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Strategic Objective

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)

Strategic Objective

Themes:

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Overview
Progress Update

Overview

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

Progress Update

In FY2014, the Department of Commerce made good progress in supporting the development of regional capacity for advanced manufacturing economies. The Department led and participated in multi-bureau and multi-agency efforts to: support small and mid-sized manufacturing by restoring robust supply chains; strengthen community and regional capacity for advanced manufacturing; increase advanced manufacturing assistance for minority firms; and provide local resources for protecting and scaling technologies. The Department successfully expanded its footprint across the country, strengthening regional ties and providing local resources.

Accomplishments include:

NIST/Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) funded five Manufacturing Technology Acceleration Center (MTAC) pilot projects in 2014 to accelerate technology adoption across US supply chains. In addition, MEP Centers are implementing a Center-developed supply chain optimization set of tools and materials focused on establishing a coaching and mentoring partnership between a MEP Center’s subject matter experts and participating manufacturers to address barriers to effective supply chains. MEP Centers help to improve supply chain performance by quantifying the needs of the supply chain and focusing on the points in the process that are impeding throughput. Total cost of ownership is one element on which the centers provide guidance, along with executive and partner engagement and risk management.
In June 2014, NIST MEP hosted the Grantee Regional Collaboration Meeting for the 53 grantee teams from four multiagency initiatives: the Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge, the Rural Jobs Accelerator, the Advanced Manufacturing Jobs and Innovation Challenge and the Make It In America Challenge. The 150 attendees included representatives from the grantee teams from the 30 states such as Workforce Investment Boards, State Economic Development Agencies, MEP Centers, Universities, non-profits, and chambers of commerce. The two day event provided a venue for information and peer knowledge exchange on the latest practices that will accelerate cluster and industry development in urban and rural regions for small and medium sized manufacturers, worker training, job creation and business investments in the U.S.
EDA economic development grants made during FY 14 to help communities and regions build the capacity to support advanced manufacturing are, according to recipients, estimated to create and/or retain approximately 8,000 jobs and result in $3.1B in private investment.
EDA, in its leadership role for the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP), coordinated the process of designating the 12 Manufacturing Communities. EDA worked with designees on follow-up activities associated with designation, including helping to identify various federal grant opportunities, and began developing metrics to track program impacts.
NIST/MEP delivered Supply Chain Optimization services multiple times each month, embraced by more centers and training more MEP staff. 24 MEP Centers are actively promoting these services, and they have delivered more than 50 related workshops and training sessions to companies thus far.
USPTO made progress establishing satellite offices throughout the country. It finalized a permanent Silicon Valley lease. On June 30, 2014, USPTO held the opening ceremony for the Rocky Mountain Regional Office located in Denver, Colorado. That office welcomed its third class of patent examiners, putting it well on the path to hire a full staff of 100 by summer 2015.
MBDA held its National Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week Conference, the nation’s premier event for minority businesses and the public and private sectors. The 2014 National MED Week Conference offered a venue for minority-owned firms to access information, tools, and resources to grow their businesses both domestically and internationally.
In FY 2014, 8,353 firms received in-depth technical assistance from NIST MEP centers, a steady increase from 8,140 firms in FY 2013 and 7,614 firms in FY 2012.

Next Steps in FY 2015:

Q1: EDA will complete internal and external prioritization efforts for capacity-building grants that support advanced manufacturing.
Q1: EDA will host an IMCP Summit to showcase the 12 Manufacturing Communities, communicate best practices in economic development, and build connections between the communities, agencies, and investors.
Q2: USPTO will make progress on two new Satellite offices: open Silicon Valley office and build permanent space for Dallas, TX office in order to enhance the USPTO regional presence in support of inventors, entrepreneurs, and small businesses.
Q2: NIST will publish a report describing progress on all five MTAC pilot projects to promulgate best practices across MEP centers.
Q2-4: EDA will award and administer grants that reflect advanced manufacturing priority, undertaking quarterly status reviews.
Q3: NIST will engage newly created MEP Advisory Board Committee on Technology Acceleration actively in technology acceleration strategy during first half of 2015. Committee will develop action plan by May 2015.
Q3: EDA will select and announce up to 12 new Manufacturing Community designees for the second round of IMCP.
Q4: USPTO will open Dallas Satellite office.

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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:

Description:

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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:

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 Department is an honest broker for business and possesses the convening power, regional economic development expertise, and supply-chain-need analytical capability to highlight and address the workforce demands of growing industries. In addition to supporting a National Economic Council-led effort to align federal agency initiatives to better serve industry demands, the Department programs will to the creation of a strong pipeline of workers with in-demand skills.

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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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