Notice of Intent to Issue Smart Manufacturing Funding Opportunity AnnouncementThe Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO) plans to issue a $33 million Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) focused on smart manufacturing technologies that can contribute to a resilient, responsive, leading-edge, and efficient manufacturing sector that delivers the technologies needed for the nation's clean energy transition. Smart Manufacturing is the use of advanced technologies and processes -- including digitization and artificial intelligence -- to improve the technical performance, efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness of the manufacturing sector.Through this funding opportunity, AMMTO will seek high-impact applied research, development and demonstration (RD&D) projects that will accelerate the adoption of smart manufacturing technologies and processes, helping domestic manufacturers create new, integrated systems and support their competitiveness around the world. Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies OfficeAMMTO_6ea4a222-2837-11ef-8a45-dae90383ea00Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable EnergyEERE plans to issue the FOA on or around June 2024 ...U.S. Department of EnergyDomestic ManufacturersNew, integrated systems and support for the competitiveness of domestic manufacturers_6ea4a45c-2837-11ef-8a45-dae90383ea00To accelerate the adoption of smart manufacturing technologies and processes_6ea4a4fc-2837-11ef-8a45-dae90383ea00SustainabilityCompetitivenessTechnologyCircular EconomyIdentify smart manufacturing solutions applied to a circular economy_6ea4a52e-2837-11ef-8a45-dae90383ea001Topic 1: Smart Manufacturing for a Circular Economy ~ Smart manufacturing technologies have the potential to increase the effectiveness of Re-X (recycling, repairing, remanufacturing, etc.) supply chains, creating a more circular economy. This topic is anticipated to focus on smart manufacturing solutions applied to three main circular economy opportunities.Recycling FeedstocksStreamline the identification of feedstock streams that are of consistent and acceptable quality for recycling_6ea4a5ce-2837-11ef-8a45-dae90383ea001.1First, smart identification, sorting, and grading of materials can help to streamline the identification of feedstock streams that are of consistent and acceptable quality for recycling.Repair & RemanufacturingInform aspects of repair and remanufacturing_6ea4a60a-2837-11ef-8a45-dae90383ea001.2Second, smart manufacturing techniques can be used to inform various aspects of repair and remanufacturing, ranging from initial design to component monitoring to disassembly guidance.Supply Chain DataImprove availability and transparency of data across supply chains_6ea4a63c-2837-11ef-8a45-dae90383ea001.3Finally, smart techniques can be used to improve availability and transparency of data across supply chains to enhance market visibility of secondary materials and support accurate life cycle assessments (LCAs).TransportationAdvance manufacturing processes and strengthen supply chains for production of sustainable transportation_6ea4a66e-2837-11ef-8a45-dae90383ea002Topic 2: Smart Manufacturing for Tooling and Equipment ~ This topic is anticipated to focus on developing and demonstrating broadly applicable smart manufacturing technologies that can advance manufacturing processes and strengthen supply chains for production of sustainable transportation.Tooling & EquipmentMake tooling and equipment faster and more economical to produce, reducing defects and enabling new functionalities_6ea4a6aa-2837-11ef-8a45-dae90383ea002.1Successful projects would make tooling and equipment faster and more economical to produce, reducing defects and enabling new functionalities. Many project innovations will also apply to other clean energy applications. High Performance MaterialsAccelerate materials advances and corresponding process innovation_6ea4a6dc-2837-11ef-8a45-dae90383ea003Topic 3: Smart Manufacturing for High Performance Materials ~ Smart manufacturing approaches can accelerate materials advances and corresponding process innovation, ensuring stable, domestic high-performance material supply chains.Clean EnergyAddress manufacturing processes and fabrication techniques for platform materials for the clean energy transition_6ea4a70e-2837-11ef-8a45-dae90383ea003.1This topic area is expected to focus on manufacturing processes and fabrication techniques for platform materials for the clean energy transition, such as high-conductivity materials and materials for harsh service conditions. Approaches could include machine learning, physics-informed models, analytical models, or combinations thereof. Methods for tuning manufacturing process parameters to achieve optimal component designs tailored according to application requirements will be encouraged.MiningIncrease the sustainability and competitiveness of domestic mining operations for critical minerals and materials through smart technologies_6ea4a74a-2837-11ef-8a45-dae90383ea004Domestic Mining OperatorsTopic 4: Smart Technologies for Sustainable and Competitive US Mining ~ The topic aims to increase the sustainability and competitiveness of domestic mining operations for critical minerals and materials through smart technologies.Environmental HazardsDetect environmental hazards_6ea4a790-2837-11ef-8a45-dae90383ea004.1The smart technologies would be used for early detection of environmental hazards, such as toxic emissions, degraded water quality, and degraded air quality.OperationsEnsure safety, reliability, efficiency, sustainability, and profitability of mining operations_6ea4a7c2-2837-11ef-8a45-dae90383ea004.2In addition, they would be used to help ensure safety, reliability, efficiency, sustainability, and profitability of mining operationsDataCreate more open data sharing_6ea4a83a-2837-11ef-8a45-dae90383ea004.3The data collected and analyzed also has the potential to create more open data sharing, such as to identify by-products of mining operations that could be used for another productive purpose rather than discarding them as waste.2024-04-152024-06-11https://www.energy.gov/eere/ammto/articles/notice-intent-issue-smart-manufacturing-funding-opportunity-announcementOwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net