Manufacturing and Construction Machines and Equipment | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

The Manufacturing and Construction Machines and Equipment (MCME) opportunity was a National Science Foundation (NSF) discretionary grant program (Funding Opportunity Number PD 08-1468) in the Engineering Grants portfolio (CFDA 47.041). It focused on science and technology research and development, specifically funding fundamental research intended to improve both the machines used in manufacturing and construction and the ways those machines are applied in real settings. The central idea behind the program was that long-term, foundational advances in understanding how these machines and processes work at a physical level will ultimately produce better tools, better process control, and better decisions across two major industrial sectors.

A major theme of MCME was helping manufacturing and construction evolve from "skill-based" activities (where outcomes depend heavily on individual craft, experience, and tacit know-how) into "knowledge-based" activities (where outcomes can be predicted, optimized, and reliably reproduced using validated models, sensors, and decision frameworks). In practice, this meant the program favored research that digs into underlying physical processes and translates that understanding into predictive models that improve planning, automation, and operational decision-making. Another explicit goal was to support progress toward manufacturing and construction methods that minimize environmental and societal impacts, suggesting an interest in research that can reduce waste, energy use, emissions, noise, safety risks, and broader disruption while maintaining or improving productivity and quality.

Within its technical scope, the program emphasized research that builds fundamental understanding of relevant physical phenomena and uses that understanding to create improved predictive capabilities. That emphasis signals that proposals were expected to go beyond incremental engineering tweaks and instead address the mechanics, dynamics, materials behavior, process physics, or system interactions that limit performance. Better models and predictions were positioned as a pathway to improved decision-making, which can include choosing process parameters, selecting equipment configurations, controlling machine behavior in real time, planning construction operations, or improving reliability and accuracy at scale.

MCME also explicitly supported research on solid freeform fabrication, covering a very wide range of sizes from microns up to meters. This framing includes additive and freeform approaches relevant to both manufacturing and construction contexts, such as producing small precision components as well as large-format structures or infrastructure elements. The announcement clarified a boundary in this area: nanometer-scale additive manufacturing was not the focus of MCME and was instead supported under NSF's Nanomanufacturing program, which effectively separated nanoscale additive work from the broader micron-to-meter solid freeform fabrication work that MCME aimed to fund.

From an administrative and funding perspective, the opportunity was offered as a grant with no cost-sharing or matching requirement. The estimated total funding listed was $300,000, with an award ceiling of $300,000 and an award floor of $1, indicating flexibility in project size up to a relatively modest maximum for the solicitation as posted. Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, meaning it was open to any applicant type unless further limits were stated in the full program text. The posting date was March 23, 2009, and it included proposal windows that ran annually, with example windows shown as September 1 to October 1 and January 15 to February 15 in subsequent cycles.

The opportunity is archived, with an archive date of August 4, 2010, and it was noted as replaced by "10-4468," implying NSF continued the program under a newer solicitation number or updated program description. For access or technical issues with the announcement, the notice directed applicants to NSF Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov, and it referenced an additional information link to the NSF Program Description 08-1468 for the full details and requirements.

Browse more business programs for Construction Companies, Manufacturing Companies

Browse more opportunities from the same agency: National Science Foundation

Browse more opportunities from the same category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development

Next opportunity: Civil Infrastructure Systems

Previous opportunity: Materials and Surface Engineering

USGrants.org Applicant Portal:

Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.

Apply for PD 08 1468

 

[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?

Applicants also applied for:

Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PD 08 1468) also looked into and applied for these:

 

Grant application guides and resources

It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!

Apply for Grants

 

 

Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers

Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.

If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.

Subscribe to Leads

 

Request more information:

Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "PD 08 1468", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:

Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.