University-led mining consortium vying for NSF grant up to $160M
A group led by the University of Arizona has advanced past the first round of a National Science Foundation grant funding competition that could bring up to $160 million. The NSF’s Regional Innovation Engines Development Awards program focuses on creating partnerships to accelerate technology development and spur economic growth through grants for projects spanning up to 10 years.
The NSF launched the program – also known as NSF Engines – in 2022, with an intention to make “the broadest and most significant investment in place-based science and technology research and development in the nation's history” since the 1862 Morrill Land-Grant Act established the university system.
The consortium crafted a plan, called SMILE Engine, that unites stakeholders to promote responsible mining practices, prioritize environmental sustainability, develop a skilled workforce, and foster economic development. The collaborators form one of 71 teams in the running. Having cleared the preliminary stage, SMILE Engine partners will submit a full proposal in February. NSF will announce the grantees around one year later.