The NSF Convergence Accelerator is expanding to 10 regions to enhance national and regional competitiveness in research, innovation and workforce development. These 10 Regional Convergence Accelerators will promote convergence research and innovation by connecting researchers, practitioners and stakeholders from various domains and sectors within each region to expand the innovation ecosystem and address pressing societal and economic challenges.
Become a member of your NSF Regional Convergence Accelerator, where you'll gain access to a diverse network of collaborators, amplify your resources and advance innovative regional solutions.
Why join us?
- Regional work for regional impact
Help define complex societal and economic challenges facing your region that are suitable for a multidisciplinary, convergence research approach. Play a pivotal role in addressing these challenges through cross-cutting partnerships that deliver tangible, use-inspired solutions that benefit your region. - Access to a dynamic network
Members will gain access to a diverse regional network of researchers, innovators and practitioners from various sectors, disciplines and expertise, creating opportunities for collaboration and knowledge exchange to foster a rich innovation environment. - Grow your regional innovation ecosystem
Fuel your region's innovation ecosystem and propel its growth by embracing the NSF Convergence Accelerator's principles and program model. By fostering robust relationships among regional stakeholders, the NSF Regional Convergence Accelerator will expand the geography of innovation and enhance regional competitiveness in research, innovation and workforce development.
Ignite Innovation in Your Region: Roles and Responsibilities
The NSF Convergence Accelerator is seeking a dedicated organization to take on the role of the NSF Convergence Accelerator Regional Anchor as part of the program expansion. As a Regional Anchor, your organization will be at the forefront of shaping the future of research and development.
Roles and responsibilities of a Regional Anchor
Each NSF Convergence Accelerator Regional Anchor will be responsible for implementing the NSF Convergence Accelerator's model and ensuring the overall experience is consistent with the existing program.
The NSF Convergence Accelerator Regional Anchor roles and responsibilities include:
- Overseeing the day-to-day management and implementation of the NSF Convergence Accelerator model in accordance with NSF guidelines. Activities include:
- Managing daily operations.
- Facilitating broad communication and outreach.
- Administering contract and financial transactions.
- Issuing research awards.
- Leading ideation.
- Delivering Phase 1 and Phase 2 curriculum.
- Running proposal and pitch reviews.
- Monitoring milestones and deliverables.
- Serving as a strategic representative and mission partner of the NSF Convergence Accelerator at the regional level.
- Identifying challenges of regional and national importance to incorporate convergence research into practical applications.
- Accelerating use-inspired research into sustainable, tangible solutions such as tools, techniques, approaches and products.
- Facilitating regional stakeholder connections by leveraging networks and promoting collaboration among researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs and industry experts.
- Managing conflicts of interest and addressing concerns surrounding intellectual property.
Preferred qualifications of a Regional Anchor
The role of an NSF Convergence Accelerator Regional Anchor requires a diverse set of expertise and capabilities. Organizations with current and pending NSF Convergence Accelerator research funding are ineligible for the NSF Convergence Accelerator Regional Anchor opportunity. Organizations awarded the Regional Anchor opportunity will be responsible for mitigating conflicts of interest and notifying NSF and the NSF Convergence Accelerator program if seeking future NSF research funding.
Desirable experience and capabilities of a Regional Anchor include:
- Familiarity with various R&D and science, technology, engineering and math disciplines and approaches.
- Strong grasp of the transition to practice and innovation processes.
- Understanding of emerging technology trends.
- Integration with the regional R&D and innovation ecosystem to include a broad set of stakeholders.
- Engagement with the region's economic, social and regional interests.
- Aptitude in fostering research collaboration and advancing the regional innovation network.
- Readiness to adapt and grow organizational competencies to drive impactful regional change.
Regional Anchor funding opportunity
If you are interested in applying for the Regional Anchor expansion opportunity within your geographical region, join the NSF Convergence Accelerator team at a regional expansion event to discover how other transactional agreements are precisely the types of agreements that can help identify and attract nontraditional organizations to partner with the NSF Convergence Accelerator. Learn how these flexible, strategic agreements between the federal government and an organization are intended to foster innovation and promote collaboration.
Visit Contracting with NSF to learn more about NSF's acquisition process and available contracting opportunities.
The NSF Convergence Accelerator is seeking dedicated individuals and organizations to fill a number of roles within the Regional NSF Convergence Accelerators.
There are many opportunities to participate in your region's NSF Convergence Accelerator.
Regional consortia members: Regional researchers, innovators and practitioners, and stakeholders with diverse areas of expertise interested in addressing regional societal and economic challenges through the development of use-inspired solutions.
Regional research teams: Teams representing a mix of disciplines, expertise and organizations from academia, industry, nonprofits, government and other communities of practice interested in applying to, and potentially receiving, NSF Convergence Accelerator research funding from the Regional Anchor.
Reviewers: National and regional experts proficient in business, scientific or technical domains, and/or regional societal and economic challenges who assist the NSF Regional Convergence Accelerator by evaluating the best research ideas and solutions.
Coaches: National and regional experts proficient in innovation and commercialization processes and technical domains and familiar with the region's innovation ecosystems who offer advisement and mentorship to awarded NSF Regional Convergence Accelerator research teams.
Funding opportunities
If you are interested in applying for funding for a research team within your geographical region, join the NSF Convergence Accelerator team at a regional expansion event to learn more about the program and future funding opportunities.
