SSTI Digest

The United States' 42 federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs) received a record $26 billion in federal government funding in fiscal year 2022 — a nearly 6% increase compared to the previous year. FFRDCs expended $26.5 billion on R&D in FY 2022, marking the ninth consecutive year of nominal growth. On average, FFRDCs have increased R&D expenditures by 1.3% per annum since 2012. Yet when looking at only the three most recent years of available data, from FY 2020-2022, this average drops to just 0.4%. FFRDCs are independent, non-governmental, entities — typically universities or nonprofits — that federal agencies contract with to conduct R&D. FFRDCs provide their supporting federal agencies with R&D capabilities that could not otherwise be effectively completed by the federal government or private sector alone, according to the Congressional Research Service. The Department of Energy (DOE) historically accounts for most of FFRDC funding. DOE provided about 51% of FFRDC funding in 2019 ($11.4 billion). By 2022, the funding rose to nearly 56%, or $14.5 billion. The Department of Defense (DOD) accounts for the next largest…

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) has received 378 applications from 48 states for Phase 1 of the Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs (Tech Hubs) competition. In total, 48 states and three territories submitted 378 Tech Hubs Phase 1 applications. The competition is divided into two parts. The first part will designate Tech Hubs in regions across the country that bring together industry, higher education institutions, state and local governments, economic development organizations, and labor and workforce partners to supercharge ecosystems of innovation for technologies that are essential to our economic and national security. The second part will separately award approximately $15 million in strategy development grants to accelerate the development of future Tech Hubs. There were 378 applications from 247 unique lead consortia members: 68 (28%) submitted only applications for a Tech Hubs Designation; 124 (50%) submitted applications for both Designation and Strategy Development Grants; and 55 (22%) submitted only applications for Strategy Development Grants. Applicants requested more than $75 million in…

Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, has so far been used for simple construction. In this process, a computer creates three-dimensional objects by depositing materials, usually in layers. But now, the National Institute for Standards in Technology (NIST) is working to unlock additive manufacturing’s potential. For example, earlier this year, NIST researchers worked with polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs), resins with properties useful in fire protection, food packaging, drug delivery, insulation, and more. The scientists incorporated a technique that uses light to solidify a liquid resin, layer by layer, into a three-dimensional design. Advocates for 3D printing say with 3D printing, U.S. manufacturing could forge better products while establishing independence from foreign suppliers and reducing its carbon footprint. And in areas like medicine, additive manufacturing could eventually help Americans get the vital organs they need more quickly, reducing the chance of rejection and ultimately saving lives, all while dramatically cutting the cost of surgeries. The transportation of finished products from one place to another currently accounts for…

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released three 2023 annual reports showing that wind power is one of the fastest growing and lowest cost sources of electricity in America and is poised for rapid growth. DOE reports that wind energy provided 10% of total electricity nationwide with wind making up more than 60% of Iowa’s power and over 40% in Kansas, Oklahoma, and South Dakota. New utility-scale land-based wind generation capacity added in 2022 was the equivalent of powering 2.5 million American homes. Offshore wind energy projects under development and currently operating could power over 18 million American homes. The Land-Based Wind Market Report, prepared by DOE’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, details the 8,511 MW of new utility-scale land-based wind generation capacity added in 2022. This is the equivalent of powering 2.5 million American homes. Key findings from the report include: Wind energy provided 10% of total electricity nationwide, more than 60% of power in Iowa, and over 40% of power in South Dakota, Kansas, and Oklahoma. 14 states installed new utility-scale land-based wind turbines in 2022. Texas installed the most capacity…

On August 14, 2023, OMB issued final guidance on requirements for all infrastructure projects using federal financial assistance. The final guidance requires preferences for American-made steel and iron products, manufactured products, and construction materials. The release of the final guidance follows the signing in November 2021 of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), which includes the Build America, Buy America Act (BABA). The guidance is directed toward heads of federal agencies, who must ensure that no federal funds be awarded for infrastructure projects unless “all of the iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials incorporated into the project are produced in the United States.” The guidance is specific about what “produced in the United States” means. Regarding iron or steel products, “all manufacturing processes, from the initial melting stage through the application of coatings, occurred in the United States.” In the case of manufactured products, “the product was manufactured in the United States, and the cost of the components of the manufactured product that are mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States is…

A memo sent out last week by the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Science and Technology Policy outlines this year’s R&D priorities. Federal science agencies will use this memo to design their budget requests for the fiscal year 2025. For the first time, this annual memo references regional innovation as an important element of R&D. The memo mentions regional innovation under the priority, “Reduce barriers and inequalities.” This priority directs agencies to “undertake R&D and apply technology advances to ameliorate inequities and create opportunity in ways that strengthen our values.” A bullet point in this section advises agencies to “[su]pport regional innovation and workforce development in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine all across America with an emphasis on emerging research institutions and historically underserved communities.” The following priority, “Bolster the R&D and industrial innovation that will build the Nation’s future economic competitiveness from the bottom up and middle out,” directs agencies to “[p]ursue regional innovation and resilience by invigorating communities and…

The inaugural Manufacturing Momentum Summit is an opportunity for federal, state, regional, and local leaders to share their efforts to prepare the workforce required for the advanced defense manufacturing supply chain. Held in conjunction with several partners, including the DoD Manufacturing Technology Program, the Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness, and the American Manufacturing Communities Collaborative, the Summit will be held from September 12 - 14, 2023, in Arlington, VA. Featured topics include a focus on AI’s impact on the manufacturing workforce, practical strategies for engaging employers, and an overview of the 2024 Defense budget. The program can be found here.

The dynamics of population growth in the U.S. changed during the pandemic. As people migrated away to avoid the limitations of the pandemic, one region’s population loss was another region’s gain. Now, economists are analyzing the impact of migration on local economies.

The United States has been the top destination for those looking to study abroad for decades. Before the onset of the pandemic, over a million students flocked from abroad to attend U.S.-based universities. Now, having dropped by 15% at the onset of the pandemic, international student enrollment is beginning to recover. Despite this recovery, the U.S. is losing market share to countries like Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom resulting in negative economic consequences. This article explores in detail the domestic and international trends of international students, as well as the economic impacts of these students on the U.S. economy. Domestic trends in international student enrollment The U.S. has been the top choice for international students due to its numerous high-quality colleges, universities, and abundant employment opportunities post-graduation. However, various policies enacted at the pandemic’s onset worked to restrict international students rather than encourage them. Many of these policies were later reversed, but the damages remained. During the 2020-21 academic year, international student enrollment plummeted by 15%, according to…

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is accepting applications for the second year of its Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grants Program. The program will fund up to $500 million in grants over five years to conduct demonstration projects focused on advanced smart community technologies and systems that improve transportation efficiency and safety. This SMART Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) will accept applications for Stage 1 Planning and Prototyping grants. During Stage 1, the SMART program seeks to fund innovation aimed at solving real-world transportation problems and focused on building data and technology capacity and experience for State, local, and Tribal governments. The program also recognizes that many public sector transportation agencies face challenges finding the resources and personnel to leverage new technologies, so the program builds in the time and support to enable successful deployment. The funding opportunity is open to public sector entities seeking to carry out transportation projects that demonstrate at least one of the following technology areas: Coordinated automation Connected…

The EDA’s Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) can be an important tool for supporting tech-based economic development initiatives. In the newest addition to SSTI’s Federal Funding Video Library, Matt Knutson, program analyst with EDA, provides an overview of how organizations can use this funding opportunity. Whether you’re seeking to understand the application process or explore how the RLF program aligns with your region’s TBED strategy, this video offers valuable insights and guidance. Video: EDA Revolving Loan Fund For those looking to engage further with EDA, representatives from the Atlanta Regional Office will be present at our upcoming conference. During our Federal Funding Forum, they will be available to discuss the RLF and other Public Works and Economic Adjustment programs, allowing you to gain insights and ask questions directly to the experts. Explore the entire series by visiting our Federal Funding Video Library. Created as part of the TBED Community of Practice, this series is designed to help you understand federal programs and funding sources that can support your region’s TBED strategies, such as Build to Scale and the STEM Talent Challenge.…

Advancing equity in economic development requires more than good intentions – it calls for concrete actions and measurable outcomes. In response to this need, the National Economic Research and Resilience Center (NERRC), part of Argonne National Laboratory, has developed the Access, Process, and Outcome (APO) framework. This evaluation tool is designed to help practitioners operationalize inclusive economic development strategies that are responsive to local context.   The authors acknowledge an important first step in advancing equity is establishing a shared understanding of what “equity” means. They propose a uniform definition of equity as “the fair or just treatment of all individuals or groups.” In comparing “equality” and “equity,” they note that while equality “focuses on ensuring everyone gets the same resource or treatment regardless of need” whereas equity is “a more active concept, trying to understand and deliver to people what they need…[it] goes beyond equality factors…to build toward outcomes for society as a whole.” Aligning on a common language can bring about more effective communication and collaboration among practitioners and funders,…