The National Science Foundation Energy Storage Engine in Upstate New York, which goals to remodel upstate into America’s battery tech capital, will obtain $45 million over three years for the second phase of this system.
The initiative, led by Binghamton University and its core companions — Cornell University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Syracuse University, Griffiss Institute, Launch-NY, and NY-BEST — is considered one of 9 inaugural Engines launched beneath NSF’s Regional Innovation Engines program.
Since its launch in 2024, the Energy Storage Engine has obtained $15 million from the NSF. The initiative might obtain as much as $160 million over 10 years.
“The NSF Energy Storage Engine in Upstate New York has already demonstrated its capacity to advance next-gen battery and energy storage systems that will be critical for our nation’s energy needs in the years to come,” mentioned Erwin Gianchandani, NSF assistant director for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships. “We have already seen NSF’s initial investment attract matching private-sector investment and create job training opportunities — and we look forward to it ultimately building a durable U.S. competitive advantage in energy storage innovation.”
In this second phase, the Energy Storage Engine will prioritize next-gen battery programs and options that advance security, deal with challenges in constructing energy programs for power storage purposes, drive value and useful resource effectivity in manufacturing, and combine AI into all points of power storage from supplies discovery to manufacturing effectivity. It will deepen its give attention to the wants of regional companies and the protection sector, because it continues to help startup corporations.
Binghamton University President Anne D’Alleva congratulated the Engine group for its successes throughout the previous two years. “This renewal acknowledges the Engine’s remarkable progress and early impact, the collective strength of its extensive partner ecosystem, and the bold vision guiding its future,” she mentioned. “The NSF Energy Storage Engine is already successfully advancing an ambitious plan to establish upstate New York as America’s battery tech capital, building on our region’s strong legacy of innovation and manufacturing excellence. We thank the National Science Foundation for its support and unwavering commitment to this program.”
The Engine’s portfolio contains analysis and innovation, expertise switch, workforce improvement, and neighborhood engagement initiatives with companions throughout its 27-county area of service in upstate New York and past. In lower than two years, the Engine has:
• Supported 15 industry-academia groups driving leapfrog improvements in next-gen cell manufacturing and course of innovation
• Funded greater than 15 high-tech battery startups
• Aided corporations with entry to infrastructure, capital, and expertise sources
These startups have obtained greater than $20 million in follow-on funding up to now 12 months alone. They have additionally gained nationwide recognition, together with the Battery Manufacturer of the Year award.
“With two years of sustained momentum and demonstrated success, we are on track to become a national leader in solving the U.S. battery industry’s most critical challenges with exceptional speed, scale, cost-efficiency, and quality, while driving transformational growth across upstate New York’s battery ecosystem,” Engine CEO Meera Sampath mentioned. “Our strategy is strongly aligned with national R&D priorities: advancing critical technologies that strengthen national security, securing American energy dominance, and driving economic growth through regional innovation. Our motto for the next phase is ‘bigger, bolder, and better’ with programs and partnerships that will help us deliver on our vision.”
The Engine has served greater than 300 learners from Okay-12 to adults throughout upstate New York by way of its power storage workforce improvement community. It will launch a complicated battery security testing facility, the primary of its variety within the Northeast, at Rochester Institute of Technology this summer time. Its neighborhood outreach packages have reached greater than 8,000 constituents.
During phase two, particular emphasis might be given to getting ready the subsequent technology of engineers and scientists to fulfill the rising workforce demand within the battery {industry}, each domestically and nationally.
The Engine will obtain as much as $16 million in matching funds from Empire State Development. In phase one, ESD invested $3 million.
“Upstate New York is home to world-class innovation assets, and the NSF Engine exemplifies how we leverage those resources to lead in important sectors like energy storage,” mentioned Ben Verschueren, government director of Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR) and a member of the Engine’s governance board. “ESD is thrilled to support this next phase of building an already expansive ecosystem that drives long-term economic impact for the region, the state, and the entire nation.”
The Engine has constructed a coalition of greater than 60 educational, {industry}, nonprofit, neighborhood, and authorities companions who’ve been the driving drive behind these accomplishments.
Heather Hage, president and CEO of the Griffiss Institute, chairs the Engine’s Governance Board. “This next phase of extraordinary investment in our community will catalyze new technologies, new ventures, and a highly skilled workforce to stimulate more good jobs for upstate New Yorkers,” she mentioned. “A stronger domestic battery supply chain is essential to American national security and economic competitiveness, and upstate New York is ready to lead.”
M. Stanley Whittingham, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2019 for his work in creating the lithium-ion battery, serves because the Engine’s chief innovation officer. He mentioned the award is important to constructing a safe provide chain within the United States.
“Batteries for America by America is our goal,” mentioned Whittingham, a distinguished professor of chemistry at Binghamton University. “The Engine, combined with the other key capabilities we are building in upstate New York, including Battery-NY, a peerless battery pilot manufacturing facility, are moving us toward realizing this goal.”
The NSF Engine enhances the sturdy set of initiatives provided by New Energy New York (NENY), which earned the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) Build Back Better Regional Challenge (BBBRC) award in September 2022 and designation as a federal Tech Hub in October 2023. Binghamton University is the one faculty to steer initiatives that obtained all three designations.
The Engine is actively looking for company and startup companions. For extra particulars, go to https://www.upstatenyengine.org.
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