; and (v) institutions of higher education. (f) Applications Applications for awards under this section shall be submitted in such manner, at such time, and containing such information as the Director shall require in consultation with the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Advisory Board. (g) Selection (1) Reviewed and merit-based The Director shall ensure that awards under this section are reviewed and merit-based. (2) Geographic diversity The Director shall endeavor to have broad geographic diversity among selected proposals. (3) Criteria The Director shall select applications consistent with the purposes identified pursuant to subsection (e) to receive awards the Director determines will achieve one or more of the following: (A) Improvement of the competitiveness of domestic advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems industries in the region in which the Center or Centers are located. (B) Creation of jobs or training of newly hired employees. (C) Promotion of the transfer and commercialization of research and technology from institutions of higher education, national laboratories, or other federally funded research programs, and nonprofit research institutes. (D) Any other result the Director determines will advance the objective set forth in section 25(c) or 26. (h) Global marketplace projects In making an award under this section, the Director, in consultation with the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Advisory Board and the Secretary, may take into consideration whether an application has significant potential for enhancing the competitiveness of small and medium-sized United States manufacturers in the global marketplace for advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems technologies. (i) Duration The Director shall ensure that the duration of an award under this section is aligned and consistent with a Center’s cooperative agreement established in section 25(e). (j) Report After the completion of the pilot program under subsection (b) and not later than October 1, 2025, the Director