1. Short title This Act may be cited as the National Centers of Excellence in Continuous Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Act of 2018 . 2. National Centers of Excellence in Continuous Pharmaceutical Manufacturing (a) In general Section 3016 of the 21st Century Cures Act ( 21 U.S.C. 399h ) is amended to read as follows: 3016. National Centers of Excellence in Continuous Pharmaceutical Manufacturing (a) In general The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs— (1) shall solicit and, beginning not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, receive requests from institutions of higher education to be designated as a National Center of Excellence in Continuous Pharmaceutical Manufacturing (in this section referred to as a National Center of Excellence ) to support the advancement and development of continuous manufacturing; and (2) shall so designate any institution of higher education that— (A) requests such designation; and (B) meets the criteria specified in subsection (c). (b) Request for designation A request for designation under subsection (a) shall be made to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and such information as the Secretary may require. Any such request shall include a description of how the institution of higher education meets or plans to meet each of the criteria specified in subsection (c). (c) Criteria for designation described The criteria specified in this subsection with respect to an institution of higher education are that the institution has, as of the date of the submission of a request under subsection (a) by such institution— (1) physical and technical capacity for research and development of continuous manufacturing; (2) scalable manufacturing knowledge-sharing networks with other institutions of higher education, large and small biopharmaceutical manufacturers, generic and nonprescription manufacturers, contract manufacturers, and other entities