Clone of 2026 Blue Sky Competition

2027 Blue Sky Competition & David Dornfeld Manufacturing Vision Award - Submission Form

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Monday, February 15, 2027 (EOD)
The Blue Sky Competition seeks bold, visionary ideas that address grand challenges and have the potential to transform the future of manufacturing research and education. Submissions should propose radical, unconventional, or breakthrough concepts that demonstrate the potential for transformative impact. Ideas should highlight the interdisciplinary connections needed to advance the vision and have relevance to industry, academia, and government.

The 2027 Blue Sky Competition will be held in Washington, DC, on May 4, 2027 (venue TBD). Unlike past competitions which were held during the SME NAMRC conference.

Selection Committee: The Selection Committee consist of experts from industry, academia, and government, including federal program officers interested in new concepts for large, multi-project manufacturing research programs relevant to their missions.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

To enter the Blue Sky Competition, please complete the form below and submit an abstract. The abstract must be no more than one page and must not include the names or affiliations of the submitter(s). Abstracts containing author names or affiliations will not be shared with the selection committee for review.

ELIGIBILITY AND EVALUATION CRITERIA

To encourage presentation and discussion by established manufacturing professionals, the winning abstract must be presented in person in Washington, D.C., by at least one member of the submitting team who, at the time of the competition, is a minimum of three years beyond completion of their terminal degree.

Submissions will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

Scope
Is the proposed idea a grand challenge of significant scale?

Interdisciplinary Nature of Idea
To what extent does the proposed idea require the intersection of disparate disciplines to achieve the described vision?

Quality of Presentation
How well is the proposed idea articulated, presented and motivated?

Potential Impact
What is the potential of the proposed idea to influence and transform the future of manufacturing research and education?

AWARD & RECOGNITION

The winner may choose to receive the SME David Dornfeld Manufacturing Vision Award at the NAMRC 55 Awards Ceremony Luncheon at Oregon State University in June 2027 or at the SME Fall Gala in Fall 2027. Competition travel support pending grant approval.

The award honors the late David Dornfeld, University of California at Berkeley professor, SME Fellow, and past SME Director, who was recognized as a global leader in sustainable and smart manufacturing. The award recognizes outstanding vision and leadership within the manufacturing community.

KEY DATES

Submission Deadline: February 15, 2027
Finalists Announced: March 15, 2027
Final Presentations: May 4, 2027, Washington, DC
Abstract Title
Corresponding Author: Name

First NameLast Name
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(PhD, PE, MS, etc)
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example@example.com
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Please provide information for all team members below.
Team Member 1: Name

First NameLast Name
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Team Member 1: Title
Team Member 1: Organization / University
Team Member 1: Email
example@example.com
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example@example.com
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Team Member 4: Name

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Please upload your one-page abstract below:

NOTE: Only abstracts without author names or affiliations will be provided to the selection committee for review.
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2027 Blue Sky Competition & David Dornfeld Manufacturing Vision Award - Submission Form