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NSF selects 15 finalists to advance to the next round of its second Regional Innovation Engines competition

Thursday, September 18, 2025

The U.S. National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines) program  has narrowed the list of finalists advancing to the next stage of the program's second competition to 15 applicants—spanning critical technologies and applications ranging from enhancing energy grid security to maximizing the yield of critical minerals mining extraction to advancing quantum computing. The finalist teams, many of whom have been building their regional coalitions for a year or longer, are led by a range of organizations, including universities, nonprofits and private industry from across the United States. The finalists and their lead organizations are:  

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  • Advancing Quantum Technologies (QuantumCT) (University of Connecticut) 

  • Advancing Photonics Technologies (Princeton University) 

  • Alaska Critical Mineral Accelerator (University of Alaska Fairbanks) 

  • Biobased Rural Innovation for Domestic Growth and Economic Security (BRIDGES) (HudsonAlpha Institute of Biotechnology) 

  • Carolinas Engine for Grid Modernization (University of North Carolina at Charlotte) 

  • Critical Materials Crossroads Energy Materials Ecosystem (University of Missouri-Kansas City) 

  • Frontiers of Advanced Semiconductor Technology (FAST) (University of Oregon) 

  • Indiana Musculoskeletal Innovation Engine (Indiana University) 

  • Northeast Ohio Strengthening Manufacturing for American Resilience through Technology (NEO-SMART) (Case Western University Research Corporation) 

  • Northern New England Precision Forest Management and Advanced Forest Bioproducts Engine (NNE-PROMISE) (Northern Forest Center) 

  • Quantum Connected (University of Chicago) 

  • Resilient Energy Technology and Infrastructure Consortium-West Virginia and western Pennsylvania (West Virginia University) 

  • RuralSTAMINA - Ascending Rural communities through Sustainable, Transformative Advanced Manufacturing INnovations and Alliances (Iowa State University) 

  • STELLAR: Advancing Laser Technologies in the Rochester NY/Finger Lakes Region (University of Rochester) 

  • The New England Seafood Partnership for Innovations, Research, and Engagement (NSPIRE) (Northeastern Regional Association of Coastal Ocean Observing System)

 

During the next stage, NSF will conduct in-depth, in-person interviews and due diligence with the finalist teams to further assess risks, resources and a given team's ability to adapt to changing circumstances. The role of the NSF Engines applicants’ partners will be a key component of the selection process at this stage. 

 

NSF anticipates announcing the NSF Engines awards resulting from the current competition in early 2026.  View a map of the NSF Engines finalists.