundtable

We invite faculty and industry partners to participate in a University-wide roundtable discussion on OSTP’s Request for Information (RFI) for the National Strategic Plan for Advanced Manufacturing. This event will convene voices from across disciplines and sectors to help shape The University of Alabama’s strategic response and ensure our perspectives influence the future of U.S. advanced manufacturing policy and investment.

Your participation is vital as this is a unique opportunity to connect expertise in research, workforce development, and industrial innovation with federal priorities.

Don’t miss out — being there in person is highly recommended!

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Agenda

Time	Session
10:00–10:10 a.m.	Opening Remarks – Bryan Boudouris, Vice President for Research & Economic Development – Luke Brewer, Professor of Metallurgy & Director, Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Materials Design Integration (CAMMDI) – Cosima Boswell-Koller, Executive Director, Research Engagement
10:10–10:20 a.m.	Framing the RFI and UA’s Response Plan – Luke Brewer, Professor of Metallurgy & Director, CAMMDI – Overview of OSTP National Strategic Plan for Advanced Manufacturing RFI and UA’s process/timeline
10:20–11:40 a.m.	Small Group Breakout Discussions – RFI Questions 1–6 1. Emerging science & technology areas 2. Disruptive manufacturing technologies & critical materials 3. R&D priorities: near- and long-term objectives, metrics, challenges 4. Public-private partnerships for manufacturing challenges 5. Translating research results/IP to commercialization & manufacturing 6. Workforce: training, apprenticeships, credentialing
11:40 a.m.–12:30 p.m.	Report-Out and Lunch – Each breakout group provides 5-minute highlights – Identification of cross-cutting themes
12:30–1:40 p.m.	Small Group Breakout Discussions – RFI Questions 7–12 7. Federal support for manufacturing clusters and hubs 8. Supply chain vulnerabilities and resilience strategies 9. SME adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies 10. Models of public–private partnerships (international, national, state, local) 11. Assessment of current National Strategy goals; proposed new goals 12. Additional information for consideration
1:40–1:55 p.m.	Full Group Report-Out & Synthesis – Cross-cutting insights across Q1–12 – Initial drafting assignments
1:55–2:00 p.m.	Next Steps and Closing Remarks – Final input timeline (faculty leads identified, industrial partner coordination) – Compilation plan: Brewer & Boswell-Koller

Key Resources

2022-2026 National Strategy for Advanced Manufacturing

Detailed Questions to Inform Development of the 2026 Plan

OSTP seeks responses to the following questions to improve government coordination and provide long-term guidance for Federal programs and activities, including advanced manufacturing R&D, to advance the United States manufacturing competitiveness.

Question 1:
a. Which emerging science and technology areas ( e.g., artificial intelligence) will be key to the next generation of innovative advanced manufacturing technologies, and how will they impact advanced manufacturing?
b. What are the primary challenges and barriers that need to be addressed to ensure the successful integration and widespread adoption of emerging technology in manufacturing?

Question 2:
a. Which disruptive manufacturing technologies ( e.g., additive, nanotechnology, biotechnology) hold the potential to eliminate reliance on foreign sources for critical minerals and materials, and how will they do that?
b. What are the technical challenges and barriers associated with implementing these technologies at an industrial scale, and how can they be addressed?

Question 3:
a. What should be the near-term and long-term technology R&D priorities for advanced manufacturing, reasons for those priorities, key objectives based on those priorities, the timeframe for achieving objectives, and the metrics for assessing progress toward the objectives?
b. What are the major technical challenges to achieving the priorities identified in response to 3a, and how can they be mitigated to ensure timely progress?

Question 4:
What are examples of U.S. manufacturing-related technological, market, or business challenges that may best be addressed by public-private partnerships and are likely to attract both participation and primary funding from industry?
How can public-private partnerships be structured to overcome potential hurdles and foster successful collaboration?

Question 5:
a. How can Federal agencies and federally-funded R&D centers supporting advanced manufacturing R&D facilitate the transfer of research results, intellectual property, and technology scale-up into commercialization and manufacturing to benefit all Americans and ensure economic and national security?
b. What are the key challenges in translating research findings into commercially viable manufacturing processes and products, and how can they be overcome?

Question 6:
a. What are the main challenges in attracting, training, and retaining a skilled workforce for advanced manufacturing, and how can they be addressed?
b. How can Federal agencies and federally-funded R&D centers develop, align, and strengthen all levels of advanced manufacturing training, certification, registered apprenticeships, and credentialing programs?

Question 7:
a. In what ways can the Federal government assist in the development of advanced manufacturing clusters and technology hubs nationwide, beyond funding needs?
b. Is there a need for new or expanded advanced manufacturing clusters or technology hubs for the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturers, and if so, in what sectors or technologies?
c. Should Federal incentives prioritize industry-specific advanced manufacturing clusters or instead focus on technology hubs centered on advanced technologies, critical components, and materials? If so, why?

Question 8:
a. What are the primary vulnerabilities and weaknesses within the current domestic supply chains?
b. What programs and policies need to be implemented to develop and re-shore a resilient domestic advanced manufacturing supply chain and industrial base?

Question 9:
a. What are the biggest obstacles faced by small and medium-sized manufacturing companies in adopting advanced technologies to increase efficiency and productivity?
b. How can Federal agencies assist these companies in adopting advanced technologies and participating in the establishment of robust and resilient domestic manufacturing supply chains?

Question 10:
What are examples of public-private partnership models (at the international, national, state, and/or local level) that could be expanded to facilitate manufacturing technology development, technology transition to market, and workforce development?

Question 11:
The current 2022-2026 National Strategy for Advanced Manufacturing has three top-level goals, each with objectives and priorities: (1) Develop and implement advanced manufacturing technologies; (2) Grow the advanced manufacturing workforce; and (3) Build resilience into manufacturing supply chains and ecosystems.
a. Are these goals appropriate for the next 4-5 years? Why or why not?
b. What emerging needs or opportunities might require the addition of new top-level goals, and why?

Question 12:
Is there any additional information related to advanced manufacturing in the United States, not requested above, that you believe should be considered? If so, describe.