FOA Number: DE-FOA-0003329
Funding Available: $33 million
Concept Paper Deadline: August 21, 2024, 5 p.m. ET
Key Areas: Circular Economy, Sustainable Transportation, High-Performance Materials, Domestic Mining
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO) has announced a $33 million funding opportunity to accelerate the development and deployment of smart manufacturing technologies.
This initiative aims to foster innovation in materials and processes crucial for the nation’s clean energy transition. Smart manufacturing utilizes advanced technologies like digitalization and artificial intelligence to enhance the technical performance, productivity, quality assurance, and security of the manufacturing sector.
Smart Manufacturing: A Key Enabler for the Clean Energy Transition
AMMTO Director Christopher Saldaña emphasized the importance of smart manufacturing, stating, “Smart manufacturing solutions are essential for producing next-generation clean energy technologies domestically, at a lower cost, with greater efficiency, and at the quality and scale needed to be competitive globally.
This funding opportunity presents developers with a chance to significantly impact the future of our nation’s manufacturing sector and advance our most promising technological advancements.”
Funding Focus Areas
Funding recipients will support research aimed at developing smart manufacturing technologies that improve the efficiency and economics of circular supply chains, advance sustainable transportation manufacturing, accelerate the development of high-performance materials for the clean energy transition, and create more sustainable, safe, and competitive mining practices in the United States.
Topic 1: Smart Manufacturing for a Circular Economy
This topic prioritizes smart manufacturing solutions that enhance the viability of circular supply chains (Re-X pathways), such as recycling, repairing, remanufacturing, and reuse, by optimizing their efficiency and economic benefits. Key areas of interest include:
- Improved sorting and characterization technologies
- Interoperable and open supply chains for expanded Re-X
- Enhanced data transparency for accurate lifecycle assessments
Topic 2: Smart Manufacturing of Tooling and Equipment for Sustainable Transportation
This topic focuses on smart manufacturing technologies that expedite and reduce the cost of producing tooling and equipment for sustainable vehicles, while minimizing component defects and enabling new functionalities. Sustainable transportation refers to electric vehicles (battery or fuel cell-based) across all types, from personal cars to fleets and trucks. Areas of interest include:
- Automation in manufacturing tooling and equipment
- Manufacturing asset management for improved system performance
Topic 3: Smart Manufacturing for High-Performance Materials
This topic centers on developing, validating, and prototyping new high-performance materials (HPMs) and their manufacturing processes. The emphasis is on manufacturing processes and fabrication techniques for HPMs relevant to the clean energy transition, such as high-conductivity materials and materials designed for harsh service conditions. This includes:
- High-performance materials and process discovery
- High-performance materials manufacturing, assembly, and scale-up
Topic 4: Smart Technologies for Sustainable and Competitive U.S. Mining
This topic focuses on creating innovative smart manufacturing technologies for more sustainable, safe, and competitive mining practices in the United States. Advancing mining technologies will ensure a resilient, diverse, and secure domestic supply of critical minerals and materials. Areas of interest include:
- Sustainable and competitive domestic mining technologies
- Sensing, analytics, and data-driven decision-making in mining
Application Process and Timeline
Applicants must submit a concept paper by 5 p.m. ET on August 21, 2024, to be eligible to submit a full application. Detailed information on the timeline and eligibility requirements can be found in the funding opportunity announcement.
Additional Information
- Download the full funding opportunity on EERE Exchange.
- For specific support for this funding opportunity, contact SM.FOA.FY24@ee.doe.gov.
- Sign up for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy email list to get notified of new funding opportunities.
- Receive the latest information on AMMTO funding opportunities, events, and other news by subscribing to the monthly Manufacturing Moment newsletter.