The Wisconsin Technology Council announced that a coalition led by the WiSys Technology Foundation Inc., which serves Wisconsin’s comprehensive universities in ways that include technology transfer, intellectual property protection, and startup business incubation, has been invited to take part in the next stage of the National Science Foundation’s Regional Innovation Engines process.
Wisconsin Forward Agriculture is a project focused on climate-resilient agriculture in all forms, from farm and herd practices to food processing. While centered in Wisconsin, the project could have implications for aspects of the larger U.S. agriculture industry.
With nearly 40 private and public partners, the Wisconsin Technology Council included, the WiSys engine project also focuses on the circular bioeconomy and bio-renewables.
The project is one of 71 invited by the NSF to submit a full proposal by February 2025 and the only one in Wisconsin. According to the NSF’s website, only five of the 71 projects directly involve some aspect of agriculture.
The NSF engines program was authorized in the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 to enhance the value of collaborative, use-inspired, and translational research and technology development in key technology focus areas.
If selected later in the process, each NSF engine can receive up to $160 million spread over 10 years to support the development of diverse regional coalitions of researchers, institutions, companies, and others to convert research into solutions with economic and social impact. The WiSys project had previously received a $1 million planning grant.
