The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has designated the New Energy New York (NENY) Storage Engine as a Regional Innovation Engine (NSF Engine) as a part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. The NENY Storage Engine, anchored at Binghamton University in New York’s Southern Tier Region, will receive up to $15 million for two years and up to $160 million over 10 years to establish a hub that will accelerate innovation, technology translation and the creation of a skilled workforce to grow the capacity of the domestic battery industry. Through Empire State Development, New York State will match up to 20 percent for the first five years of the project as well as provide support through established programs. The NENY Storage Engine was chosen for its diverse, cross-sector coalition that will build a leading ecosystem driving battery technology innovation, workforce development and manufacturing to support U.S. national security and global competitiveness.
[Photo above: M. Stanley Whittingham, Nobel Laureate and distinguished professor of chemistry, shows his framed patent for the lithion-ion battery while greeting U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer during a U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Regional Innovation Engines announcement on Jan. 29 at Binghamton University. Image Credit: Jonathan Cohen.]
“With this transformative National Science Foundation grant, we are putting Binghamton and all of New York State back at the cutting edge of manufacturing and innovation,” Governor Hochul said. “The modern era of battery technology was born right here in New York, and thanks to Majority Leader Schumer, President Biden and New York’s congressional delegation, the CHIPS and Science Act is helping to ensure that the future of batteries is built here as well.”
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer said, “Up to $160 million is now on its way to supercharge Upstate NY as a booming battery research hub being led by Binghamton University. Thanks to my CHIPS & Science Law, Binghamton will be the beating electric heart of federal efforts to help bring battery innovation and development back from overseas to spark growth of this critical industry vital to our nation’s national and economic security. With the prestigious NSF Engines award, the Southern Tier and Upstate NY has officially secured its place as the next loop on America’s battery belt. Lightning has struck not once, not twice but three times to supercharge Binghamton and the NENY coalition as best in class to grow cutting edge research in America’s battery industry. For years I have worked to craft and lead to passage these new programs to spur economic development, create good-paying jobs, and spark scientific innovation, specifically with places like Binghamton and Upstate NY in mind. Binghamton’s battery hub is already electrifying Upstate New York’s workforce and economy, but this investment is the crown jewel that will help fuel the scientific discovery and innovation to ensure this industry is here to stay in America.”
The NENY Storage Engine was one of sixteen national finalists for this designation across the country, out of an original pool of 188. The proposal came from the NENY project, a coalition led by Binghamton University, a leader in lithium-ion battery research, in a region that has become renowned for its battery manufacturing capabilities. NENY’s proposal brings together diverse partners to tackle the battery technology value chain and ensure the U.S. is ready as demand grows for electric vehicles and reliance on battery storage grids increases. This includes chemistry research, new components and applications, and recycling plans. The coalition is comprised of 14 industry partners, 50 networked sector companies, 4 core university partners, 5+ high tech incubators, 17 vocational & tech training partners and 3 international collaborators.
The NSF Engines represent one of the single largest broad investments in place-based research and development in the nation’s history – uniquely placing science and technology leadership as the central driver for regional economic competitiveness. The announcement delivers on the bipartisan priorities outlined in the “CHIPS and Science Act of 2022,” which authorized the NSF Engines program. Launched in May 2022, the NSF Engines program uniquely harnesses the nation’s science and technology research and development enterprise and regional-level resources.
Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Hope Knight said, “This designation marks another win for New York State and the Southern Tier, which is poised to become a global hub for research, innovation, and advanced manufacturing. This funding will provide needed resources to support the researchers and entrepreneurs who are working to advance the growing energy storage industry, which will super-charge economic development and job creation in the region and statewide.”
