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Iowa-Nebraska Collaboration Moves to Stage Two of NSF Engines Program

Dan Kirkpatrick, Iowa State University Office of the Vice President for Research

Posted Dec 6, 2024

The National Science Foundation (NSF) recently announced that a preliminary proposal crafted and submitted by several institutions in the states of Iowa and Nebraska advanced to the next stage of consideration for the agency’s Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines) program.

The proposed project known as RuralSTAMINA – Ascending Rural communities through Sustainable, Transformative Advanced Manufacturing INnovations and Alliances – is a collaboration led by Iowa State University. The initial proposal includes more than 35 public-private collaborators, including these core partners: University of Iowa; University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Southeast Community College; Des Moines Area Community College; BioConnect Iowa; the Iowa Biotechnology Association; and Invest Nebraska. The lead institutions welcome the participation of additional like-minded organizations that share the vision of the Rural STAMINA initiative.

The focus of RuralSTAMINA is to ignite a regional innovation ecosystem that bolsters the economies and vitality of underserved rural communities in Iowa and Nebraska by leveraging the region’s advantage of ready access to renewable feedstocks that can be transformed into value-added bio-based products and next-generation critical materials.

“Innovating new sustainable, transformative advanced biomanufacturing technologies – and developing a workforce skilled in these technologies – is critical for the ongoing competitiveness of U.S. manufacturing and our national security,” said Peter Dorhout, Vice President for Research at Iowa State University, and principal investigator (PI) on the RuralSTAMINA project. “All of the RuralSTAMINA partners are bonded by a common belief that we can catalyze a bio-based advanced manufacturing innovation ecosystem in Iowa and Nebraska that creates opportunities that revitalize our rural communities while also advancing our national interests.”

The co-PIs on the project share Dorhout’s enthusiastic perspective on the impact RuralSTAMINA could have on the region . . .

University of Iowa

“The University of Iowa is committed to bringing research and discovery into the service of Iowans, improving lives through technological advancement and economic vitality. We’re excited to work with our collaborators on RuralSTAMINA to expand entrepreneurship and workforce development in the region and contribute our expertise in biomedicine and advanced biomanufacturing to the project.”

Aliasger Salem, Associate Vice President for Research

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

“The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is excited to be a part of this cross-sector, multi-state initiative. RuralSTAMINA represents the type of focused public-private partnership required to elevate the innovation economy throughout Nebraska and Iowa.”

Jennifer Nelson, Interim Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation

Southeast Community College

“Southeast Community College is committed to the RuralSTAMINA initiative to provide a skilled workforce to implement bio-based solutions and advance the bioeconomy in Nebraska and Iowa.”

Misty Wehling, Biotechnology Program Co-Chair

Des Moines Area Community College

“Des Moines Area Community College is Iowa’s largest community college and represents communities and areas throughout the state from the most urban to the most rural. The various campuses and centers across our district enable our institution to respond rapidly to the needs of Iowa citizens. DMACC also has exceptional relationships with the other 14 Iowa community colleges, and we’re excited to foster their support and engagement in RuralSTAMINA as it is being implemented.”

Robert Denson, President

BioConnect Iowa

“A key finding from the 2023 Iowa Bioscience Strategy indicates the volume of fundable deals for research and development and innovation enterprises in Iowa is significantly underdeveloped. For BioConnect Iowa, a core component of the NSF Engine proposal is quickly translating these innovations into practice. This includes offering pro bono business support to selected startups and implementing a venture studio model that provides hands-on assistance and business expertise to help scale startups more quickly.”

Steve Brody, President and CEO

Invest Nebraska

“The RuralSTAMINA proposal expands on the region’s vast agricultural and natural resources by focusing on potential bio-based products. Building the critical bio-related infrastructure for entrepreneurs and innovators under this NSF Engine proposal conveys a powerful vision that industry, universities, and the public sector understand the importance of translational research and the creation of new businesses.”

Dan Hoffman, CEO

The NSF Engines program was authorized in the “CHIPS and Science Act of 2022” (Section 10388). In January 2024, the agency announced 10 NSF Engines as part of its inaugural class. This second iteration of the program received nearly 300 letters of intent (LOIs) – spanning every U.S. state and territory – by its July 2024 deadline. On October 24, 2024, the agency announced it was advancing 71 projects from the pool of preliminary proposals it received by its August 6, 2024, deadline. Preliminary proposals were reviewed by panels of experts whose guidance helped NSF select teams that will progress to the next stage of merit review. These teams will submit full proposals by February 2025. RuralSTAMINA is the only project from the states of Iowa and Nebraska to advance to the next stage in the selection process.

NSF Engines was launched by the NSF Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP). The program envisions fostering multiple flourishing regional innovation ecosystems across the country, providing a unique opportunity to spur economic growth in regions that have not fully participated in the technology boom of the past few decades. Each NSF Engine catalyzes robust partnerships rooted in scientific and technological innovation to positively impact the economy within a geographic region, address societal challenges and advance national competitiveness. 

Erwin Gianchandani, NSF assistant director for TIP, said “The breadth and depth of preliminary proposals submitted to the NSF Engines funding opportunity demonstrates both the very real need for and the potential of harnessing the full geography of innovation across our nation.

“The teams invited to submit a full proposal have shown through their preliminary proposal submissions how they will knit together innovative ideas, talent and resources in their respective regions to accelerate the development of key technologies,” he added. “Collectively, they are well positioned to directly contribute to strengthening our nation’s competitiveness and security for the mid-21st century.”