For Support of an Assessment of the Engineering Research Centers Program

本研究有三个主要目标：1)评估工程研究中心（ERC）计划是否如预期般运作；a)促进对工业重要问题的跨学科工程研究；B)鼓励产业与中心研究项目的互动；c)鼓励特别强调工程实践的工程教育。2)根据以下几点重新评估ERC项目的基本使命：a)迄今为止各中心的经验；B)大学工程研究和教育实践的变化；c)目前对美国工程研究和教育实力的挑战。3)考虑现有提案提交和选择过程的有效性，以及这些过程将资金引导到国家最重要的工程研究领域的能力。

The proposed study has three primary objectives: 1) to assess whether or not the Engineering Research Centers (ERC) program has worked as envisioned: a) to promote cross- disciplinary engineering research on problems of industrial importance; b) to encourage industrial interactions with center research programs; and c) to encourage engineering education with a distinct emphasis on engineering practice. 2) to reassess the fundamental mission of the ERC program in light of: a) experience to date with the centers; b) changes in the practice of engineering research and education at universities; and c) currently perceived challenges to the strength of U.S. engineering research and education. 3) to consider the effectiveness of existing proposal submission and selection processes with regard to the ability of these to direct funds to those areas of engineering research of highest national importance.