1.4.1: Outreach

Demonstrate meaningful outreach to and engagement with SMEs.

Other Information:

Each Institute is expected to engage existing intermediaries, centers, and networks that work with and address the needs of SMEs, to the benefit and success of the Institute's advanced manufacturing agenda. Specific examples of organizations that, through integration with the Institute, would strengthen and expand involvement of SMEs include the NIST Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) network and State and regional technology-based economic development programs. Institutes will also be encouraged, to the extent appropriate, to seek out successful SBIR awardees to support their alignment with supply chains and explore opportunities for evolutionary demonstration of SBIR technologies within the Institute's focus area.

Stakeholder(s):

• SMEs: Many SMEs experience common challenges that hamper their performance. They face problems with lagging productivity and business practices, missed opportunities in emerging technologies, unrealized growth potential, and leadership and succession issues. They report significant challenges in ongoing continuous improvement, identifying growth opportunities, and product innovation/development for manufacturability. As significant sources of innovation in highly sophisticated supply chains, they face increasing demands from their original equipment manufacturer (OEM) customers for improved performance, quality, consistency, and continued innovation.


• Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Customers


• NIST Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Network


• State Technology-Based Economic Development Programs


• Regional Technology-Based Economic Development Programs


• SBIR Awardees

Indicator(s):

Indicator:1

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