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FAQs: NSF Materials Processing and Manufacturing (MPM) Program (PD 13-1467)

What was the NSF Materials Processing and Manufacturing (MPM) program?

The NSF Materials Processing and Manufacturing (MPM) program was a discretionary grant opportunity that funded fundamental, hypothesis-driven research on how manufacturing and processing affect a material's structure, properties, and real-world performance.

What kinds of research did MPM aim to support?

MPM supported analytical, experimental, and numerical research that explains and improves the links between processing conditions and process control, the resulting microstructure or architecture, and measurable performance outcomes such as strength, durability, reliability, and functional response.

What was the central technical emphasis of MPM proposals?

The core emphasis was on the interrelationship among (1) processing conditions and process control, (2) the microstructure or architecture created by those processing choices, and (3) the resulting behavior or performance observed in real applications.

Did MPM require the research to consider real-world manufacturing constraints?

Yes. A key expectation was that manufacturing would not be treated only as an abstract laboratory exercise. Where appropriate to the project, proposals were expected to consider practical realities such as cost drivers, performance tradeoffs, and feasibility of scaling beyond a small lab demonstration.

What materials classes were within scope for MPM?

The program welcomed genuinely new processing methods across essentially any materials class, including metals, polymers, ceramics, hybrids, and composite systems.

Did MPM encourage work across multiple length scales or multifunctional systems?

Yes. MPM encouraged research spanning multiple length scales and/or targeting multifunctional materials systems, reflecting the idea that engineered materials often derive value from coupled structures across scales.

What does "multifunctional materials systems" mean in the context of MPM?

In MPM's context, multifunctional systems are materials where processing routes and structures can support more than one type of performance (for example, creating both structural and electrical functionality), or where features at one scale influence behavior at another (for example, microstructural features influencing macroscopic fatigue life).

Was environmentally benign manufacturing a priority area?

Yes. The program explicitly promoted environmentally benign manufacturing, including processing routes that reduce hazardous inputs, energy use, waste, or emissions while maintaining or improving performance.

Was industry collaboration allowed or encouraged?

Yes. Collaboration with industry was encouraged through NSF's GOALI mechanism to connect fundamental academic research with industrial needs and facilities and strengthen pathways from scientific insight to manufacturing impact.

How did MPM differ from the Nanomanufacturing (NM) program?

MPM covered micro-scale and larger processing. Processing research primarily at submicron or nanoscale was directed to the Nanomanufacturing (NM) program.

Where should proposals about solid freeform fabrication or material removal processes have gone?

Work focused on solid freeform fabrication (commonly associated with additive manufacturing process development in that era) and material removal processes such as cutting or grinding was directed to the Manufacturing Machines and Equipment (MME) program.

Where should proposals focused on new paradigms for designing material systems have been submitted?

Projects centered on new paradigms for designing material systems, rather than processing and manufacturing science itself, were pointed toward the Design of Engineering Material Systems (DEMS) program.

What if a proposal was mainly about composition-structure-property relationships without a manufacturing component?

Proposals primarily focused on composition-structure-property relationships without a significant processing or manufacturing component were advised to go to the Materials and Surface Engineering (MSE) program or an appropriate program within NSF's Division of Materials Research (DMR).

What was the Funding Opportunity Number for this listing?

The opportunity was listed under Funding Opportunity Number PD 13-1467.

What CFDA number was associated with this opportunity?

This listing was categorized under CFDA 47.041 (Engineering Grants).

What type of funding instrument was it?

It was categorized as a grant in the science and technology R and D area.

Did the opportunity require cost sharing or matching?

No. The record stated that cost sharing or matching was not required.

When was the posting date for this opportunity?

The posting date listed was January 3, 2013.

What were the submission windows and deadlines?

The record noted recurring annual submission windows due by 5 p.m. local time for proposers, including January 15 and February 15, and also September 1 and October 1.

How many awards were anticipated?

The opportunity anticipated around 35 awards.

What funding amounts were shown in the record?

The listing showed an estimated total funding amount of $300,000 and an award ceiling of $300,000 (with an award floor listed as 1).

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was described as unrestricted, subject to any clarifications in the full text.

Could someone volunteer to serve as a proposal reviewer or panelist?

Yes. The listing invited investigators interested in serving on a proposal review panel to contact the Program Director with a brief biosketch and areas of expertise, or a link to a homepage.

What were the REU/RET supplement timing notes?

The record noted that REU/RET supplement requests were due by March 31 each year.

Is this funding opportunity still open?

No. This specific funding opportunity record is archived. The current closing date is marked as archived, NSF is no longer accepting proposals under this PD, and no replacement PD is defined within the record.

Who was listed as the contact for electronic announcement access issues?

For access issues related to the electronic announcement, the contact listed was NSF grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.