FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Gregory Bortolin,
Director of Communications
grbortolin@goed.nv.gov (775) 687-9917
May 11, 2023
CARSON CITY, Nev. – The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced today that the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) was one of 44 unique teams to receive its first-ever NSF Engines Development Awards.
When in March 2022, NSF established a new directorate for the first time in more than 30 years focusing on Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP) that included the focus on establishing regional “innovation engines” throughout the United States, the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) saw an opportunity to partner and support UNR in order to strengthen the agency’s efforts of turning Nevada into the “Lithium Capital of North America”.
Nevada is the only U.S. state that encompasses every facet of the lithium-ion battery economy and life cycle, from the exploration and mining of natural lithium deposits to the research and development to production and assembly, and finally the recycling operations.
“We would like to congratulate UNR on this tremendous win for Nevada,” said Karsten Heise, GOED Senior Director of Strategic Programs and Innovation. “The importance of this award for Nevada cannot be more highly emphasized. It is an example of how research and intellectual property assets at UNR, GOED’s strategic objectives and support provided by the Knowledge Fund successfully worked together leading to this project being selected among the first ever Type-1 Engine awardees. For the next two years, this award will enable the team to build a diverse and inclusive innovation ecosystem that drives economic growth, workforce development, use-inspired research and development, and the translation of innovations to practice around the lithium lifecycle, and will pave the way for the preparation of a strong proposal with the goal to become a future ‘Circular Lithium Economy NSF Engine’ with an opportunity to receive up to $160 million of potential future funding. GOED will be an integral partner in this effort.”
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About the Governor’s Office of Economic Development
Created during the 2011 session of the Nevada Legislature, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development is the result of a collaborative effort between the Nevada Legislature and the Governor’s Office to restructure economic development in the state. GOED’s role is to promote a robust, diversified and prosperous economy in Nevada, to stimulate business expansion and retention, encourage entrepreneurial enterprise, attract new businesses and facilitate community development.
About the NSF Engines Development Award
Launched by NSF’s new Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships and authorized by the “CHIPS and Science Act of 2022,” the NSF Engines program uniquely harnesses the nation’s science and technology research and development enterprise and regional-level resources. NSF Engines aspire to catalyze robust partnerships to positively impact regional economies, accelerate technology development, address societal challenges, advance national competitiveness, and create local, high-wage jobs.
NSF awarded the first-ever NSF Engines Development Awards to 44 unique teams spanning 46 U.S. states and territories and run by businesses, nonprofits, universities, and other organizations. Through these up to $1 million planning awards, NSF is seeding the future for communities to grow their regional economies through research and partnerships. These two-year awards will unleash ideas, talent, pathways, and resources to create vibrant innovation ecosystems across the United States.University Of Nevada, Reno Wins Highly Competitive Nsf Type-1 Engine Grant