Missouri S&T researchers continue to earn national recognition for their expertise and innovation, with several significant federal awards advancing the university’s impact in manufacturing, critical minerals, infrastructure and sustainable materials. These projects demonstrate the breadth of S&T’s research portfolio and its ability to address challenges of national importance through strong partnerships with government and industry.

Strengthening U.S. manufacturing through NIST MEP

Missouri S&T is playing a key role in strengthening the nation’s manufacturing competitiveness through a recent award involving the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program. The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has awarded S&T $2.6 million.

Led by Dr. Rick Billo, director of the Kummer Institute Center for Advanced Manufacturing and director of the Missouri Protoplex, this effort supports advanced manufacturing innovation and workforce development while helping manufacturers adopt new technologies, improve productivity, and enhance economic competitiveness. The award reinforces S&T’s longstanding leadership in manufacturing research and its commitment to supporting industry across Missouri and beyond.

Advancing the future of mining

Missouri S&T researchers are also contributing to the future of domestic resource development through a new Department of Energy Mines of the Future award. S&T is among the institutions included in a new $73 million grant. The university’s program, titled “Multi-Functioning Mining Technology Proving Ground for Energy Efficiency and Productivity,” was funded for $16.3 million and will create a proving ground that combines facilities for underground technology testing and advanced energy comminution assessment.

Led by Dr. Kwame Awuah-Offei, the Union Pacific/Rocky Mountain Energy Professor of mining engineering, the project will create a multi-functional mining technology proving ground that combines two facilities, one for underground technology testing and the other for advanced comminution research. As demand for critical minerals continues to grow, innovations developed through this effort will help support domestic supply chains while addressing challenges related to energy transition, infrastructure, and national security. The award further highlights S&T’s nationally recognized strengths in mining, geological engineering, metallurgy and critical materials research.

Using artificial intelligence to transform cement supply chains

Another significant Department of Energy award was received by Dr. Hongyan Ma, Kummer Impact Professor of civil, architectural and environmental engineering, for the project, “AI-Powered Blending Strategies for Supplementary Cementitious Materials for Enhanced Domestic Cement Supply Chain.” This project focuses on building a database and deploying an AI-powered platform to fortify the domestic cement supply chain, bringing over $2 million in federal support to Missouri S&T and its industry partners.

Together, these awards reflect Missouri S&T’s continued success in securing competitive federal funding and delivering research that addresses some of the country’s most pressing technological and economic challenges. From advanced manufacturing and critical minerals to sustainable infrastructure materials, S&T researchers are helping shape the future through innovation, collaboration and discovery.