NSF Engines: A 21st-Century Approach to Drive U.S. Competitiveness and Economic Renewal Through Emerging Tech Leadership

How can we ensure that scientific progress and technological innovation fuel economic growth and better the lives of all Americans? President Trump tasked his administration with answering that question. 

That question has been on the minds of U.S. science, technology, and innovation policy reformers of all political persuasions who believe we can realign our federal R&D enterprise to yield even greater outcomes for Americans—in support of American reindustrialization, economic competitiveness, national security, and other priorities—all advanced by securing American dominance in emerging technology leadership. 

A signature program launched by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)’s Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships Directorate is testing the art of the possible in accomplishing those goals and gaining interest across the political spectrum: the NSF Regional Innovation Engines. NSF Engines is one of the broadest investments in place-based technology development leading to economic growth and job creation since President Lincoln signed the Morrill Acts and established American land-grant universities during the height of the American Civil War. 

With a focus on non-traditional regions, it provides up to ten years of funding to regional public-private partnerships to grow regional industries with roots in critical and emerging technology areas by advancing applied R&D, technology transition, and workforce development.

What’s different about NSF Engines? What is this ambitious program’s promise, potential, and early outcomes? Join New America’s Future of Work & Innovation Economy initiative for a deep-dive exploration alongside NSF Engine CEOs, their industry partners, and policy experts.

About the organizer: New America's Future of Work and Innovation Economy Initiative is a research, storytelling, technical assistance, and policy incubator. Our mission is to catalyze policies and practices that steer science- and technology-based economic development in a direction that maximally contributes to the renewal of the American middle class. By improving and harmonizing science, workforce, and industrial polices and their implementation, we aim to ensure that the innovation economy creates good jobs, reliable pathways into those jobs, and emerging technologies enhance the quality and experience of human work. Join our newsletter.

Confirmed Speakers:

• Anne-Marie Slaughter — CEO, New America
• Rep. Bill Foster — U.S. House Representative (D-IL)
• Rep. Julia Letlow — U.S. House Representative (R-LA)
• Alaina Harkness — CEO, ReNEW NSF Water Innovation Engine in the Great Lakes
• Brian Baker — President and CEO, Sentry Equipment Corp
• Erwin Gianchandani — Assistant Director, Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships Directorate, U.S. National Science Foundation
• Ian Banks, Director of Science Policy, Foundation on American Innovation
• Joseph Parilla — Senior Fellow and Director of Applied Research, Brookings Institution
• Matt Sokol — CEO, Cornerstone Chemical Company
• Michael Mazzola — CEO, NSF FUEL Engine in Louisiana
• Shalin Jyotishi — Founder & Managing Director, Future of Work & Innovation Economy initiative at New America; Forbes Contributor
• Others TBA