Strategic Long-Term Participation by DoD in Its Manufacturing USA Institutes

To effectively mature and transition DoD manufacturing science and technology advances into production, DoD must have access to a robust and responsive U.S. industrial base which is often driven by advanced manufacturing technologies. The Manufacturing USA institutes are considered crucial and game-changing catalysts that are bringing together innovative ecosystems in various technology and market sectors critical to DoD and the nation. Since 2012, DoD has invested $600 million directly in its Manufacturing USA institutes with the understanding that the initial federal investment included (1) core funding and (2) one-time, start-up funding to establish the institutes within a period of 5 to 7 years. As the institutes now begin to reach year five, DoD is evaluating the effectiveness of the institutes in fulfilling their goals and the best on-going roles for the federal government, including on-going funding options, to ensure optimal benefit to U.S. competitiveness. This report reviews the role of DoD's investment to date in establishing its eight institutes as public?private partnerships and its engagement with each institute after it has matured beyond the start-up period. Table of Contents Front Matter Executive Summary 1 DoD Manufacturing USA Institutes: Background and Study Design 2 Lessons Learned and Operating Changes to Consider 3 Alternate PublicPrivate Partnership Options 4 DoD Long-Term Manufacturing Institutes' Strategy: Business Model Options and Implications 5 Committee Findings and Recommendations 6 Follow-On Consensus Study 7 Afterword - Rationale for Continued Engagement with the Institutes Appendixes Appendix A: Statement of Task Appendix B: Institutes' Offerings Value Proposition Rankings by Stakeholder Appendix C: Summary of Potential Improvements to the DoD Institutes' Offerings Appendix D: Summary of Potential Improvements Related to the DoD Institutes' Strategy Goals Appendix E: Committee Member Biographical Information Appendix F: Acronyms Appendix G: Other Resource Documents Appendix H: Workshop Agenda and Participant List