Encouraging Innovation in Manufacturing
Executive Order 13329
On February 26, 2004, President George W. Bush signed Executive Order (EO) 13329 requiring Federal agencies with one or more Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) programs or one or more Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs to give high priority within the SBIR and STTR programs to manufacturing-related research and development (R&D), to the extent permitted by law and in a manner consistent with the mission of that department or agency. "Manufacturing-related" is defined as "relating to manufacturing processes, equipment, and systems; or manufacturing workforce skills and protection."
Executive Order 13329 is intended to help ensure that Federal agencies properly and effectively assist the private sector in its manufacturing innovation by advancing innovation, including innovation in manufacturing, through small businesses in order to sustain a strong manufacturing sector in the United States economy. The Small Business Administration (SBA) requires each agency with an SBIR/STTR program to develop, in consultation with SBA, a written plan on the implementation of EO 13329. This plan will describe the processes and techniques that the agency will employ "to give high priority" within such programs to manufacturing-related R&D to advance the policy in Section 1 of EO 13329.
To achieve realization, some SBIR & STTR technologies may need insertion into a process controlled by a larger manufacturer, which are typically members of councils and organizations. Websites for these larger manufacturers usually can be found by performing a web search using these key words: advanced, manufacturing, council, and organization. Membership in such councils/organizations or information gathered from these sites may also be a way to tap into qualified manufacturing content-specific mentors.
Related Document
Executive Order 13329: Encouraging Innovation in Manufacturing