Research NewsletterIssue: ORN-2022-18

NSF Technology, Innovation and Partnerships

New Funding Opportunities

The Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships, or TIP, is pleased to announce the launch of a bold, new initiative called the NSF Regional Innovation Engines, or NSF Engines, program and funding opportunity. NSF Engines is committed to creating technology-driven innovation ecosystems throughout every region of the U.S., driving economic growth, addressing key societal challenges, and advancing national competitiveness.

Collectively, NSF Engines has three core functions:

• Use-inspired research and development
• Translation of innovation results to society
• Workforce development to grow and sustain regional innovation

The NSF Engines program provides up to $160 million in funding for up to 10+ years to establish each Engine. This funding opportunity is a unique way to drive economic growth in regions that have not fully participated in the technology boom of the past few decades. NSF Engines embed a culture of innovation, form coalitions comprising a diverse set of sectors and organizational types—such as small businesses, two-year colleges, and minority-serving institutions—as well as demonstrate a strong commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility.

MORE INFORMATION

The NSF Engines program resides in the TIP directorate within its three focus areas: fostering innovation and technology ecosystems, establishing translation pathways, and partnering across sectors to engage the nation's diverse talent.

TIP builds on an organizational culture of innovation and an extensive portfolio of programs that foster public and private partnerships to advance technological innovation and translation.

Programs under the TIP directorate also include America’s Seed Fund (SBIR/STTR), Convergence Accelerator, NSF Innovation Corps, or I-Corps™, and Partnerships for Innovation, or PFI program.

LEARN MORE AND STAY INFORMED

Launched by TIP, the NSF Engines program envisions fostering multiple flourishing regional innovation ecosystems across the country, providing a unique opportunity to spur economic growth in regions that have not fully participated in the technology boom of the past few decades. For the latest NSF Engines information, bookmark their website, subscribe to their email list, learn about their funding opportunity and participate in their outreach events.

To stay informed about what’s happening in TIP, visit their website and learn about current funding opportunities, and upcoming events.

NSF: Disaster Resilience Research Grants (DRRG); NSF Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines) Program; Physics Frontiers Centers (PFC); Partnership for Prototyping of CMOS+X Systems; Quantum Manufacturing; Opportunities for Promoting Understanding through Synthesis (OPUS); Resilient & Intelligent NextG Systems (RINGS) - Virtual Organization (RINGS-VO); Future of Semiconductors (FuSe); Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Computing in Undergraduate Education (IUSE: CUE); IUSE / Professional Formation of Engineers: Revolutionizing Engineering Departments (IUSE/PFE: RED); Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER)

NIH: NIH Director’s Early Independence Awards (DP5 Clinical Trial Optional); NIH Director’s Pioneer Award Program (DP1); NIH Director’s New Innovator Award Program (DP2); Laboratories to Optimize Digital Health (R01)

Department of Defense/US Army/DARPA/ONR: FY22 DEFENSE ESTABLISHED PROGRAM TO STIMULATE COMPETITIVE RESEARCH (DEPSCoR) – RESEARCH COLLABORATION (RC); DoD Multiple Sclerosis, Investigator-Initiated Research Award; Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Young Investigator Program; DoD Peer Reviewed Alzheimer’s Research Program, Investigator- Initiated Research Award; Biological Technologies

Department of Transportation: Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) and MEGA Grants

Department of Agriculture: Higher Education Challenge Grants Program; FY 2022 Scientific Cooperation Research Program; Conservation Innovation Grants New Jersey State Program

Department of Labor: Growth Opportunities

Department of Commerce/EDA:  2022 Build to Scale Program; Ocean Exploration Fiscal Year 2023 Funding Opportunity; FY2021 to FY2023 NOAA Broad Agency Announcement (BAA)

EPA: ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM

Department of Energy: Carbon Management

NASA: ROSES 2022: Theoretical and Computational Astrophysics Networks; Early Stage Innovations (ESI22); ROSES 2022: Advanced Component Technology

National Endowment of Humanities: Public Humanities Projects; Summer Stipends

Private Foundations: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: Grant Challenges Partnership Network

House Legislation Aims to Support U.S.-Made Circuit Boards: Two bipartisan lawmakers introduced new legislation on Friday that would strengthen the production and distribution of printed circuit boards within the U.S. manufacturing industry.  Titled the Supporting American Printed Circuit Boards Act, the bill is sponsored by House Reps. Anna G. Eshoo, D-Calif., and Blake Moore, R-Utah. It serves as an incentive for American companies to manufacture printed circuit boards which are used to power a bevy of electronic devices. It also aims to strengthen the supply chain and promote equal opportunities for businesses owned by those in minority demographics. 

“The supply chain shortages for electronics are affecting every aspect of American life. Printed circuit boards are a critical part of that supply chain and are at risk of tampering vulnerabilities related to offshore production, yet the U.S. global production share of PCBs is only approximately 4%, compared to China’s 52%,” Eshoo stated. “If we want to ensure technological superiority across the global stage and strengthen national security, we need to bring PCB production back to America, which is exactly what my bipartisan bill does.” Her bill works in tandem with the existing semiconductor production incentives spurred by U.S. tensions with China in that it encourages the domestic production of printed circuit boards. The industry is currently anchored with manufacturing facilities based in Taiwan and other Asian countries. More information is posted on the NextGov website. 

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White House Issues Two Quantum Directives Set To Bolster American Infrastructure: The Biden administration announced two new directives that focus on incorporating quantum computing technology into the U.S. cybersecurity infrastructure and policy landscape, the latest federal action regarding the emerging technology. Announced on Tuesday afternoon, the directives work to establish a government oversight board to advance quantum science and technological development, emphasizing innovations in quantum computing technologies in relation to cryptography. “While quantum itself is not new, recent developments in the field have shown the potential to drive innovation across the American economy, from energy to medicine, through advancements in computing, networking, and much like the earlier technological revolutions brought about by the Internet, GPS, and even the combustion engine,” a senior administration official said on a background call.

While the first directive lays out an independent advisory body for quantum information science and technology. This board will work on disseminating knowledge about the latest developments in quantum to lawmakers and the general public and guide policymaking. It will work directly beneath the White House. The second directive focuses on quantum’s intersection within national security. Dubbed the National Security Memorandum, it will act as a guidebook for agencies and other institutions to transition their systems to become quantum-resistant. More information is posted on the NextGov website. 

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Bill Wants More Federal R&D In Blockchain Ledger Technology: Two Republican lawmakers introduced new legislation that would allocate more federal funding to the research and development of distributed ledger technologies. The most common distributed ledger technology is blockchain, a key software that enables Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency mining and transactions. U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., introduced the bill, called the National R&D Strategy for Distributed Ledger Technology Act, on Tuesday. “It is imperative that we maintain global leadership in the development of emerging technologies, including distributed ledger technology,” Wicker said. “This bill would launch pivotal exploration into this promising and novel architecture for computing and data storage. I am optimistic that our legislation will spur practical innovations that go far beyond financial applications.”  The bill would specifically prompt more developments in how DLT can be applied to sectors like supply chain management and shipping, information security and digital identity management. More information is posted on the NextGov website. 

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Energy to Fund Development of Climate-Friendly Grid Security and Resilience: The Biden administration is committing $12 million for academic institutions and the private sector to research, develop and demonstrate technologies that can make an electric grid distributing energy from cleaner sources less vulnerable to cyberattack. “Investing in cutting-edge cyber security technology keeps us at the forefront of global innovation and protects America’s power grid in the face of increasing cyber threats from abroad,” U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said in a press release Thursday. “This funding will bolster our commitment to a secure and resilient clean energy future by fortifying American electricity systems and building a stronger grid.” More information is posted on the NextGov website.

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