Seven universities receive NSF Regional Resilience Innovation Incubator (R2I2) funding

NSF’s Regional Resilience Innovation Incubator (R2I2) project has awarded Phase 1 funding to six teams, each addressing specific regional climate challenges and demonstrating solutions. The award includes funding for a seventh team to create the R2I2 National Office, which will support the collective and coordinated implementation of R2I2 award activities. 

Four universities were awarded separately for a collaborative project spanning the northeastern states: the University of Maine, the Stevens Institute of Technology, The City University of New York, Brooklyn College, and the University of Connecticut. The project will engage collaborators and promote knowledge sharing between established technical and policy and municipal, agency, and private sector teams. Anticipated deliverables include: 1) a prioritized list of regional environmental challenges, 2) co-designed solution strategies, 3) a workforce needs assessment, 4) workforce training and development plans, and 5) a sustainable organizational framework for continued collaboration. 

Carnegie Mellon University aims to use its award to focus on green infrastructure (GI) adoption and installation plan for Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, that will address stormwater runoff, water quality, urban heat, and carbon sequestration. The project aims to assess the policy and management needs of municipal staff to create a municipal GI implementation guide, as well as a communications framework for municipalities to share the value and benefits of GI with their constituents. 

Oregon State University aims to 1) understand engagement approaches for identifying solutions that are most effective for reducing risk and enhancing community resilience to coastal hazards, and 2) understand how these solutions and approaches can best be shared and how implementation can be promoted widely across the region and the nation. 

The largest award went to the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities to serve as the R2I2 National Office, establishing a national research network and hub to support the R2I2 teams. Anticipated results include a research network that fosters collaboration, a publicly accessible knowledge-sharing and training library, enhanced team capacity in convergence research, a pipeline of solutions-driven scientific leaders, and the widespread dissemination of R2I2 findings. 

NSF envisions releasing a separate solicitation for Phase 2 implementation projects in fiscal year 2026, subject to the availability of funds. Only Phase 1 award recipients will be eligible to submit Phase 2 proposals. 

To view a map of the awardee locations, click here.