Recording for Center Operations FY 2013-2014 Renewal Webcast

MEP System Updates: New Communication

Upcoming Tech Scouting and TDMI Workshops

Edison Nation Live Product Search

MEP in the NEWS

Calendar of Events

Make it in America Manufacturer of the Week!

View eblast from February 15, 2013

On Wednesday, February 27, the Center Operations Office conducted a Renewal webinar in preparation for the FY2013-2014 Cooperative Agreement Renewal cycle. The webinar covered updates and changes in the MEP Operating Plan Guidelines and MEP General Terms and Conditions applicable to base Center cooperative agreements renewing on or after July 1, 2013.

If you were unable to attend the live webinar or would like to listen to it again, a recording of the webinar, as well as the presentation slides and the revised MEP Operating Plan Guidelines and General Terms and Conditions, are now available on the MEIS CFO Community of Practice. Questions regarding the renewal documents should be e-mailed to mfg@nist.gov. The Center Operations Office will be assembling and responding to questions received by developing a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to be posted and maintained on the MEIS CFO Community of Practice.

As we outlined during the January 2013 MEP System meeting in St. Louis, we are committing to regular communications about the progress and efforts around updating NIST MEP's strategic framework, moving to Center 5-year plans, and the concept of the Collaboratory. The first System Update email was sent on Tuesday February 26, 2013, and included information about what MEP has been doing since the system meeting. Instructions on where to find the captured “Ask Roger” questions, along with a summary of comments and feedback shared during the table discussions are also included in the message.

If you would like to see an archived copy of Wednesday’s email, please click here.

For questions, please contact Karen Lellock (Karen.lellock@nist.gov | 301-975-4269)

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If you or your colleagues haven’t had a chance to attend the combined Technology Scouting and Technology-Driven Market Intelligence (TDMI) training there are three upcoming opportunities to do so. The course provides MEP representatives with the instruction and tools needed to initiate Technology Scouting and TDMI services for MEP clients. This training is part of a larger collaboration between NIST MEP and RTI International to bring RTI practitioners’ new market research and scouting skills to MEP field agents.

Led by practitioners and mentors of Tech Scouting and TDMI services, participants will work in both large and small groups to learn the full process and methodology for both services. The course approach is interactive and involves participatory activities to practice the core skills involved in promoting and performing both services including: expert interviewing, technology and market based research, intelligence and project organization and needs based analysis.

Below are the dates, name of center hosting, and location of each workshop:

March 12-14, 2013 | Iowa Center for Industrial Research and Service |Iowa State University Memorial Union Ames, Iowa

April 2-4, 2013 | Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Centers | Crowne Plaza Harrisburg, PA

May 7-9, 2013 | Tennessee Center for Industrial Services | Radisson Airport Hotel Nashville, TN

For questions, please contact Dave Cranmer (David.Cranmer@nist.gov | 301-975-5753) or Caroline Ranghel Ashley (Ranghel@rti.org | 919- 541-6822)

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All Edison Nation® product searches are closed, gearing up for Made in America Phase of the program

Thank you to the MEP Centers and client companies who submitted new product ideas to the Edison Nation Live Product Searches. In the first phase of this program Edison Nation gathered a total of 2,087 new and innovative product ideas from its inventor network, which now includes some MEP network participants. In the second phase of this program the large retail partners will select their favorite new product ideas. We will then post requests for quotes to make these new products that you can forward to your manufacturer clients. With the reach of the MEP network we can help U.S. companies create new opportunities to manufacture products for large retailers

For questions, please contact Dave Cranmer (David.Cranmer@nist.gov | 301-975-5753) or Caroline Ranghel Ashley (Ranghel@rti.org | 919- 541-6822)

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• USPTO Releases New Version of IP Awareness Assessment Tool The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) today unveiled an updated beta version of the web-based IP Awareness Assessment Tool, which is designed to help manufacturers, small businesses, entrepreneurs and independent inventors easily assess their knowledge of intellectual property (IP). Read Article

• An innovative program to promote sustainable manufacturing in Wisconsin has availability for 32 additional manufacturers. The Profitable Sustainability Initiative, managed by the Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership (WMEP) and the Northwest Wisconsin Manufacturing Outreach Center (NWMOC), helps small and midsize manufacturers develop sustainable practices that save money and improve competitiveness. Read Article

• CONNSTEP President Bonnie Del Conte was a guest on WTIC 1080 AM’s Manufacturing Matters February 2nd radio show talking about how CONNSTEP as the Connecticut MEP provides growth strategies and continuous improvement solutions to our manufacturing community Read Article

• MEP Success: Pennsylvania's Manufacturing Resource Center and Ashland Technologies “I honestly can say we would not be in business here anymore without the MRC,” said Wydra, who started the company in 1996. “They know the DNA of our company, so they can make relevant suggestions.” certificate accredited by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. Read Article

• Senator Kirsten Gillibrand invited CITEC's Executive Director Bill Murray to join her at a press event on February 22 to share details on the "Made in America Manufacturing Act" legislation she recently introduced in Congress. CITEC has encouraged New York's elected leaders to leverage the exceptional partnerships and resources that exist, especially the MEP. Read Article

• CMTC and MANEX Promote New Additive Manufacturing Forum CMTC in conjunction with MANEX, are launching an Additive Manufacturing Forum on March 20, 2013 at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in Livermore, CA. This is the first event produced by the recently formed group, California Network for Manufacturing Innovation (CNMI). Read Article

• Enterprise Minnesota's Growth Acceleration Program sustains jobs in manufcaturing Traci Tapani, co-president of Stacy-based Wyoming Machine, asks Minnesota legislators to continue the state's popular Growth Acceleration Program (GAP), a matching grant that enables small manufacturing companies to access business improvement services.Read Article

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