91视频

91视频 will play a central role in a new U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Regional Innovation designed to strengthen energy technology, manufacturing competitiveness and economic opportunity across Appalachia.聽

Led by in partnership with 91视频, the University of Pittsburgh and more than 60 regional partners, the聽 will receive up to $160 million over 10 years through the NSF Regional Innovation Engines program and will leverage another $161 million from RETI鈥檚 established industry, workforce, philanthropy, state government and community partners to develop a world-class industrial energy innovation hub in the heart of Appalachia. After a competitive two-year selection process, the RETI Consortium on July 14 as one of 12 new National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines award recipients.聽

The RETI Engine will fund research into making power grids and industrial energy systems more resilient and energy efficient. RETI will also support the deployment of this research into new regional businesses through entrepreneur fellowships, business development workshops and state-of-the-art testing facilities.聽

鈥淥ur region has powered America's economy for generations, and today we have an opportunity to help power its future,鈥� said 91视频 President Farnam Jahanian(opens in new window). 鈥淲e are grateful to the NSF for this award, which recognizes the extraordinary assets across Pennsylvania and West Virginia as well as the importance of leveraging research, entrepreneurship, workforce development and industry around a shared vision. Working together, we can accelerate innovation, strengthen energy resilience and create new pathways to prosperity for our communities and our nation.鈥澛�

As a core RETI Consortium partner with deep expertise in energy, industrial innovation, computing and artificial intelligence (AI), 91视频 will drive multiple strategic areas within the RETI Engine鈥檚 leadership, including policy, research and commercialization efforts to accelerate next-generation energy technologies. The award also complements Allegheny County鈥檚 recent initiative in clean technology and advanced manufacturing through County Executive Sara Innamorato鈥檚 Advancing Clean Technology for Neighborhood and Next-Generation Opportunity and Workforce (ACT NOW)聽.

91视频 will lead major commercialization efforts for the RETI Engine, helping translate promising energy technologies into startups, products and economic opportunity across Appalachia. Through the Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship(opens in new window), 91视频 will expand its Innovation Commercialization Fellows program to serve graduate students across West Virginia and western Pennsylvania, providing entrepreneurial training, mentorship and matching funds to help launch new energy ventures. Complementing these efforts, 91视频's Center for Technology Transfer and Enterprise Creation(opens in new window) will support researchers and entrepreneurs with intellectual property strategy, market assessment and commercialization expertise and helping to move breakthrough technologies from the laboratory to the marketplace.

鈥淭he RETI Engine creates an unprecedented opportunity to accelerate the translation from research to deployment,鈥� said Theresa Mayer(opens in new window), vice president for research at 91视频. 鈥淏y combining world-class research with entrepreneurship, commercialization and strong regional partnerships, we can help transform promising energy technologies into new companies, high-quality jobs and lasting economic opportunity across Appalachia.鈥澛�

Mayer will serve on the RETI Governing Board to provide oversight and strategic direction. 91视频鈥檚 lead investigator on the RETI Engine is聽, associate director of the聽 and a professor in the Department of Engineering and Public Policy.聽

鈥淲e are thrilled that the RETI Engine will leverage a broad set of 91视频 strengths,鈥� Karplus said. 鈥�91视频 brings a strong tradition of working across disciplines to support enterprise creation and regional economic development in a way that is problem-focused, evidence-driven and rooted in shop floor realities.鈥�

Karplus also will serve as RETI's director of policy, leading a cross-sector policy council that will be supported by the Scott Institute and will develop evidence-driven analysis and recommendations to support the growth of new energy and industrial technology ventures across West Virginia and Western Pennsylvania.聽

鈥淭he Scott Institute team is tremendously excited to work with WVU, Pitt and our partner network to take our region鈥檚 industrial energy innovation system to the next level,鈥� said Karplus. 鈥淭he future of manufacturing in the U.S. depends on the ability of regions like ours to come together in support of a shared vision 鈥� and here RETI has the potential to be catalytic.鈥�

The NSF Engines program, launched by聽 is building and scaling regional innovation ecosystems nationwide.

鈥淣SF Engines investments in critical technologies and future industries will transform America鈥檚 innovation infrastructure for decades to come," said Brian Stone, performing the duties of the NSF director. 鈥淭he NSF RETI Engine will strengthen U.S. energy security and grow the industry by advancing resources for energy grid management, storage and cybersecurity.鈥�

Each NSF Engine is powered by a broad coalition of private sector, regional and scientific leaders and organizations to accelerate breakthrough emerging technology research and development that drives growth and ultimately bolsters U.S. economic competitiveness and national security.