Part A · Startup-specific scheme
Manufacturing USA Institutes (Manufacturing USA)
NIST (coordinating Commerce, Defense, and Energy)
Incubation
Prototype / PoCSeed / Early-StageGrowth / Scaling
Manufacturing
Modeled on Germany's Fraunhofer Institutes, each Manufacturing USA institute focuses on a specific advanced-manufacturing technology area, funded through multi-year cooperative agreements between a federal sponsor and a nonfederal operating entity.
Type of support
Incubation
Best suited for
Prototype / Early-Stage
Headline amount
Membership/participation cost varies by institute
How much
Varies by institute
Objectives
Bridge the gap between basic research and commercial-scale manufacturing by reducing the cost and risk of adopting new manufacturing processes, and by training the manufacturing workforce.
Who can apply?
- Startups, small manufacturers, and researchers can typically join as institute members or project participants — eligibility and cost vary by institute and technology focus.
- Institutes are led by the Departments of Commerce, Defense, or Energy depending on their focus area.
What do you get?
- Access to shared equipment, pilot lines, and technical expertise not affordable to build alone.
- Direct connections to industry and university partners solving the same class of manufacturing problem.
- Workforce training programs at all skill levels.
How to apply
Identify the institute matching your technology area on the Manufacturing USA site and contact it directly about membership or project participation.
Key links
Details as most recently confirmed against the official source linked above. Deadlines, amounts and windows change — verify on the official portal before applying.