The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has announced a competitive pilot program targeting two critical gaps in U.S. industrial competitiveness: aerospace component manufacturing and the critical minerals supply chain.
Through its Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), NIST will offer approximately $20 million per project over a two-year period to accelerate the adoption and commercialization of advanced manufacturing technologies.
The program leverages NIST’s measurement science expertise and the Manufacturing USA network to move technologies from demonstration to market. When new technology accelerates into critical sectors, standards gaps can ultimately follow. Programs like NIST’s define the technical landscape that standards will eventually need to govern — from measurement and testing to interoperability and supply chain traceability.
How to Get Involved
The competition will be open to current MEP Center primary awardees and to consortia of such awardees. NIST is expected to post the formal Notice of Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov in Q2 2026; this advance notice has been issued to give stakeholders time to build collaborations.
An informational webinar is forthcoming with details on goals and teaming expectations. Details will be posted to the MEP Notice of Funding Opportunities page in the coming weeks.
Direct questions can be sent to [email protected] with the subject line: MEP Technology Accelerator Pilot Program.
