PCAST issues 2nd advanced manufacturing report

The President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) has issued a new report calling for further actions to bolster US advanced manufacturing capacity. In Report to the President: Accelerating US Advanced Manufacturing, PCAST recommends additional investments in innovation, securing the talent pipeline and improving the business climate for innovative manufacturing firms.

It follows PCAST's inaugural 2012 report on advanced manufacturing which led to the creation of the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership (AMP) and a public-private National Network of Manufacturing Innovation Institutes (R$, June 4/12). A re-chartered AMP — known as AMP 2.0 — worked with the government to implement the first report's recommendations and its steering committee had significant input into the new report that advocates for "a sustained and coordinated effort to maintain momentum and engagement" across the US".

Building on the premise that US manufacturing dominance has been predicated upon leadership in the development and deployment of advanced technologies and innovation, AMP 2.0 has piloted a process for developing a national manufacturing technology strategy focused on three emerging technologies: advanced sensing and controls and platforms for manufacturing; visualization, informatics and digital manufacturing; and, advanced materials manufacturing.

The report makes five recommendations :

* a national strategy that coordinates initiatives across the public and private sectors and prioritizes manufacturing technology areas of national interest;

* an advanced manufacturing advisory consortium to coordinate private sector input on R&D priority areas;

* new public-private manufacturing R&D infrastructure to create manufacturing centres of excellence and technology test beds for de-risking technologies;

* processes and standards enabling interoperability of technologies, exchange of materials and manufacturing process information; and,

* a shared National Network for Manufacturing Innovation governance structure to ensure return on investment for network stakeholders.

The report did not include any cost estimates for its recommendations.

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