The Special Competitive Studies Project released a national action plan that lays out recommendations to improve competitiveness of the U.S. manufacturing sector.

ARLINGTON, Va.—A new action plan released by the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP) is aimed at establishing U.S. leadership in advanced manufacturing, a convergence of technologies applied to industrial production, according to a release from SCSP.

The SCSP is working to develop a series of national action plans to establish U.S. leadership in key technology areas. Its National Action Plan for U.S. Leadership in Advanced Manufacturing lays out recommendations to improve the competitiveness of the U.S. manufacturing sector by accelerating deployment of technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and additive manufacturing.

The action plan calls for a combination of national-level moonshots; significant investments in federal programs that facilitate technology adoption; redoubled efforts in manufacturing-related R&D; and policy moves to train the future manufacturing workforce, the release said.

“Recent public policy, including investments in industrial policy and trade measures, has underscored the importance of advanced manufacturing,” said Professor of the Practice at MIT and former Special Assistant to the President for Manufacturing, Elisabeth Reynolds, in the release. “Driving the adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies at scale can help the United States achieve objectives related to national and economic security, including defense, energy, and health security. It is also a pathway to higher productivity and quality jobs.”

“Manufacturing is the next frontier for technological innovation,” said SCSP Senior Director for Economy Liza Tobin, in the release. “Applying emerging technologies like AI to the industrial sector can help the United States close the gap with its primary strategic rival, the People’s Republic of China.”