NSF Convergence Accelerator announces expansion into Southwest Region
Expansion events scheduled for Albuquerque, Phoenix and San Diego connect researchers, practitioners and stakeholders across the Southwest Region
Taking the next step in its national program expansion, the U.S. National Science Foundation's Convergence Accelerator is calling upon all innovators in the Southwest Region to more fully engage all Americans in innovation by accelerating key technologies and addressing complex economic and geostrategic challenges that directly impact the region.
The NSF Convergence Accelerator will host three events - in Albuquerque, New Mexico, (Feb. 11), Phoenix, Arizona (Feb. 13) and San Diego, California (Feb. 19) - to enhance national and regional competitiveness in research, innovation and workforce development. The Southwest Regional events follow previous expansion events in the Midwest, Southeast and Northeast Regions.
Interested stakeholders and organizations from academia, industry, nonprofits, government and other communities of practice that reside within Arizona; New Mexico; Hawaii; the U.S. Territories of Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa; and the counties of Imperial, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego within California are encouraged to register now and attend one of these half-day, in-person events. For those living in neighboring states and counties, please visit the NSF Convergence Accelerator's website to see the schedule of expansion events near you.
During these expansion events, Southwest Regional attendees will learn how NSF plans to expand the NSF Convergence Accelerator from a single national program to 10 regionally focused NSF Convergence Accelerators that aim to enhance and promote regional competitiveness in research and innovation. Colleagues, partners and stakeholders are welcome to attend one of the Southwest Region Expansion Events.
"The NSF Southwest Convergence Accelerator will advance research and innovation by connecting researchers, practitioners and stakeholders from various sectors and domains within and across each region," said NSF Convergence Accelerator Section Head Douglas Maughan. "This network will harness the full geography of innovation throughout the Southwest, building upon foundational research to accelerate use-inspired solutions to complex challenges that benefit from multidisciplinary and multisectoral perspectives. This will not only broaden NSF's reach by engaging more researchers but also increase NSF's impact by advancing technologies critical to the nation's competitiveness and scaling the delivery of tangible solutions for all Americans."
Sign up for program expansion updates.
The Southwest Regional Expansion Events will feature:
- Program and expansion overview. Gain a comprehensive understanding of NSF, the Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (NSF TIP), the NSF Convergence Accelerator program model and plans for the program's regional expansion.
- Regional Anchor opportunity. Explore the pivotal role of a Regional Anchor, designed to execute the NSF Convergence Accelerator's program model at the regional level and ensure the overall experience is consistent with the existing program. Organizations with current and pending NSF Convergence Accelerator research funding are ineligible for this opportunity.
- Regional Consortium opportunities. Learn about the opportunities that the Southwest Regional Convergence Accelerator will offer to researchers, innovators, practitioners and other stakeholders within the region. Discover how Consortium Members will collaborate to solve the region's most complex challenges, from ideation to research delivery to sustainable innovations.
- Panel discussions. Hear firsthand from NSF Convergence Accelerator-funded teams in candid conversations about their projects and their experience in the program.
- Dynamic networking opportunities. Connect with like-minded innovators, collaborators and thought leaders committed to addressing complex regional challenges.
"Our expansion into the Southwest Region will allow the NSF Convergence Accelerator to fund teams from a more expansive range of sectors and expertise," said NSF Convergence Accelerator Program Expansion Lead Shelby Smith. "We’re looking for organizations to engage with the NSF Regional Convergence Accelerator and form collaborative partnerships to tackle the region's most pressing challenges. Ultimately, the goal is to bolster the Southwest's innovation ecosystem, advance technological innovation and address challenges through use-inspired research. These three events will provide NSF with a premier opportunity to meet and engage with a wide variety of stakeholders within the region."
Sign up for NSF Convergence Accelerator Eventbrite updates.
Register now for events in the Southwest Region.
Albuquerque | The Clyde Hotel
Feb. 11, 2025, 1 – 5 p.m. MST
Phoenix | Delta Hotels Phoenix Mesa
Feb. 13, 2025, 1 – 5 p.m. MST
San Diego | Wyndham San Diego Bayside
Feb. 19, 2025, 1 – 5 p.m. PST
For program expansion updates and future events, subscribe to the NSF Convergence Accelerator's GovDelivery email list and Eventbrite page.
About the NSF Convergence Accelerator
Launched in 2019, the NSF Convergence Accelerator — an NSF TIP program — builds upon NSF's investment in basic research and discovery to accelerate technologies and solutions toward real-world impact. The program's multidisciplinary teams use convergence research fundamentals and innovation processes to stimulate innovative idea-sharing and the development of sustainable solutions. For more information about the program, visit new.nsf.gov/funding/initiatives/convergence-accelerator.
About TIP
The TIP Directorate engages all Americans in accelerating critical and emerging technologies to advance U.S. competitiveness. The directorate partners across sectors to advance three primary focus areas: accelerating technology, fostering innovation and economic growth, and preparing the American workforce for better-quality, higher-wage jobs. For more information about TIP, visit new.nsf.gov/tip/latest.