GOALI (Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry)

Description

Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI) promotes university-industry partnerships by making project funds or fellowships/traineeships available to support an eclectic mix of industry-university linkages. Special interest is focused on affording the opportunity for: Faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and students to conduct research and gain experience in an industrial setting; Industrial scientists and engineers to bring industry's perspective and integrative skills to academe; and Interdisciplinary university-industry teams to conduct research projects. This solicitation targets high-risk/high-gain research with a focus on fundamental research, new approaches to solving generic problems, development of innovative collaborative industry-university educational programs, and direct transfer of new knowledge between academe and industry. GOALI seeks to fund transformative research that lies beyond that which industry would normally fund. 

Link to Full Announcement

NSF Publication 12-513

Science, Technology, and Society

STS considers proposals for scientific research into the interface between science (including engineering) or technology, and society. STS researchers use diverse methods including social science, historical, and philosophical methods. Successful proposals will be transferrable (i.e., generate results that provide insights for other scientific contexts that are suitably similar). They will produce outcomes that address pertinent problems and issues at the interface of science, technology and society, such as those having to do with practices and assumptions, ethics, values, governance, and policy.The STS review process is approximately six months. It includes appraisal of proposals by ad hoc reviewers selected for their expertise and by an advisory panel that meets twice a year. The deadlines for the submission of proposals are February 1st for proposals to be funded as early as July, and August 1st for proposals to be funded in or after January.Further information about proposal preparation and related matters can be found in the STS FAQs document. For program-specific guidelines on the Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grants, please read the Doctoral Dissertation Preparation Checklist. The Program encourages potential investigators with questions as to whether their proposal fits the goals of the program to contact one of the program officers.

Link to Full Announcement - NSF Publication 12-509

Expected Number of Awards:	40
Estimated Total Program Funding:	$7,000,000

Materials Processing and Manufacturing

Funding Opportunity Number:	PD-12-1467
Opportunity Category:	Discretionary
Posted Date:	Nov 02, 2011
Creation Date:	Nov 02, 2011
Original Closing Date for Applications:	Feb 15, 2012 Submission Window Date(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time): January 15 - February 15, Annually September 1 - October 1, Annually
Current Closing Date for Applications:	Feb 15, 2012 Submission Window Date(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time): January 15 - February 15, Annually September 1 - October 1, Annually
Archive Date:	Nov 01, 2016
Funding Instrument Type:	Grant
Category of Funding Activity:	Science and Technology and other Research and Development
Category Explanation:
Expected Number of Awards:	35
Estimated Total Program Funding:	$300,000
Award Ceiling:	$300,000
Award Floor:	$1
CFDA Number(s):	47.041 -- Engineering Grants
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement:	No

Eligible Applicants

Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility"

Additional Information on Eligibility:

Agency Name

National Science Foundation

Description

The MPM program supports fundamental, hypothesis-driven research on the interrelationship of materials processing, structure, properties, performance and process control. Analytical, experimental, and numerical studies are supported covering novel processing methods for any materials system (metals, polymers, ceramics, hybrids, composites, etc.). Studies should include the consideration of cost, performance and feasibility of scale-up, as appropriate. Studies that address multi-scale and/or multi-functional materials systems are encouraged as are studies that support environmentally-benign manufacturing. Collaborative proposals with industry (the GOALI program) are encouraged. Micro-scale (and larger) processes are covered by the MPM program; processing at the submicron or nano scale is likely covered by the Nanomanufacturing (NM) program. Solid freeform fabrication process proposals are considered in the Manufacturing Machines and Equipment (MME) program, as are material removal process proposals such as cutting or grinding. Proposals that primarily focus on fundamental material composition-structure-property studies (i.e. neither processing nor manufacturing plays a significant role in the proposed work) should be submitted to the Materials and Surface Engineering (MSE) program or to the appropriate program in the DMR division. Investigators wishing to serve on a proposal review panel should email the Program Director with a short biographical sketch, a list of areas of expertise and/or a link to their home page. REU/RET supplement requests should be submitted by March 31 each year.

Link to Full Announcement

NSF Program Desccription 12-1467

$30M awarded for Industrial Assessment Centers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced more than $30 million for 24 universities in 23 states across the country to train undergraduate- and graduate-level engineering students in manufacturing efficiency to help them become the nation's next generation of industrial energy efficiency experts. Each school will receive $200,000 to $300,000 per year for up to 5 years to help university teams to gain practical training on core energy management concepts through DOE’s successful Industrial Assessment Center program.

The Industrial Assessment Center program enables promising engineering students around the country to conduct energy assessments in a broad range of manufacturing facilities, providing skills and experience that prepares the students to compete in today's economy while helping local companies and factories to reduce energy waste, save money, and become more economically competitive.

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Dayton and Lehigh Valley were among recipients.

New Manufacturing Job Training Partnerships

Washington, D.C. - To complement the Obama Administration's launch last week of the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership, U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu today announced a series of new manufacturing job training partnerships using the Department of Energy's National Training and Education Resource (NTER). DOE will be partnering with the Manufacturing Institute, an affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the Ford Partnership for Advanced Studies, and Macomb Community College to explore opportunities to provide students with highly interactive and engaging materials in a variety of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) areas, as well as virtual technician training. Partner organizations will be able to access the federal resources available through the NTER - an open-source, web-based, interactive learning environment - and be able to develop new training programs and materials.

"The public-private partnerships we are announcing today will play an important role in educating and training a new generation of U.S. manufacturers," said Secretary Chu. "These organizations and others nationwide will be able to leverage the Department's online education platform - the National Training and Education Resource - to develop and distribute training materials quickly and cost-effectively."

DOE will provide IT tools and technical support to each of the organizations, which will allow them to upgrade their existing curricula and create new immersive learning environments for students and technicians. Descriptions of the partner organizations are as follows:

	The Manufacturing Institute will work with DOE to use NTER as a cutting-edge vehicle to implement the NAM-endorsed Manufacturing Skills Certification System (MSCS) across the nation's network of community colleges and high schools. The MSCS provides students with opportunities to earn manufacturing credentials that are accepted across state lines, are valued by a range of employers, and can improve participants' earning power. MSCS is partnering with educational and workplace measurement and research service organization ACT, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, the American Welding Society, the National Institute of Metalworking Skills, and the Manufacturing Skills Standards Council to implement the program.
	The Ford Partnership for Advanced Studies (Ford PAS) is working with its network of communities to explore opportunities to integrate the DOE's National Training and Education Resource into its programs nationwide. Ford PAS sees enormous potential in NTER to support the use of real-world industry scenarios in high school and college classrooms to engage students, develop their knowledge and skills, and prepare them for further study and promising careers in the energy and related industries.
	Macomb Community College's comprehensive educational programming includes pre-collegiate experiences, university transfer and career preparation programs, bachelor degree completion and graduate degree programs, workforce training, professional education and certification, and continuing education and enrichment opportunities. Macomb will use NTER to enhance several of its electric vehicle oriented courses.

NTER is an open-source integration platform that brings together information technologies to support education, training and workforce development. By providing a central access point for educational resources, the tool will help lower the costs and reduce the time it takes to develop, share, customize and update online learning materials. It also allows instructors to create interactive 3-D scenarios and virtual environments for training that can be customized for a particular lesson or skill. The system also provides a powerful search tool that allows users to find, rate and share courses. It is currently being used to deliver energy efficiency training. Learn more about the National Weatherization Training Portal.

Innovative Manufacturing Processes

Washington, D.C. - Today, President Obama launched the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership, including an investment of up to $120 million from the Department of Energy over three years to develop transformational manufacturing technologies and innovative materials that could enable industrial facilities to dramatically increase their energy efficiency. The Advanced Manufacturing Partnership is a national effort bringing together industry, universities and the federal government to invest in emerging technologies that will create high quality manufacturing jobs and enhance our global competitiveness. This clean energy investment in new energy-efficient manufacturing processes and novel materials will help U.S. manufacturers save money by reducing the energy needed to power their facilities. President Obama made the announcement this morning at an event at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pa.

"These investments will support the innovations that American manufacturers need to stay competitive in the global marketplace," said Secretary Chu. "These breakthrough manufacturing processes, technologies, and materials will help American companies to reduce energy waste and lower costs."

The selected projects will emphasize new processes and materials that are revolutionary in their design or impact and that are capable of being commercialized within the next five to seven years. By boosting investment in near-term technology development, the Department is supporting projects that might otherwise take far longer to contribute to U.S. industrial competitiveness. DOE expects to fund 35 to 50 cost-shared projects under the initiative.

Projects associated with innovations in the earlier stages of development, such as applied research projects or those that establish a proof of concept, will be eligible for awards up to $1 million. These projects must be completed within two years. Projects associated with innovations further along in their development, such as laboratory testing or verification of a prototype system, will be eligible for awards up to $9 million. These projects should not exceed three years in duration. Applicants are encouraged to form collaborative teams equipped with both technical and commercial capabilities to enhance the prospects for success. Teams can be comprised of large and small companies, universities and academic institutions, trade organizations, national laboratories, and other research institutions.

Applications are due by August 25, 2011. More information and application requirements can be found at the Funding Opportunity Exchange.

MCME program

The MCME program supports fundamental research leading to improved machines and applications for both manufacturing and construction. Key goals are to advance the transition of these industries from skill-based to knowledge-based activities and to develop them as activities with minimal environmental and societal impact. To accomplish these goals the program emphasizes research leading to a fundamental understanding of the relevant physical processes resulting in better predictive models and improved manufacturing and construction decision making. The program also supports research on solid freeform fabrication encompassing scales from microns to meters (nanometer scale additive manufacturing is supported under the Nanomanufacturing program).

Link to Full Announcement

NSF Program Desccription 10-1468

Open Manufacturing Program

Agency Name

DARPA - Defense Sciences Office

Description

The vision of the Open Manufacturing program is to reduce barriers to manufacturing innovation, speed, and affordability of materials, components, and structures. This will be achieved by 1) investing in technologies to enable affordable, rapid, adaptable, energy-efficient manufacturing and fabrication processes, 2) promoting comprehensive manufacturing design, simulation and performance prediction tools, and 3) facilitating exposure to best practices. Specifically, the program will seek development and demonstration of technologies that reduce impediments to the efficient manufacturing of affordable, competitive products that rapidly enter into service at low fiscal and environmental costs. See attached DARPA-BAA-11-54

Link to Full Announcement

DARPA-BAA-11-54

If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact:

BAA Coordinator DARPA-BAA-11-54 BAA Coordinator

Energy Efficiency Tax Incentives

[From ACEEE: The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy News] Washington, D.C. - Last month, President Obama signed into law a tax package that contains modifications and extensions to energy efficiency tax incentives for homeowners, home builders, and appliance manufacturers. Information on all of these energy efficiency tax incentives are accessible on the Tax Incentives Assistance Project (TIAP) Web site so that consumers and businesses can take full advantage of changed federal tax credits for energy-saving technologies and practices.

The new legislation includes extensions and revisions to three existing federal energy efficiency tax incentives: for manufacturers of energy-efficient appliances, a one-year extension and revisions; for new homes builders, coverage for 2010 and 2011; and for home retrofits, a one-year extension but with significant modifications from the 2010 incentives.

For appliances, the tax credits go to the manufacturer, but should be visible to consumers by reducing the cost of qualifying equipment. In 2011, the qualifying levels have been increased, and many of the incentives modified. The credits cover residential refrigerators, clothes washers, and dishwashers. In most cases, the credits are available for the very top efficiency products, typically levels more stringent than will qualify for ENERGY STAR®. For refrigerators, the incentives are $150 for a refrigerator that uses 30% less energy than federal minimum efficiency standards and $200 for a refrigerator that uses 35% less energy. For clothes washers, the incentive is either $175 for units that moderately exceed ENERGY STAR or $225 for the very highest levels of efficiency on the market. For dishwashers, the credits range from $25 for a unit that meets the July 2011 ENERGY STAR-level of 307 kWh per year to $75 for a unit that uses less than 280 kWh per year.

For new homes, the credit is unchanged from 2009 - a $2,000 incentive to the home builder for homes that use 50% less energy than a home built to the national model building code, and a $1,000 incentive for only manufactured homes if the home either meets ENERGY STAR or uses 30% less energy than national model codes.

For existing homes, there are several changes in 2011. For example, in 2011, a homeowner interested in purchasing energy-efficient heating or cooling equipment can only receive a $150 tax credit, down significantly from the credit for 30% of the cost of the equipment that was available in 2009-2010. The efficiency level of eligible equipment is generally unchanged from 2009-2010, with the exception of boilers and oil furnaces, which have to meet a higher level of efficiency.

Another example of the 2011 changes is the incentives for windows, which have become less generous but easier to qualify for. In 2011, these tax credits are limited to 10% of the material cost, up to $200. The efficiency requirement, however, has been changed to ENERGY STAR windows, a more lenient eligibility level, especially for homeowners in the South.

The TIAP Web site has additional details on the changes to the building envelope, heating and cooling equipment, new homes builder, appliance manufacturer, and other federal energy tax incentives that were extended in December. In addition, a tax incentives fact sheet with detailed information about each of the incentives for 2010 and for 2011 is also available.