NSF Manufacturing Blue Sky Competition at the 2026 MSEC/NAMRC Conference; University Park, Pennsylvania; 14-18 June 2026

The 2026 Manufacturing Blue Sky Competition will be held in conjunction with the Manufacturing Science and Engineering Conference (MSEC) and North American Manufacturing Research Conference (NAMRC) at Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 14-18 June 2026. This grant supports a national forum for identifying and discussing bold, forward-looking ideas that can shape the future of manufacturing research, education, and innovation in the United States. The competition focuses on early-stage concepts that address significant challenges and opportunities in advanced manufacturing, and that may not yet align with conventional research pathways. By encouraging interdisciplinary exploration of emerging topics, the competition promotes the progress of science while contributing to long-term economic competitiveness, public welfare, and national security. Conducted in collaboration with leading professional engineering societies, the competition engages researchers, educators, students, industry representatives, funding organizations, and policy stakeholders in dialogue around new directions for the field. As a prominent event within a major international conference, it provides visibility for promising concepts and supports the development of the human capital needed for sustained innovation in manufacturing. Dissemination of finalist and winning presentations through conference-based and digital channels will further broaden awareness of emerging ideas and encourage continued engagement across research, education, industry, and public-sector communities.

The PIs will organize a national competition featuring up to six finalist teams selected through a structured review process. Finalists will present interdisciplinary research concepts focused on manufacturing ideas in the earliest stages of development, with emphasis on bold approaches that could lead to transformative advances. The competition is intended to identify and articulate high-impact research directions that extend beyond the scope of individual investigators and encourage convergence across disciplinary areas. Finalist teams will present to an audience that includes representatives from government organizations, academic researchers, industry leaders, and other technical experts, creating opportunities for feedback, discussion, and collaboration. By emphasizing unconventional and potentially disruptive concepts, the project provides a structured setting for refining ideas that may influence future manufacturing research and education agendas. Previous competitions have demonstrated the ability to elevate emerging topics to broader national and international attention, including concepts such as manufacturing in space and biological printing. Expected outcomes include the identification of emerging research priorities, stimulation of interdisciplinary exchange, and increased visibility for high-risk, high-potential concepts that may inform future investments in manufacturing research.

This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

Award Number: 2607902
Principal Investigator: Suzanne Marzano
Funds Obligated: $19,852
State: MI