Trade, tariffs and industry

Executive Order 13329: Encouraging Innovation in Manufacturing

President: George W. Bush

Directed SBIR and STTR agencies to prioritize manufacturing-related research where law and agency missions allowed.

Status: In effect. Is Executive Order 13329 still in effect? Yes. Executive Order 13329 remains in effect. See Federal Register record.

What does Executive Order 13329 do?

Participating agency heads were directed to give high priority to manufacturing research and report annually to SBA and OSTP; SBA was assigned formats and, subject to presidential approval, implementing directives. The 2019 SBA SBIR/STTR Policy Directive requires qualifying agencies’ annual reports to describe actions supporting EO 13329 and assess manufacturing-related research activities. This confirms a later reporting framework, not a measured manufacturing result.

Administration position: The order described technological innovation through small businesses as important to the U.S. manufacturing sector.
SignedFebruary 24, 2004
Earlier frameworkSmall Business Act programs already funded small-business research and technology transfer, without this order’s express manufacturing priority and annual implementation reporting.
Responsible bodySBIR/STTR agencies and Small Business Administration
Later primary evidenceApril 2, 2019: The 2019 SBA SBIR/STTR Policy Directive requires qualifying agencies’ annual reports to describe actions supporting EO 13329 and assess manufacturing-related research activities. This confirms a later reporting framework, not a measured manufacturing result.

Before and after

Before the order

Small Business Act programs already funded small-business research and technology transfer, without this order’s express manufacturing priority and annual implementation reporting.

After the order

Participating agency heads were directed to give high priority to manufacturing research and report annually to SBA and OSTP; SBA was assigned formats and, subject to presidential approval, implementing directives.

The 2019 SBA SBIR/STTR Policy Directive requires qualifying agencies’ annual reports to describe actions supporting EO 13329 and assess manufacturing-related research activities. This confirms a later reporting framework, not a measured manufacturing result.

What did the signed order change?

Small Business Act programs already funded small-business research and technology transfer, without this order’s express manufacturing priority and annual implementation reporting. Participating agency heads were directed to give high priority to manufacturing research and report annually to SBA and OSTP; SBA was assigned formats and, subject to presidential approval, implementing directives.

What happened later?

Federal Register — SBA SBIR/STTR policy directive documents this later development: The 2019 SBA SBIR/STTR Policy Directive requires qualifying agencies’ annual reports to describe actions supporting EO 13329 and assess manufacturing-related research activities. This confirms a later reporting framework, not a measured manufacturing result.

What does that evidence establish?

The order cites the Small Business Act and is qualified by law and participating agencies’ missions. SBA’s later directive imposes a manufacturing reporting requirement for agencies meeting its stated award threshold. Neither instrument awards a named business a contract or guarantees a manufacturing increase. A priority and reporting rule is not proof that a particular award or economic gain occurred. The signed order controls its original terms.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
SBIR/STTR agencies and Small Business AdministrationPrioritized eligible research and set reporting guidanceUnder the signed order and governing law

What happened next

EO 13329 signed.

The 2019 SBA SBIR/STTR Policy Directive requires qualifying agencies’ annual reports to describe actions supporting EO 13329 and assess manufacturing-related research activities. This confirms a later reporting framework, not a measured manufacturing result.