NSF invests $18.6M in emerging research institutions to grow their networks and their capacity to participate in regional innovation ecosystems

EPIIC Banner Image
Awardees will receive training and support for three years to build more inclusive regional ecosystems and potentially connect to NSF Regional Innovation Engines

The U.S. National Science Foundation announced a new investment through its Enabling Partnerships to Increase Innovation Capacity (EPIIC) program, totaling nearly $19 million to 48 awardees at U.S. institutions of higher education, including teams from historically Black colleges and universities, minority-serving institutions (MSIs), primarily undergraduate institutions, and community and technical colleges. Each awardee institution will receive up to $400,000 over three years. Combined with 47 awards made in 2023, NSF has invested almost $40 million in nearly 100 diverse institutions since NSF EPIIC's inception. 

EPIIC awardees will receive support to develop capacity and institutional knowledge to help them build new partnerships, secure future external funding and tap into their regional innovation ecosystems — potentially into an NSF Regional Innovation Engine (NSF Engine), NSF Engine Development Awardee, and/or a U.S. Economic Development Administration Regional Technology and Innovation Hub (EDA Tech Hub).

"NSF is committed to catalyzing and empowering all Americans to participate in the nation's research and innovation enterprise," said Erwin Gianchandani, NSF assistant director for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP). "This starts with creating pathways for the full range of institutions of higher education, nonprofits, state and local governments, tribal nations and private industry to engage in their regional innovation ecosystems. The EPIIC awards being announced today build upon previous efforts to connect diverse partners to develop inclusive innovation ecosystems and work together to accelerate key technologies and address pressing national, societal and geostrategic challenges all across the U.S." 

Launched by the TIP Directorate, EPIIC works with institutions interested in growing external partnerships and building innovation capacity. NSF recognizes that many institutions, including HBCUs, MSIs, small academic institutions and two-year institutions, stand to benefit from additional focused support for the infrastructure and resources needed to grow external partnerships and to tap into innovation ecosystems, including engaging with NSF Engines, NSF Engine Development Awards, and EDA Tech Hubs. 

EPIIC awardees

Awardees are listed in alphabetical order by institution name. The full award list can be found on NSF's award search webpage.

  • Albion College: Collaborative Research: EPIIC: Connect Four, Building Regional Innovation Partnerships to Enhance Workforce Development (NSF award 2432714).
  • Andrews University: Collaborative Research: EPIIC: EXcellence in Partnership with Industry, Academia, and New Discoveries (EXPAND) (NSF award 2432473).
  • Arkansas Tech University: Collaborative Research: EPIIC: Bolstering University Infrastructure for Leading Development (BUILD) (NSF award 2433152).
  • Athens State University: Collaborative Research: EPIIC: Fostering Unity and Teamwork for Rural Excellence (FUTURE) (NSF award 2432650).
  • Canisius College: Collaborative Research: EPIIC: Connect Four, Building Regional Innovation Partnerships to Enhance Workforce Development (NSF award 2432713).
  • Central Washington University: Collaborative Research: EPIIC: Cross-Continental Collaboration Coalition (C4) (NSF award 2433216).
  • Chico State Enterprises: Collaborative Research: EPIIC: Cross-Continental Collaboration Coalition (C4) (NSF award 2433215).
  • Cuyahoga Community College: Collaborative Research: EPIIC: Collaborations with High-Tech Industry Partners (CHIP) (NSF award 2432939).
  • Fairleigh Dickinson University: Collaborative Research: EPIIC: The Concept CAFÉ (Collaborative Activities Fostering Exploration): Innovation Brewing (NSF award 2433183).
  • Georgia College: Collaborative Research: EPIIC: Fostering Unity and Teamwork for Rural Excellence (FUTURE) (NSF award 2432652).
  • Georgia Piedmont Technical College: Collaborative Research: EPIIC: Workforce and Innovation Collaborative for Regional Partnerships (WICRP) (NSF award 2433219).
  • Grand Valley State University: Collaborative Research: EPIIC: Building Institutional Capacity for External Partnerships (NSF award 2433161).
  • Hampton University: Collaborative Research: EPIIC: Workforce and Innovation Collaborative for Regional Partnerships (WICRP) (NSF award 2433218).
  • Hawaii Pacific University: EPIIC: Partnering to Advance and Drive Innovation on Sustainability and the Environment (PARADISE) (NSF award 2432768).
  • Lawrence Technological University: Collaborative Research: EPIIC: Building Institutional Capacity for External Partnerships (NSF award 2433159).
  • Madison Area Technical College: Collaborative Research: EPIIC: Collaborations with High-Tech Industry Partners (CHIP) (NSF award 2432942).
  • Middle Georgia State University: Collaborative Research: EPIIC: Strengthening Collaborative Advancements Leveraging Equitable University Partnerships (NSF award 2433182).
  • Milwaukee School of Engineering: Collaborative Research: EPIIC: EXcellence in Partnership with Industry, Academia, and New Discoveries (EXPAND) (NSF award 2432475).
  • Minnesota State University, Mankato: Collaborative Research: EPIIC: Building Institutional Capacity for External Partnerships (NSF award 2433160).
  • North Arkansas College: Collaborative Research: EPIIC: Strengthening Collaborative Advancements Leveraging Equitable University Partnerships (NSF award 2433180).
  • Northeast State Technical Community College: Collaborative Research: EPIIC: Building Opportunities for Outstanding Skills Training in Advanced Manufacturing for Southeastern Two-Year Colleges (BOOST) (NSF award 2432658).
  • NorthWest Arkansas Community College: Collaborative Research: EPIIC: Connect Four, Building Regional Innovation Partnerships to Enhance Workforce Development (NSF award 2432716).
  • Owens State Community College: Collaborative Research: EPIIC: Collaborations with High-Tech Industry Partners (CHIP) (NSF award 2432943).
  • Paul Smith's College of Arts and Sciences: Collaborative Research: EPIIC: Partnering to Advance and Drive Innovation on Sustainability and the Environment (PARADISE) (NSF award 2432766).
  • Roanoke College: Collaborative Research: EPIIC: Connect Four, Building Regional Innovation Partnerships to Enhance Workforce Development (NSF award 2432715).
  • Saint Vincent College: Collaborative Research: EPIIC: Strengthening Collaborative Advancements Leveraging Equitable University Partnerships (NSF award 2433179).
  • Salisbury University: Collaborative Research: EPIIC: Rural AI Solutions and Engagement (RAISE) (NSF award 2433242).
  • Santa Clara University: Collaborative Research: EPIIC: Building Institutional Capacity for External Partnerships (NSF award 2433158).
  • Southern Utah University: Collaborative Research: EPIIC: Fostering Unity and Teamwork for Rural Excellence (FUTURE) (NSF award 2432651).
  • Spartanburg Community College: Collaborative Research: EPIIC: Building Opportunities for Outstanding Skills Training in Advanced Manufacturing for Southeastern Two-Year Colleges (BOOST) (NSF award 2432659).
  • SUNY College at Oswego: Collaborative Research: EPIIC: Cross-Continental Collaboration Coalition (C4) (NSF award 2433217).
  • Tidewater Community College: Collaborative Research: EPIIC: Building Opportunities for Outstanding Skills Training in Advanced Manufacturing for Southeastern Two-Year Colleges (BOOST) (NSF award 2432656).
  • Tuskegee University: Collaborative Research: EPIIC: Collaborations with High-Tech Industry Partners (CHIP) (NSF award 2432940).
  • University of Alaska Anchorage Campus: Collaborative Research: EPIIC: Rural AI Solutions and Engagement (RAISE) (NSF award 2433241).
  • University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff: Collaborative Research: EPIIC: Bolstering University Infrastructure for Leading Development (BUILD) (NSF award 2433153).
  • University of Central Oklahoma: Collaborative Research: EPIIC: Cross-Continental Collaboration Coalition (C4) (NSF award 2433214).
  • University of Detroit Mercy: Collaborative Research: EPIIC: EXcellence in Partnership with Industry, Academia, and New Discoveries (EXPAND) (NSF award 2432474).
  • University of Minnesota Duluth: Collaborative Research: EPIIC: The Concept CAFÉ (Collaborative Activities Fostering Exploration): Innovation Brewing (NSF award 2433184).
  • University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez: Collaborative Research: EPIIC: Strategic University Practices to Expand Research (SUPER) Partnerships (NSF award 2432509).
  • University of St. Thomas: Collaborative Research: EPIIC: EXcellence in Partnership with industry, Academia, and New Discoveries (EXPAND) (NSF award 2432471).
  • University of The Virgin Islands: EPIIC: Partnering to Advance and Drive Innovation on Sustainability and the Environment (PARADISE) (NSF award 2432767).
  • Valdosta State University: Collaborative Research: EPIIC: Rural AI Solutions and Engagement (RAISE) (NSF award 2433243).
  • Weber State University: Collaborative Research: EPIIC: Cross-Continental Collaboration Coalition (C4) (NSF award 2433218).
  • West Texas A&M University: Collaborative Research: EPIIC: Strategic University Practices to Expand Research (SUPER) Partnerships (NSF award 2432511).
  • Western New England University: Collaborative Research: EPIIC: EXcellence in Partnership with Industry, Academia, and New Discoveries (EXPAND) (NSF award 2432472).
  • Western Washington University: Collaborative Research: EPIIC: Strategic University Practices to Expand Research (SUPER) Partnerships (NSF award 2432510).
  • Winston-Salem State University: Collaborative Research: EPIIC: Strengthening Collaborative Advancements Leveraging Equitable University Partnerships (NSF award 2433178).
  • Youngstown State University: Collaborative Research: EPIIC: Collaborations with High-Tech Industry Partners (CHIP) (NSF award 2432941).

About EPIIC

EPIIC program provides institutions with training and networking support to develop the capacity and institutional knowledge needed to help build more inclusive ecosystems and enable participation in regional innovation ecosystems, potentially connecting to NSF Engines. Learn more about EPIIC.

Top