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NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) 2026 Funding for AI, Robotics, and Advanced Manufacturing Adoption is sponsored by U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). This funding opportunity is for 14 Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Centers to improve U. S.
industrial competitiveness by helping small and medium-sized manufacturers adopt advanced manufacturing technologies, including robotics and AI.
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Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) | NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) The Manufacturing Extension Partnership is a program administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology. The program’s primary mission is to strengthen and empower small and medium-sized U.S. manufacturers through state-designated MEP Centers located across the U.S. and in Puerto Rico.
The program comprises nearly 1,400 trusted manufacturing advisors and experts at more than 450 MEP service locations.
Resources from the MEP Center State Competition Information Session You can access the recording of the event at the following link: MEP Center State Competition Information Session Eligibility for the program listed in this NOFO is open to a United States-based non-profit institution, an institution of higher education, or a State, United States territory, local, or tribal government, or a consortium thereof.
If you are seeking to connect with potential applicants or other entities, NIST MEP has created a public teaming partner list. If you would like to be added to the list, please complete the form . List entries will be shared publicly on the MEP website .
If you have questions, please email mepnofo [at] nist. gov (mepnofo[at]nist[dot]gov) . Resources from Manufacturing Community Day Resources mentioned at Manufacturing Community Day on June 24, 2026, are now available.
The Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) hosted Manufacturing Community Day to share information about a $40M pilot program to boost U.S. manufacturing in two key areas: additive manufacturing and critical minerals.
You can access the recordings of the main event and breakout sessions at the following links: Manufacturing Community Day: Main Session Manufacturing Community Day: Critical Minerals Session Manufacturing Community Day: Additive Manufacturing Session While submissions to the planned funding opportunity, expected to be announced later in 2026, will be limited to current MEP Centers or a consortium of Centers, the pilot’s success requires collaboration across the entire manufacturing ecosystem.
This could include partnerships among industry, educational institutions, NIST and other federal laboratories, and federal, state and local government partners. If you are seeking to connect with potential MEP Center applicants or other entities, NIST MEP has created a public teaming partner list. If you would like to be added to the list, please complete the form .
List entries are shared publicly on the MEP website . If you have questions, contact mfg [at] nist. gov (subject: Teaming%20Partner%20List) (mfg[at]nist[dot]gov) .
The MEP National Network: The Go to Experts for Advancing U S Manufacturing Any manufacturer can take advantage of the services provided by MEP Centers, located across the U.S. and in Puerto Rico. From leadership training and value stream mapping to strength finders and cybersecurity, you name it, and they will have something for it.
The Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) National Network is a public-private partnership that delivers comprehensive, proven solutions by helping small and medium-sized manufacturers grow, make operational improvements, and reduce risk. Advancing U.S. Manufacturing The MEP is committed to supporting manufacturers and building productive partnerships in all fifty states and Puerto Rico.
Our goal is to ensure the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturing in the global economy. Whether you're a manufacturer, an interagency partner, a state, local, territorial or tribal government, an accredited research institution or an entrepreneur looking to turn your manufacturing vision into reality, the MEP is here to help. Why choose the MEP National Network?
National reach, local impact: With a network of nearly 1,400 trusted experts and thousands of partners across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, we deliver localized support from small rural communities to large cities.
Deep industry expertise: By working with the MEP National Network, organizations secure reliable domestic suppliers, strengthen supply chain resilience, leverage innovative technologies, and develop a skilled workforce that drives the growth and competitiveness of manufacturing across critical industries like defense, aerospace, automotive, and more.
Customized support: MEP Centers provide comprehensive, hands-on consulting and training solutions tailored to each manufacturer’s unique challenges. From leadership training and value stream mapping to strength finders and cybersecurity, you name it, and they will have something for it. Are you a manufacturer seeking assistance?
MANUFACTURING VIDEOS: REAL STORIES, REAL RESULTS The MEP National Network enables U.S. manufacturers to strengthen their competitiveness. Through these videos, see how U.S. manufacturers are leveraging the Network’s expertise to overcome challenges, expand their capabilities, and ensure that America remains competitive in critical industries, ranging from defense, aerospace, and automotive to energy, electronics, and medical devices.
These results go beyond numbers—they represent a stronger, more resilient U.S. economy. Watch More Videos Heroes of American Manufacturing: Capewell Capewell, a client of GENEDGE (Virginia MEP), provides innovative, effective custom-engineered solutions that save lives and increase success rates for anyone who operates globally in dangerous environments supporting national security and other critical missions.
GENEDGE and Capewell maintain a strategic partnership that allows for ongoing project engagements and mutual opportunities for collaboration and growth. Committed to delivering high-quality, reliable, and sustainable capabilities for our Nation's men and women serving to protect our freedoms, we are excited to tell Capewell’s story and how GENEDGE has contributed to its success. Industry 4.
0 Technologies Help Manufacturers Succeed In today’s labor market, manufacturers continue to struggle to find quality labor. Industry 4. 0 (I4.
0) technologies can help manufacturers fill those gaps, improve efficiency, and stay competitive. The shift toward automation is a reason many manufacturers decide to work with an MEP Center. MEP Centers have a broad range of subject matter experts that can help companies, whether they’re just learning about I4.
0 or are already implementing it. This video features MEP manufacturing clients discussing their company’s experience with I4. 0.
In addition, MEP Center experts explain some of the benefits they’ve seen for their clients. Manufacturing Innovation Blog Every year, employers across the United States open their doors to curious kids, inviting them to experience a day in the life of their parents at work.
On The Manufacturing Extension Partnership National Network (MEPNN) advances U.S. manufacturing by helping small and medium-sized manufacturers grow, make Manufacturing is a fast-paced, constantly evolving, and dynamic environment, and the supply chain is at its heart. For small and medium-sized manufacturers Manufacturing is the backbone of the U.S. economy.
From the cars we drive to the electronics we use daily, almost everything we rely on is made in factories The U.S. manufacturing industry is evolving at a rapid pace, driven by new technologies, smarter supply chains, and an increasingly dynamic workforce. In 2025 GAITHERSBURG, Md. — The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)...
The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) has issued notice that it will announce a... The Clean Energy Smart Manufacturing Innovation Institute (CESMII), part of the Manufacturing USA network, and the National Institute of Standards and...
In celebration of Manufacturing Day (MFG Day), the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced the launch of... 100 Bureau Drive, M/S 4800
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Manufacturing Extension Partnership Centers in specific states (Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Utah, and Vermont). Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
The current listing shows up to $15,641,800 (varies by location). Verify award ceilings, matching requirements, and allowable costs in the official notice.
Applications for NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) 2026 Funding for AI, Robotics, and Advanced Manufacturing Adoption are due August 21, 2026. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, and final submission checks.
NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) 2026 Funding for AI, Robotics, and Advanced Manufacturing Adoption is funded by U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
This opportunity targets applicants in 13 states, including Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, California, Louisiana, and Arkansas. Check the official notice for the full list.
Applications go through the funder's official portal — the Apply Now link on this page goes there directly.
NIST released a notice of funding opportunity totaling $46.5 million to establish or renew 14 Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) centers that help small and medium-sized manufacturers adopt advanced manufacturing technologies, including robotics, artificial intelligence, automation, advanced materials, additive manufacturing, and biotechnology. Per-center awards range from roughly $706,300 to $15.6 million depending on the state or territory served, with at least 50% non-federal matching funds required. Applications are due August 21, 2026.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program Phase I for Advanced Manufacturing, Robotics, and AI Measurement Science is sponsored by U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). This program funds U. S. small businesses conducting research aligned with NIST priority areas, including advanced manufacturing, robotics, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and quantum information science.
The NIST Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program funds U.S. small businesses conducting research aligned with NIST priority areas, including advanced manufacturing and robotics, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and quantum information science. Relevant topics span additive manufacturing process monitoring, robotic system measurement, manufacturing data infrastructure, and AI frameworks and standards. Phase I awards reach up to $100,000 for roughly six-month feasibility projects, and Phase II awards up to $400,000 over 24 months are available to firms completing a successful Phase I. Topics are generated by NIST technical staff to reflect real measurement problems the agency needs solved; the FY2026 Phase I cycle closed April 1, 2026 with the next annual solicitation expected on grants.gov and the NIST funding opportunities site.
NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship Program is a grant from NVIDIA providing up to $60,000 per award to PhD students conducting research that advances accelerated computing and its applications. Now in its 25th year, the program invites nominations from doctoral students pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence, robotics, autonomous vehicles, and related fields. Recipients receive not only research funding but also access to NVIDIA technology, products, and engineering expertise, along with a mandatory in-person summer internship. Students are nominated by their faculty advisors and selected based on academic achievement and research area alignment.
CalSEED Concept Award is a grant from the California Energy Commission that provides $150,000 in funding to early-stage clean energy innovators in California. The program targets individuals, businesses, and nonprofits developing hardware, software, or integrated solutions at Technology Readiness Levels 2-4. Eligible technology areas rotate each cycle and have included battery recycling and reuse, long-duration energy storage, medium- and heavy-duty vehicle electrification, industrial electrification, and advanced EV charging. Applicants must be located in California, have under $1 million in private funding, and propose innovations that benefit California ratepayers. Concept Award winners also receive professional development resources and access to accelerator programs, and may compete for a subsequent $450,000 Prototype Award.
NIST's July 2026 MEP funding opportunity opens 14 state and territory centers — from California's $15.6M to Alaska's $706K — to new operators under cooperative agreements requiring a 50% nonfederal match. Applications are due August 21, 2026, with a July 28 webinar. Here is who can compete, how the match works, and why this recompete matters for every small manufacturer in those 14 states.
Read articleThe Water Research Foundation's RFP 5394 — up to $200,000 to evaluate GenAI and Agentic AI scalability across at least six water and wastewater utilities, NIST AI RMF integration required, proposals due 3 p.m. Mountain Time on May 20 — is the first major sector-utility-funded AI research initiative to bake risk-management framework compliance into the work statement. Four days remain.
Read articleCongress gave NIST $55 million for AI safety research and a permanent standards center. CAISI now has 17 AI Action Plan taskings, a MITRE partnership, and growing influence over how AI gets built. Here's how researchers and companies can engage.
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