Manufacturing Innovation
(MI)
Deadline: December
8, 2004
The NSF SBIR/STTR Program invests in cutting-edge, high-risk, high
quality scientific, engineering or science/engineering education
research with a clear goal of industrial innovation that would benefit
society through commercialization.
Projects that make the country’s manufacturing base more
competitive through innovation and responsiveness to changing needs
are encouraged. Innovation in this context is fostered by research
and development of technologies that are aimed at increasing the
competitive capability of manufacturing firms. In a broad context,
manufacturing-related R&D encompasses innovation in existing
methods or processes; improved education with the aim of getting
maximum benefit from existing or new methods or processes; or wholly
new processes, machines or systems. The overall goal is to support
new and emerging manufacturing innovation that will advance the
competitiveness of the nation’s manufacturing sector.
Proposals must be market-driven and identify the end users of the
proposed technology and its potential for commercialization. The
proposed technology must target the private sector (Government and
non-profits do not qualify). It is mandatory that one or more letters
of technology support from a manufacturing strategic partner be
submitted as part of the proposal.
Manufacturing Innovation has been grouped into four broad
areas of interest A. Unit Process Level Technologies; B. Machine
Level Technologies; C. Systems Level Technologies; and D. Environmental
or Societal Level Technologies. Please select one broad
area of interest and a specific subtopic within that broad area
as appropriate for the proposed research.
A. Unit Process Level Technologies. Projects that
create or improve manufacturing processes, including:
1. Additive Processes – Projects aimed at advancing rapid
prototyping/solid freeform fabrication for material and process
improvements.
2. Deformation Processes – Projects aimed at advancing forging,
sheet metal processing and punching for material property improvements
based on the advances in the processes.
3. Joining and Assembly Processes – Projects aimed at advancing
welding and adhesive processes.
4. Powder Material Processes – Projects aimed at advancing
powder-based materials/processes that include powder metals, powder
ceramics, hybrid materials.
5. Casting/Molding Processes – Projects aimed at improved
die/mold materials, improved efficiency/control in processing for
die-casting, sand casting, and investment casting.
6. Semiconductor Processing – Projects aimed at advanced
materials with potential for improved utility high-k and low-k dielectrics,
silicon-on-insulator (SOI) materials, and resists.
7. Non-Traditional Material Removal Processes – Projects
aimed at using Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM), plasma, and
water jet processes.
8. Chemical Separations Processes – Projects aimed at membranes,
adsorbents, and/or extractant technology based upon and/or used
during chemical processing.
9. Biological Separations and Purification Processes – Projects
aimed at developing new or modifying current processes for separation
and purification of biological molecules.
10. Novel Catalytic Systems – New catalyst applications and/or
catalyst efficiencies.
11. Photochemical Applications – Solar, radiative, photochemical
improvements related to specific manufacturing processes.
12. Electrochemical Applications – Improvements related to
the manufacture of capacitors and/or batteries.
13. Improved Fluid Flow – Improved single or multiphase fluid
flow, novel spraying applications, and computational software applications.
14. Thermal Energy Applications – Improved energy efficiency
applications related to manufacturing processes.
15. Biological Applications – Improved process control, optimization,
and cost reduction in manufacturing of food, pharmaceuticals, and
other biologics.
16. Passive Nanotechnology Applications – Processes for nanoparticles,
nanofibers, nanocomposites, nanocoatings, nanofilter membranes,
nanocatalysts, nanomagnetics, carbon nanotubes, quantum dots, and
nanobiomaterials.
17. Active Nantotechnology Applications – Processes for nanoelectronics,
nanophotonics, nanoelectrical mechanical systems (NEMs), nanobiosensors,
nanoenergy storage devices, nanofluidics, and nano drug delivery
devices.
B. Machine Level Technologies. Projects that create
or improve manufacturing equipment, including:
1. Machine Design – Projects aimed at improving design of
existing machines and equipment in order to improve efficiency and/or
cost.
2. Machining and Material Removal Processes – Projects aimed
at process improvements for milling, grinding, drilling and cutting
tools.
3. Semiconductor Equipment – Projects aimed at innovation
in wafer and sensor production, packaging, lithography and interconnected
metals.
4. Functional Nanostructures – Projects aimed at functional
nanostructures such as templates and imprinting, directed self-assembly
techniques, and bio-inspired assembly techniques.
5. Metrology – Projects aimed at improving machine tool calibration,
measurement machines, and part inspection equipment.
C. Systems Level Technologies. Projects that create
innovation in the manufacturing enterprise, including:
1. Process Control – Software aimed at improving controllers,
interfaces, and control processes.
2. Operations Research – Projects that contribute to modeling,
optimization and equilibrium in classic focused problem environments
such as scheduling, reliability, facilities (location and design),
and inventory management.
3. Manufacturing Enterprise Systems – Decision tools for
supply chains, planning, scheduling, distribution, and risk optimization
for the extended and spatially distributed enterprises.
4. Nanoscale Processes – Material characterization tools
for nanoscale process control and measurement, nanomanipulators,
and simulation tools for nanoscale systems
D. Environment or Societal Level Technologies.
Projects that improve workforce capabilities and manufacturing competitiveness,
include the following:
1. Workforce Health and Safety – Projects aimed at improving
the manufacturing work environment by - incorporating ergonomics
and interactive computing systems
2. Workforce Education and Training – Projects aimed at improving
the skills and knowledge of the manufacturing workforce by means
of the development of instructional and educational (including what
is known as distance learning, telelearning, distributed education,
or e-learning) systems content authoring systems, intelligent instruction
systems and assessment technology.
3. Safety and Regulatory Compliance – Projects aimed at improving
process safety and ensuring increased compliance with regulatory
guidelines in the manufacturing of biologics and chemical-based
products.
4. Environmentally Benign Technologies – Projects aimed at
improving techniques for cleanup and recycling of materials, including
those with nanoparticles and nanostructures.
5. Pollution Minimization Technologies – Projects aimed at
reducing negative environmental impacts.
6. Nanoparticle Safety Technologies – Projects aimed at determining
the safety of nanoparticle-based manufacturing systems and products.
Technology should be compliant with OSHA and EPA regulations.
To submit a proposal to the MI topic make sure to review
and follow the guidelines set forth in the solicitation.
In order to direct your inquiries to the appropriate Program Manager,
please find the contact person for the subtopic(s).
Cheryl Albus (calbus@nsf.gov):
A.1, A.2, A.3, A.4, A.5, A.7. B.1, B.2, B.5 and C.1
Errol Arkilic (earkilic@nsf.gov):
C.3
Juan Figueroa (jfiguero@nsf.gov):
C.2 and D.1
Joseph Hennessey (jhenness@nsf.gov):
D.4 and D.5
Murali Nair (mnair@nsf.gov):
B.4
Sara Nerlove (snerlove@nsf.gov):
D.2
James Rudd (tjrudd@nsf.gov):
A.16, C.4, and D.6
Om Sahai (osahai@nsf.gov):
A.9, A.15, and D.3
Winslow Sargeant (wsargean@nsf.gov)
A.6, A.17, and B.3
Rosemarie Wesson (rwesson@nsf.gov)
A.8, A.10, A.11, A.12, A.13, and A.14
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