FAQs
Review the NSF Regional Innovation Engines, or NSF Engines, frequently asked questions FAQ (PDF download) .
Videos and Presentations
Videos
In the video below, the NSF Engines program team discusses the NSF Engines program model, including program goals, phases of NSF Engine development, proposal and award requirements, and award types.
Learn more about NSF Engines by watching recordings of our outreach events, including the roadshows series, program overview, and Q&A sessions. Learn more.
Presentation slides
The slide deck used in the overview video below can be downloaded here: TIP and NSF Engines overview slides (PDF, 1.33 MB).
NSF Engines Interest Form
The NSF Engines team has created an interest form to help members of the innovation community connect with and support the NSF Engines Development Awardees and NSF Engines Awardees. NSF recognizes that building robust innovation ecosystems across the country requires identifying and working with new sources of talent and building diverse collaborations. The goal of this interest form is to create an entry point for individuals, organizations, and funders who are interested in supporting our portfolio of NSF Engine awardees and/or working within an NSF Engine to share their information.
Ways to Stay Connected
Sign up for the NSF Engines email list
Subscribe to the NSF Engines email list to receive information program updates, announcements, funding opportunities, webinars and more.
Contact
Email the NSF Engines Program Team with questions about the program. Most emails are answered within one business day.
Questions about an NSF BAA can be directed to nsf-solicitation@nsf.gov.
Past Events & Activities
Learn about how NSF launched and generated interest in the NSF Engines program.
Concept Outlines
NSF Engines will create regional-scale innovation ecosystems nationwide. To get started, organizations were required to submit a concept outline with information on their proposed topic areas, partners and geographic footprints. NSF published nearly 700 accepted concept outlines.
Explore the map
The NSF Engines program required that teams submit a Letter of Intent and a full proposal as a region. Use this interactive map to view proposed topic areas, partners and geographic footprints submitted in the Letters of Intent.
Watch our how-to-video to learn how to explore the map.
Use the data to find regional partners
Regions benefit from proactive teaming and collaboration. Use the published data about concept outlines to reach out to potential partners and build strong, collaborative teams.
Watch our brief how-to video to learn how best to read the accepted concept outlines.
Why did NSF publish concept outline data?
Place-based
The NSF Engines program requires applicant teams to define their geographic region of service and lead their application submission with that information. Concept outline submitters should know about and connect with others within their regions and topic areas. By publishing the accepted concept outlines, NSF hoped to connect applicants before the proposal deadline.
Unlocking new partnerships
As soon as NSF announced the NSF Engines program, nonprofits, foundations, investors, state and local government officials, community organizations and others expressed interest in getting involved. By publishing the concept outline data, NSF is creating opportunities for everyone to connect with submitters (within one's community and beyond) to offer ideas, capital, expertise and more. We hope this process leads to stronger teams with a more diverse set of partners.
Power in the data
As a leading science and technology agency, NSF believes in the power of transparently sharing data. Given other federal and state government efforts to build regional ecosystems and capacity, NSF saw the value in sharing data early, rather than waiting until awards are made. We encourage you to build tools and visualizations on top of our data.
NSF Engines Proposers’ Day
The NSF Engines Proposers’ Day was a virtual workshop held on August 1, 2022, for regional teams that submitted concept outlines and advanced to the next step as outlined in the program's funding opportunity. More than 2,700 team members attended the event, which was designed to help regional teams spanning all 50 states and four U.S. territories develop compelling proposals.
General Session
Welcome to Proposers’ Day
Dmitri Perkins, Lead Program Director, Regional Innovation Engines Program, NSF
Erwin Gianchandani, Assistant Director for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships, NSF
Analysis of Concept Outlines
Daniel Goetzel, Entrepreneurial Lead, Regional Innovation Engines Program, NSF
Dmitri Perkins, Lead Program Director, Regional Innovation Engines Program, NSF
Demo of Visualization Platform
Grace Yuan, Staff Associate for Data and Analytics, Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships, NSF
Accelerating a Life Sciences Innovation Ecosystem: A Case Study in Public-Private Partnership
Dr. Susan Windham-Bannister, President and CEO of Biomedical Growth Strategies; Former President and CEO of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC)—a state-funded investment organization charged with administering a $1 billion Life Sciences investment fund
Understanding How the Proposals Will Be Reviewed: The Review Criteria
Michal Ziv-El, Program Director, Regional Innovation Engines Program, Civic Innovation Challenge (CIVIC), Cyber-Physical Systems, Smart and Connected Communities, NSF
Understanding How the Proposals Will Be Reviewed: The Process
Rebecca Shearman, Program Director, Regional Innovation Engines Program, NSF
Michal Ziv-El, Program Director, Regional Innovation Engines, Civic Innovation Challenge (CIVIC), Cyber-Physical Systems, and Smart and Connected Communities Programs, NSF
Developing Impactful DEIA Plans
Rebecca Shearman, Program Director, Regional Innovation Engines Program, NSF
Monya Ruffin, Program Director, Directorate for Education and Human Resources, NSF
Breakout Sessions
Governance Models and Leadership Structure
Daniel Goetzel, Entrepreneurial Lead, Regional Innovation Engines Program, NSF
Randy Duran, Program Director, Engineering Research Centers Program, NSF
Budgeting and Use of NSF Funds
Geoffrey Brown, Program Director, Regional Innovation Engines Program, NSF
Francesmary Modugno, Program Director, Directorate for Education and Human Resources, NSF
Type-1 and Type-2 Review Criteria
Michal Ziv-El, Program Director, Regional Innovation Engines Program, Civic Innovation Challenge (CIVIC), Cyber-Physical Systems, and Smart and Connected Communities Programs, NSF
Rebecca Shearman, Program Director, Regional Innovation Engines Program, NSF
No slides were used for this breakout session.
NSF Engines roadshow
The NSF Engines roadshow was a series of five regionally focused virtual events held during the spring of 2022 that served as jumping-off points for NSF Engine application discussion development. Each roadshow included an overview of the NSF Engines program, a panel discussion with leading innovation and technology ecosystem builders from across the country, and interactive breakout rooms for regional collaboration. Over 1500 people attended these events that covered all 50 states and U.S. territories.
Stop 1 (CO, KS, MO, ND, NE, NM, OK, SD, TX, WY):
May 19, 2022
Expert Ecosystem Builder Panelists:
- Shaina Horowitz, Vice President of Product & Program at New Lab
- Illah Nourbaksh, K&L Gates Professor of Ethics and Computational Technologies; Executive Director, Center for Shared Prosperity, The Robotics Institute, Carnegie Mellon University
- Sean Brazier, CEO of EDai, formerly at Virginia Economic Development Partnership
Stop 2 (CT, DE, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT):
May 25, 2022
Expert Ecosystem Builder Panelists:
- Kristina Montague, The JumpFund
- James Feagan, Projects+PEOPLE
- Ray Leach, JumpStart
Stop 3 (AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, WA, other U.S. territories):
June 7, 2022
Expert Ecosystem Builder Panelists:
- Orin Herskowitz, Columbia University
- Henry McKoy, North Carolina Central University
- Sue Windham-Bannister, Biomedical Growth Strategies LLC, formerly at Massachusetts Life Sciences Center
Stop 4 (AR, IA, IL, IN, KY, MI, MN, OH, TN, WI):
June 9, 2022
Expert Ecosystem Builder Panelists:
- Nakia Melecio, Georgia Tech Venture Lab
- Kian Kamas, Executive Director at Partner Tulsa
- Gabriela Cruz Thompson, Intel Labs
Stop 5 (AL, DC, FL, GA, LA, MD, MS, NC, PR, SC, VA, VI, WV):
June 15, 2022
Expert Ecosystem Builder Panelists:
- Scott Andes, Commerce EDA Build Back Better Regional Challenge
- Betsy Ziegler, 1871
- Danya Hakeem, Elemental Excelerator
NOTE: The states and territories selected for each roadshow are not NSF-defined regions. Watch the Introduction to the NSF Regional Innovation Engines Program webinar, and read the FAQ to learn more about how regions are defined within the NSF Engines program.