Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Science, Manufacturing, and Competitiveness, released the following statement after the National Science Foundation (NSF) announced awards to 12 U.S. teams for Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines). As Chairman of the subcommittee with jurisdiction over NSF, Senator Budd successfully advocated for the Carolinas Engine for Grid Modernization proposal, led by the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, to accelerate technology development and ensure a secure, resilient American energy grid.
“North Carolina has earned a national reputation as a leader in technological innovation, and I am proud that the University of North Carolina at Charlotte is among the newest recipients of the NSF Engines award. The NSF Grid Modernization Engine in the Carolinas builds on our state’s strengths by leveraging a highly skilled workforce and world-class research institutions to accelerate innovation, strengthen our energy infrastructure, and support long-term economic growth. The future of the United States depends on a reliable, secure, and resilient electric grid, and North Carolina is leading the way by developing a replicable national model for grid modernization,” said Senator Budd.
BACKGROUND
The newest NSF Engines awards span critical technologies and applications ranging from enhancing energy grid security to maximizing the yield of critical mineral mining extraction to advancing quantum computing. Each team, led by a coalition of regional organizations, including universities, nonprofits, and private industry, will initially receive an award of $15 million over two years. Teams that demonstrate progress on well-defined milestones will have the potential to eventually receive up to $160 million each from NSF over the next decade as they seek to build an internationally competitive technology and innovation cluster in their region.
No single region can solve America’s technology challenges alone. NSF Engines are designed as a connected national network, linking complementary regional strengths. Together, they build domestic supply chains, fill capability gaps, and accelerate technology advancement across key sectors and regions.
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