The National Science Foundation (NSF) Regional Innovation Engines program was authorized by the Administration and Congress in order to advance transdisciplinary, collaborative, use-inspired and translational research and technology development in key focus areas. The goals are to boost innovation capacity, create sustainable innovation ecosystems, and demonstrate inclusive economic growth. The NSF Engines Development Award provides $1 million for 24-months of activities that lay the groundwork for submitting a successful Type-2 proposal to launch a full-scale NSF Engine.
At the core of our project is the inclusion of all voices in the conversation by removing every barrier to full and meaningful participation in the planning and implementation work necessary to secure our region’s economic prosperity. This development award will be used to ensure the communities that have been historically disadvantaged in our region are equitably represented and meaningfully included in all development activities. Historically disadvantaged groups within our region include Native American communities and businesses, Latinx communities and businesses, Black communities and businesses, economically disadvantaged communities, and others. The proposing team purposefully intertwines diversity, equity, inclusion and access (DEIA) priorities and goals into each of the thrusts to produce ideas and plans, and to identify needs and assets, that represent and benefit everyone in our region.
The region became the first state to manufacture electric vehicle batteries with the Tesla Gigafactory and is now home to several next generation battery startups. Recently, the region has started to attract several recyclers and repurposers of lithium batteries that have begun commissioning large facilities. The broader impacts of the work undertaken through this NSF development award will support the move toward clean, reliable domestic energy production to fuel a prosperous American economy.