Directorate for Engineering Strategic Planning: The Road to Reorganization

Strategic Planning Process Background External Environment Internal Reports STG Report

Background: Existing Plans “The Long View” ENG’s last strategic planning document, produced in 1994 “NSF Strategic Plan” Mission, Vision, and Strategic Goals for NSF from 2003 through 2008

External Environment Reports and Recommendations         Assessing the Capacity of the U.S. Engineering Research Enterprise: NAE 2005 Engineer of 2020: NAE 2004 Innovate America: National Innovation Initiative Final Report: Council on Competitiveness 2004

Internal Reports Awards and Solicitation Awards Impact and Assessment July 2004 –Task Groups/Committees within the ENG Directorate were formed to study, assess, plan, and prepare actions for the Directorate for Engineering Awards and Solicitation Awards Impact and Assessment Making the Case for Engineering Engineering Education and Workforce Strategic Thinking Group Organization and Structure

Strategic Thinking Group “Strategic Planning Overview: Strategic Directions for Engineering Research, Innovation, and Education”   Developed by the ENG Strategic Thinking Group

ENG Mission To enable the engineering and scientific communities to advance the frontiers of engineering research, innovation and education, in service to society and the nation.

ENG Vision ENG will be the global leader in advancing the frontiers of fundamental engineering research, stimulating innovation, and substantially strengthening engineering education.

ENG 5 Goals Overarching Frontier Research Goal: Effectively invest in frontier engineering research that has potential for high impact in meeting national and societal needs. Overarching Engineering Innovation Goal: Effectively invest in fundamental engineering innovation that has potential for high impact in meeting national and societal needs.

ENG 5 Goals 3. Overarching Engineering Education and Workforce Goal: Effectively invest in frontier engineering education and workforce advancement that has potential for high impact. 4. Public Understanding of Engineering Goal: Effectively invest in and seek partnerships to educate the public about the value of engineering research and education. 5. Organizational Excellence Goal: Effectively organize the Directorate to provide agile, multidisciplinary leadership in engineering research, innovation, and education

ENG Research Priorities Biology in Engineering New Frontiers in Nanotechnology Critical Infrastructure Systems Complexity in Engineered and Natural Systems Manufacturing Frontiers

Implementation Organizational Structure

Forces Driving New Structure For past 15 years, ENG has had essentially the same organizational structure. Changing conditions have emerged New multidisciplinary research areas (nanotechnology, cybertechnology, bioengineering, etc.) National priorities (defense, economy, homeland security) Global competition in innovation To remain at the frontier, ENG must evolve to address these changes

External Rationale Engineering education and research becoming more interdisciplinary, team-oriented, and collaborative. Universities establishing centers, clusters, and cross-department divisions. Industry adopting more interdisciplinary research paradigm.

Internal Rationale STG Report identified opportunities in line with new structure (covered earlier) ENG has relatively large number of divisions, with relatively small budgets Divisions must have sufficient funds (at least $100 million) to have major impact

New Structure Must Enable ENG to (1): Position ENG at the frontiers of engineering research, education, and innovation Promote interdisciplinary collaboration Integrate across priority areas Integrate research and education Support the continuum from discovery through to early engineering innovation

New Structure Must Enable ENG to (2): Enhance flexibility for change by combining some units Provide opportunities to explore new areas Strategically allocate human and financial resources

Data-Driven Plan Based on ASTG Study Report Inventory of all ENG ongoing grant portfolio as of December 2004. Considered funding in each of about 30 topic areas for each division Selected a listing of topics within three-four thrust areas for each division.

Organizational Structure Report ENG Considered 4 Scenarios Scenario 1: Operational Effectiveness Scenario 2: Priority Led Matrix Structure Scenario 3: Cross-disciplinary Excellence on the Continuum from Discovery to Innovation Scenario 4: Aligning with Intellectually Stimulating National Priorities

Organizational Structure Changes A hybrid of Scenarios 1 & 2 has been selected New structure will better position ENG to be more effective both inside NSF and externally New structure better aligns with STG Overarching Goals

New Framework

Organizational Structure OAD EFRI EEC CBET CMMI ECCS IIP CBET: Chemical, Biological, Environmental and Transport Systems CMMI: Civil, Mechanical & Manufacturing Innovation ECCS: Electrical, Communication & Cyber Systems IIP: Industrial Innovation & Partnerships EEC: Engineering Education, Centers EFRI: Emerging Frontiers in Research & Innovation

Divisions and Cross-cutting Areas CBET CMMI ECCS IIP Crosscutting Areas EEC Division Eng Education ERC EFRI Cyberinfrastructure Nanotechnology Critical Infrastructure Complex Eng. Systems

EEC: Linkages to Divisions AdCom Subcommittee For K-12 EEC Division EHR Eng. Ed. Eng. Res. Centers CMMI CBET CMMI CBET IIP ECCS IIP ECCS

Implications for Engineering Community Greater flexibility to explore the emerging frontiers of engineering research, education, and innovation Engineering Education and Centers will be more deeply ingrained throughout all divisions Multidisciplinary focus will more closely match trends in research and education New divisions with larger budgets may help Improve Success Rate for ENG

Timing and Implementation Appoint an Implementation and Transition Team Coordinate with Division of Budget, Division of Financial Management, HRM, and NSF Employee Union Full implementation by FY 2007

Comments and Feedback Share your thoughts via the NSF Website: WWW.NSF.GOV Go to the Engineering “Program Area” “ENG Reorganization – Comments Invited” box at top of page Follow links to plans and reports, as well as feedback email (engquality@nsf.gov)

Questions & Answers General Discussion