In January 2024, the U.S. National Science Foundation established the first-ever NSF Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines), awarding 10 teams spanning 18 states.
With a potential NSF investment of nearly $1.6 billion over the next decade, NSF Engines represent one of the single largest broad investments in place-based research and development in the nation's history — uniquely placing science and technology leadership as the central driver for regional economic competitiveness.
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Types of awards
The NSF Engines program makes awards in two categories: NSF Engines development awards (Type 1) and NSF Engines awards (Type 2).
NSF Engines development awards: Up to $1 million and up to two years
- NSF Engines development awards enable awardees to lay the groundwork for establishing a new NSF Engine in their region for a given topic area.
- This award begins and ends in the Development phase, where the NSF Engine develops its structure and scope and begins to establish partnerships.
- At the end of the NSF Engines development award period, awardees are expected to be well-prepared to set up an NSF Engine in the Nascent phase.
NSF Engines awards: Up to $160 million and up to 10 years
- NSF Engines awards fund NSF Engines across three distinct phases — the Nascent, Emergent and Growth phases.
- Throughout the three phases, the NSF Engine:
- Creates firm partner and stakeholder commitments.
- Seeks continuing growth of its innovation ecosystem through expansion of scientific, technical, education and workforce development.
- Helps its regional innovation ecosystem emerge as a national leader in its topic area during the Growth phase.
NSF Engines awards
To learn more about the NSF Engines awards, . Visit each NSF Engine's page to learn more about its work and competitive advantage, lead organization, region of service and technology topic areas.
10 inaugural NSF Engines:
- NSF Engines: Central Florida Semiconductor Innovation Engine
- NSF Engines: Colorado–Wyoming Climate Resilience Engine
- NSF Engines: Great Lakes Water Innovation Engine
- NSF Engines: Louisiana Energy Transition Engine
- NSF Engines: North Carolina Textile Innovation and Sustainability Engine
- NSF Engines: North Dakota Advanced Agriculture Technology Engine
- NSF Engines: Paso del Norte Defense and Aerospace Innovation Engine
- NSF Engines: Piedmont Triad Regenerative Medicine Engine
- NSF Engines: Southwest Sustainability Innovation Engine
- NSF Engines: Upstate New York Energy Storage Engine
NSF Engines development awards
In May 2023, NSF awarded the first-ever NSF Engines development awards to 44 unique teams spanning 46 U.S. states and territories and run by businesses, nonprofits, universities and other organizations. Through these up to $1 million planning awards, NSF is seeding the future for communities to grow their regional economies through research and partnerships. These two-year awards will unleash ideas, talent, pathways and resources to create vibrant innovation ecosystems across the United States.