NIST and MITRE Stand Up $20M AI Centers for Manufacturing and Cyber

The National Institute of Standards and Technology and the MITRE Corporation have launched a $20 million joint initiative to stand up two artificial intelligence research centers — one aimed at supercharging American manufacturing, the other at defending critical infrastructure from AI-enabled cyber threats.

The investment lands as Congress boosted NIST's overall budget to $1.8 billion for FY2026, including $55 million specifically for AI research and measurement. The two new centers represent the sharpest edge of that commitment.

Two Centers, Two Missions

The AI Center for Advanced Manufacturing will develop AI-driven tools — including agentic AI systems — designed to help U.S. manufacturers produce higher-value products more efficiently and compete in international markets. The goal is measurable gains in domestic manufacturing productivity.

The AI Economic Security Center for Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity targets industries that provide water, electricity, internet, and other essential services. The center will build technology evaluations and defenses against AI-enabled attacks on systems that most Americans rely on daily.

Brian Abe, MITRE's managing director for national cybersecurity, described the effort as "a true collaboration between NIST and MITRE as well as our industry partners," leveraging MITRE's full laboratory capabilities.

The Three-Year Clock

Both centers are operating under an aggressive timeline: leadership expects "exponential impact on U.S. manufacturing and critical infrastructure cybersecurity within three years." That urgency reflects a broader federal posture shift. The White House recently rebranded NIST's AI Safety Institute as the Center for AI Standards and Innovation, signaling a pivot from safety-focused research toward competitiveness-focused standards work.

NIST also allocated $3.19 million in February through SBIR Phase II awards to eight small businesses working in AI, quantum computing, biotechnology, and semiconductors — with individual grants of approximately $400,000 each.

Where the Opportunities Are

While the two new centers are NIST-MITRE collaborations rather than open grant programs, the broader NIST AI portfolio is expanding. The agency plans a $70 million, five-year award for a new AI for Resilient Manufacturing Institute, and its $55 million AI measurement budget will generate procurement and research partnership opportunities throughout FY2026. Researchers and small businesses working at the intersection of AI and manufacturing or cybersecurity should watch NIST's funding announcements and Granted for upcoming solicitations as these centers begin issuing sub-awards and industry partnerships.