$24.6M
Total partner contributions
(cash and in-kind)
$16.4M
Total funding raised by startups accelerated by the Engine
$1.5M
Total funding awarded through Innovation Grants
$1.2M
Total funding awarded through Catalyst Grants
1,300+
Individuals trained or upskilled
24
Startups/projects accelerated by the Engine
16
Total Catalyst Grants awarded
8
Total Innovation Grants awarded
The NSF Futures Engine is powering innovation across the Southwest, catalyzing solutions in water, air and energy, and building the workforce to sustain a deep-tech economy. Explore some of the initiatives that are driving impact with breakthrough technologies.
WAVR Technologies
WAVR Technologies looks to the sky for water security — but it’s not hoping for rain.
WAVR Technologies, a Futures Engine-backed startup born from research at University of Nevada, Las Vegas, is developing devices that capture water vapor from the air, even in arid regions, for commercial and individual uses. WAVR’s atmospheric water harvesting technology captures over five times more water than existing technologies and is effective down to 10% humidity. WAVR delivered a prototype in the Engine’s first year and has raised over $10 million in funding on its potential to help local companies mitigate risks, offset water consumption and comply with water regulations.
Partners
- WAVR Technologies
- University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Location
Nevada
Award
Futures Engine Catalyst Grant
Desert Blume
Long-duration energy takes root in the Southwest
The largest non-lithium battery project in the U.S. is under construction in the Southwest with the support of the Futures Engine. When it goes online in December 2025, the Desert Blume long-duration energy storage pilot project, led by the major electric utility and Engine partner SRP, will deliver 5 megawatts of 10-hour-duration grid storage. CMBlu, another Engine partner, is providing banks of organic, carbon-based batteries capable of powering 1,125 homes for 10 hours. These nonflammable, recyclable batteries provide more energy and twice the duration of lithium-based batteries. This investment in LDES by one of Arizona’s most influential public utilities, along with SRP’s commitment to share the knowledge created by Desert Blume throughout the utility industry, is a major step toward securing reliable, sustainable energy for Arizona.
Partners
- Salt River Project
- CMBlu
Location
Arizona
Award
Futures Engine Catalyst Grant
Ground Level Ozone Research Project
Futures Engine partners assist ADEQ in investigating rising ozone levels
To address rising ground-level ozone concentrations in Arizona’s Maricopa and Pinal counties, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality launched the Ground Level Ozone Research Project. The $6 million GLOR Project convenes air quality experts from leading regional and national agencies and corporations, including Futures Engine partners Arizona Public Service, SRP and Arizona State University; the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the University of Arizona, to investigate ozone formation, transport and chemical behavior in Arizona’s unique environment. SRP, APS, the Maricopa Association of Governments, Suntec Concrete and ASU’s Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory contributed funding to support the project. The GLOR Project will increase understanding of ground-level ozone formation, providing actionable, science-based insights to inform air quality strategies and policy, helping the region meet federal ozone standards and improve public health and environmental outcomes across the Southwest.
Partners
- Arizona Public Service
- Arizona State University
Location
Arizona
Find out how you can engage with The NSF Futures Engine in the Southwest