Skip Navigation
Search
Office for Research and Innovation
Office of Proposal Development
HomeFind FundingLimited CompetitionsCurrent Limited CompetitionsNSF Regional Innovation Engines

NSF Regional Innovation Engines

OVPR is actively accepting applications for this internal competition. If you are interested in applying to this program, you must submit a pre-application through the internal competitions submission portal. Pre-application requirements are listed in the announcement below.

The NSF Regional Innovation Engines program harnesses the Nation's science and technology research and development enterprise and regional-level resources 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, and spur regional innovation and talent. Stony Brook University may submit no more than ONE proposal as the lead organization.

Please see below for details. If you are interested in applying, you must submit the internal competitions form by Tuesday, May 24, 2022. Pre-applications for internal review and selection must be uploaded to the portal as a single PDF document. The competition code for this program is LC202236.

WHAT DOES IT FUND: The program aims to fund regional coalitions of partnering organizations to establish NSF Engines that will catalyze technology and science-based regional innovation ecosystems. Each Engine must focus on addressing specific aspects of a major societal and/or economic challenge that are of significant interest in the Engine’s defined “region of service." The mission of the engine must be clearly rooted in regional interests and the development of regional talent. The emphasis on “regions” expresses NSF’s aim to stimulate innovation-driven economic growth within a particular region of service.

APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS: The Project Director must be a senior member of the submitting organization’s leadership and will also serve as the full-time CEO for the Engine.

AWARD: Type-1 award: Up to $1 Million for up to 2 years; Type-2 award: Up to $160 Million for up to 10 years

SPONSOR DEADLINE: 

  • Type-1 and Type-2 Concept Outlines (required): Due June 30, 2022
  • Type-1 Letters of Intent (required): Due August 31, 2022
  • Type-1 Full Proposals: Due September 29, 2022
  • Type-2 Letters of Intent: Due in FY 2023 at a date to be announced.
  • Type-2 Full Proposals: Due in FY 2023 at a date to be announced.

A COMPLETE PRE-APPLICATION MUST COMPRISE OF THE FOLLOWING:

  • Submission Title: The title of the project should start with “NSF Engines: Type-<X>: <concept outline title>”, where <X> should be replaced with the appropriate proposal type (1 or 2).
  • Project Personnel: List of up to five key team members: names, affiliations, e-mail addresses
  • Key Terms: Up to five keywords representing the topic area
  • Concept Outline Narrative (1-2 pages for Type-1, or 2-4 pages for Type-2): The Concept Outline narrative must address each component below, with the following labeled sections:
    • Topic Area: Describe the national and societal significance of the broad topic area that the Engine is aiming to address.
    • Region of Service: A brief description of the intended geographical region of service, and the current state of the innovation ecosystem in the region of service.
    • Purpose and Vision of the proposed Engine: The overall purpose and vision of the proposed Engine, which must list specific use-inspired challenge(s) that the Engine will address, as well as the current state of practice and major gaps the Engine will focus on (e.g., scientific and technological innovations, policy, products, services, workforce expertise).
    • Regional Importance and Impact: How the proposed region of service is well-positioned to create the Engine, catalyze the associated regional innovation ecosystem, and result in meaningful translational outputs (e.g., products, services, startup companies, tools, and technologies).
    • Partnerships: The envisioned regional innovation ecosystem of partners and stake-holders, clearly identifying (1) existing core partners and their expected contributions and (2) potential additional partners, how such partners would help accomplish the Engine’s vision and core functions, and plans to recruit these partners prior to the submission of the proposal. (Type-2 only)
    • Workforce Development: The future regional workforce needs in the proposed topic area. (Type-2 only)
    • Related Initiatives: How the proposed NSF Engine differs from and/or leverages other existing large-scale efforts in the topic area. (Type-2 only)