UT, Knoxville co-led program is a finalist for an Innovation Engines award
It could mean up to $160 million in funding if selected.
The National Science Foundation has announced that the BRIDGES proposal developed by HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology in collaboration with University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK), and Auburn University, had reached the final stage of competition in the Regional Innovations Engines Program and remains under consideration for an award totaling up to $160 million.
It is one of 15 making the cut from across the U.S.
BRIDGES, which stands for Biobased Rural Innovation for Domestic Growth and Economic Security, models a shift in the regional economy that benefits industry, farmers, and consumers by eliminating industry reliance on petroleum. BRIDGES scientists will focus on developing a circular bioeconomy in the southeastern United States by converting perennial agricultural grass crops into consumer goods in the packaging, automotive, and construction materials industries.
“The NSF Engines program creates economic and technological opportunities in regions across the country, and BRIDGES is a visionary project that can lead to transformational impact,” said UTK Chancellor Donde Plowman. “We celebrate the team’s advancement to the next stage of competition and the potential for innovation-based economic development in Tennessee and beyond.”
Nicole Labbé, Professor and Director of the UT Center for Renewable Carbon in the UT Institute of Agriculture and one of the co-principal investigators for BRIDGES, said the innovation engine will address key technical hurdles in matching the needs of industry and regional farmers.
“The goal is to create manufactured products and chemicals using locally grown grasses,” she said. These grasses are often grown on underused and marginal lands, so the initiative will create new markets for farmers. Additionally, the focus on deconstructing plant materials and developing components for the automotive industry will produce needed products while developing the region’s workforce.
In addition, two of the other finalists are:
- Carolinas Engine for Grid Modernization, led by the University of North Carolina at Charlotte; and
- Quantum Connected, led by the University of Chicago.
All but three of the finalists are east of the Mississippi River.
Like what you've read?
Forward to a friend!