New NSF Initiative: Regional Innovation Engines Program

Through a bold, new NSF initiative, the Regional Innovation Engines, or NSF Engines, program catalyzes and fosters innovation ecosystems across the US to:

• Advance critical technologies
• Address national and societal challenges
• Foster partnerships across industry, academia, government, nonprofits, civil society, and communities of practice
• Promote and stimulate economic growth and job creation
• Spur regional innovation and talent

The NSF Engines program uniquely harnesses the nation’s science and technology research and development enterprise and regional-level resources. NSF Engines can catalyze robust partnerships rooted in scientific and technological innovation to positively impact the economy within a geographic region, address societal challenges, and advance national competitiveness.

The NSF Engines program provides up to 10 years of funding to establish each Engine, with up to an additional two years of development funding even before the official launch of an Engine. Each NSF Engine can receive up to $160 million to support the development of diverse regional coalitions to engage in use-inspired research and development, translation of innovation to society, and workforce development — with the goal of growing and sustaining regional innovation ecosystems throughout the US.