The NSF Futures Engine in the Southwest is one of the first Regional Innovation Engines supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation to catalyze and foster innovation ecosystems across the United States.
Regional Innovation Engines advance critical technologies, address pressing national and societal challenges, cultivate academic-industry-public sector partnerships, promote and stimulate economic growth and job creation, and spur regional innovation and talent.
R&D themes
The Futures Engine pursues an integrated, systems-level approach to sustainability innovation.
Visioning and roadmapping
Water security
Energy
Air quality
Systems transformation
Research translation
The Futures Engine’s overarching goal is inclusive and rapid access to R&D applications, getting technology and governance innovations rapidly to market and practice, and connecting currently distributed resources, expertise and programs for commercialization and translation. The Futures Engine supports several interrelated translation efforts:
Translation training
Incubators and tech transfer hubs
Venture capital
Software development
Workforce development
The Futures Engine engages state and local economic and workforce development organizations, industry, universities, and community and technical colleges to address workforce gaps with a portfolio of entrepreneurship, technical career and upskilling workforce programs aligned with The Futures Engine partners and designed to support the Southwest region through:
Sustainability innovation education for K-12 students
Managerial, municipal training
Entrepreneurial mentoring and small business support
Shared digital and in-person platform for workforce upskilling and training
New community college curriculum
