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Strategic Objective

Accelerate the development of industry-led skills strategies that result in a productive workforce for employers and high-quality jobs for workers. (NIST, EDA, ESA, Census)

Strategic Objective

Themes:

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Overview
Progress Update

Overview

A skilled and adaptable workforce is critical to U.S. global competitiveness and sustainable economic growth. An employer-aligned, (i.e., demand-driven) comprehensive approach to skills development is essential to helping businesses across all sectors better access skilled workers to grow, innovate, and be more productive. A skills strategy focused on industry-driven solutions helps address the difficulties many industries, particularly manufacturing, have in filling jobs requiring specific technical skills—even with many Americans still looking for work.

The

Progress Update

During FY 2014, the Department of Commerce (DOC) successfully undertook various efforts to reduce the gap between the workforce needs of employers and the supply of workers with in-demand skills. By making its workforce-related data more accessible, emphasizing an ecosystem approach to workforce-related interagency coordination, and stressing the importance of aligning workforce development and economic development, DOC began to establish itself as industry’s resource for input into the Administration’s job-driven skills training agenda.

Accomplishments include:

The Department contributed to other federal agencies’ workforce-related funding opportunities to make sure employer expectations are considered during the development of grant opportunities.
EDA, ESA, and NIST contributed to the interagency Job-Driven Checklist to give value to and clarify the needs of business in workforce development.
EDA economic development grants made in FY 2014 to help communities and regions build the capacity to support job driven workforce skills are, according to recipients, estimated to create and/or retain approximately 2,900 jobs and result in $539M in private investment.
EDA established a “job-driven skills development” investment priority and included the job-driven principles in the new Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Content Guidelines to increase awareness of the importance of industry-led workforce development.
EDA completed a draft of the Regional Partnership for Talent Development Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) to establish a series of learning exchanges to promote regional workforce ecosystems.
MFG Day, co-produced by NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), Fabricators and Manufacturers Association, National Association of Manufacturers, The Manufacturing Institute, along with the Science Channel and Shell Oil, showcased nation-wide activities, open houses and events to interest the public in manufacturing and the importance the industry plays in the U.S. economy. On October 3, 2014, more than 1600 events took place across the county in support of MFG day and providing manufacturers an opportunity to highlight their industry.
NIST incorporated the Job-Driven Checklist in a funding opportunity that began a systematic re-competition of its MEP centers.
Twelve NIST-MEP centers began pilot testing the SMARTalent tool to understand the workforce needs of client-users and is positioned to share data with local workforce stakeholders (e.g., community colleges).
DOC, Office of Science and Technology Policy, and Department of Labor partnered with technology leaders to put better career information and career connections in the hands of today’s and tomorrow’s job seekers through a series of data jams.
Census completed a significant redesign of the OnTheMap application reports to make it easier for users to analyze workforce data.
The National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NACIE) was repositioned to emphasize board membership that highlights successful industry-led skills/workforce development strategies.

Next Steps in FY 2015:

Q1: DOC will convene first organizational meeting of reconstituted NACIE in order to set objectives and plans for the term of the council.
Q1: EDA will complete internal and external prioritization efforts for EDA capacity-building grants that support job-driven workforce skills training.
Q1: EDA will publish Regional Partnership for Talent Development FFO in order to identify, disseminate, and facilitate the replication of best practices in public-private partnerships to build a regional pool of workers with the skills needed by regional businesses.
Q2: NIST will conduct landscape review and analysis of existing data sources for cybersecurity labor market information to incorporate into the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education data resources.
Q2: DOC will convene first working meeting of the NACIE and begin identification and formation of subcommittees.
Q2-4: EDA will award and administer grants that promote job-driven skills training and undertake quarterly status reviews.
Q3: NIST will assess SMARTalent pilot to determine whether modules are on target and whether the delivery model and business case are meeting clients’ needs.
Q4: NIST will re-launch MEP Workforce Working Group involving representatives from 10 to 15 states in order to promote learning across MEP centers and share information and best practices.

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Strategic Goals

Strategic Goal:

Foster a more innovative U.S. economy—one that is better at inventing, improving, and commercializing products and technologies that lead to higher productivity and competitiveness

Statement:

Foster a more innovative U.S. economy—one that is better at inventing, improving, and commercializing products and technologies that lead to higher productivity and competitiveness

Strategic Objectives

Grow a more productive, agile, and high-value manufacturing sector through partnerships and collaborations that accelerate technology development and commercialization (NIST)

Statement:

Grow a more productive, agile, and high-value manufacturing sector through partnerships and collaborations that accelerate technology development and commercialization (NIST)

Description:

The U.S. manufacturing sector continues to be a mainstay of U.S. economic productivity, generating $1.9 trillion in gross domestic product (GDP) in 2012 (11.9 percent of total U.S. GDP). Moreover, manufacturing has a larger multiplier effect than any other major economic activity—$1 spent in manufacturing generates $1.35 in additional economic activity. Despite the U.S. manufacturing sector’s apparent productivity, missed opportunities remain where the full economic and commercial value from investments in research are not realized.

The United States excels at basic science and invention. But the commercial and economic rewards that emerge from these accomplishments are primarily realized only after discovery—especially at the points of manufacturing scale-up and commercialization. This is particularly true for complex, cost-efficient, high-value-added products whose commercialization requires development and mastery of equally complex manufacturing processes.

As overall U.S. R&D efforts have begun to lag that of other nations, the composition of industrial R&D has shifted toward short-term research. These trends leave industry's long-term needs unmet and ultimately undermine the nation's competitiveness. The Department is ideally positioned to address these challenges through its unique convening power. It will bring together public-private partnerships that can produce cutting edge research. These partnerships with businesses will accelerate technology development and commercialization, and strengthen the nation’s position in the global competition for new products, new markets, and new jobs. In addition, NIST is the only research laboratory in the U.S. government specifically focused on enhancing industrial competitiveness, including a robust research portfolio concentrated on the technical challenges particularly associated with advanced manufacturing.

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Increase the capacity of U.S. regional economies to accelerate the production of value-added goods and services by providing services to and investments in businesses and communities. (NIST, EDA, MBDA, PTO)

Statement:

Increase the capacity of U.S. regional economies to accelerate the production of value-added goods and services by providing services to and investments in businesses and communities. (NIST, EDA, MBDA, PTO)

Description:

American communities must position themselves to compete in the new economy. However, communities with significant economic challenges may not have the knowledge or network needed to leverage their assets and identify opportunities. To understand the needs of producers and attract and expand investment, they need partners and expert guidance. The Department assists with strategic place-based investments that help create a productive industrial ecosystem. This support includes resources for infrastructure, planning, and technical assistance to strengthen the capacity for innovation in manufacturing. Technical assistance funding focuses on enhancing industry-required skills and identifying international supplier opportunities for small businesses.

The Department is dedicated to helping regional economies thrive and provides grants to state and local governments and non-profits in communities and regions suffering from economic distress. Technical and business assistance is also provided to smaller manufacturers through partnerships between federal and state governments and non-profit organizations. Some grants and services are specifically targeted to increasing the competitiveness of minority businesses. Through this multi-pronged approach, the Department is increasing the capacity of U.S. regional economies to produce value-added goods and services, increasing their competitiveness in the modern global economy.

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Strengthen the Nation’s digital economy by championing policies that will maximize the potential of the Internet, expanding broadband capacity, and enhancing cybersecurity to provide a robust environment for innovation. (NIST, NTIA, USPTO)

Statement:

Strengthen the Nation’s digital economy by championing policies that will maximize the potential of the Internet, expanding broadband capacity, and enhancing cybersecurity to provide a robust environment for innovation. (NIST, NTIA, USPTO)

Description:

The digital economy is the great engine of innovation and economic growth of the 21st century, and the Department is its principal defender and champion in the federal government. The Internet engine that powers this vast marketplace of electronic goods and services was developed within the federal government. But it has flourished in the private sector—where it should remain.

This extraordinary platform for innovation, growth, and social progress faces urgent policy questions that demand a thoughtful government response. How can personal information and intellectual property be protected online? How can the Nation’s critical digital infrastructure be defended from cyber-attacks? How can high-speed and affordable Internet access for all Americans be ensured? And, how can these goals be achieved while preserving, here and around the world, the fundamentally open nature of the Internet, free from unnecessary regulation?

The Department has essential responsibility and a central role in answering these questions. It advises the President on telecommunications issues and manages national spectrum resources needed for expanded high-speed broadband service. It develops U.S. policy on online intellectual property protection and enforcement. It oversees the development of voluntary industry cybersecurity and other online safety standards. It houses FirstNet which is charged with building a nationwide wireless broadband network for public safety users. And, the Department represents the United States on Internet governance issues before international multi-stakeholder bodies.

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FY 14-15 Priority Goal: Expand U.S. Broadband Infrastructure

Statement:

By September 30, 2015, the Department of Commerce will increase the nation's broadband infrastructure developed through the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) from 78,120 miles at the end of FY 2012 to 118,000 miles. When this goal is achieved, BTOP will connect 23,500 community anchor institution and will add 670,000 new household and business subscribers to broadband service.

Description:

Broadband access is essential to U.S. global competitiveness in the 21st century, driving job creation, promoting innovation, and expanding markets for American businesses. Broadband access also affords public safety agencies the opportunity for greater levels of effectiveness and interoperability.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) manages the implementation of BTOP to expand broadband service to communities in a cost-effective manner that maximizes impacts on economic growth, education, health care, and public safety. BTOP is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). After a rigorous application and review process, NTIA invested approximately $4 billion in 233 BTOP projects benefiting every state, territory, and the District of Columbia. Most of NTIA’s broadband grant investments, 123 grant awards totaling more than $3.48 billion, fund the construction or upgrade of approximately 110,000 miles of broadband networks and employ multiple technologies, including fiber-optics, wireless, and other technologies.

Network miles are a direct indicator of the nation’s growing broadband infrastructure, and represent both the increasing ability of underserved communities to contribute to America’s global competitiveness and the foundation for more affordable broadband services to homes and businesses. NTIA broadband grant investments will connect more than 24,000 community anchor institutions (e.g., libraries, hospitals, and schools), and add more than 650,000 new household and business subscribers to broadband service.

NTIA continues to monitor and provide guidance to grant recipients through technical assistance on refining methodologies for collecting data on new subscribers and accurately reporting that information. NTIA also collects reports from grant recipients regularly detailing performance and performs case reviews evaluating projects’ successes and challenges in meeting milestones. These activities help NTIA understand the progress made by recipients and inform the provision of appropriate corrective actions and enforcement measures, if needed.

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Accelerate the development of industry-led skills strategies that result in a productive workforce for employers and high-quality jobs for workers. (NIST, EDA, ESA, Census)

Statement:

Accelerate the development of industry-led skills strategies that result in a productive workforce for employers and high-quality jobs for workers. (NIST, EDA, ESA, Census)

Description:

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Accelerate growth of innovation-intensive economic sectors by building public and private capacity to invent, improve, and commercialize new products and services. (NIST, USPTO, EDA)

Statement:

Accelerate growth of innovation-intensive economic sectors by building public and private capacity to invent, improve, and commercialize new products and services. (NIST, USPTO, EDA)

Description:

In order for innovative products to enter and compete in the marketplace successfully, a robust scientific and technological infrastructure is required. Fundamental research at the forefront of science provides the seeds for the development of new products and services. Strong, responsive, and balanced intellectual property protection establishes an attractive environment for innovation and investment. Policies that accelerate the rate of transfer of technologies from lab to market bolster the return on government investment in R&D. Agreed upon ways to measure the performance and quality of new products against more established technologies provide the foundations of product interoperability and allow them to compete in the international marketplace. By investing in knowledge transfer mechanisms that are critical to growing new companies and facilitating innovation, the Department promotes regional and community capacity to generate and take advantage of new ideas about products and processes.

The Department plays a central role in providing the foundation critical to the growth of high-value, innovative economic sectors. NIST’s measurement science expertise creates the infrastructure necessary to measure the performance and quality of products and services. USPTO programs enable innovators to accelerate the movement of new products and technologies to the marketplace. And, EDA provides capacity-building grants to help foster an economic ecosystem in which the private sector can more effectively leverage regional and community assets to engage in commercialization.

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