Letter from the CEO
As the first two years of the Southwest Sustainability Innovation Engine now known as the NSF Futures Engine came to an end, it was impossible to look back with anything other than gratitude.
To the entrepreneurs, researchers, founders, educators, public leaders, investors and community members who leaned in, thank you for stepping into the unknown with us. These inaugural years asked
a lot of everyone involved. It pushed us to accelerate, navigate ambiguity, and act with resolve and purpose toward the future we’re building. It also showed us what’s possible when this region works together.
To date, we’ve launched 24 collaborative projects focused on air, water and energy. We’ve supported eight startups that raised over $16 million in additional funding. And we’ve connected with more than 180 partners across sectors who see the value in what we’re trying to build.
That momentum is real, and it’s only the beginning.
Looking ahead, our work gets more focused. We’re putting stronger systems in place, strengthening ties with industry and scaling our impact while staying grounded in the challenges and opportunities unique to the Southwest. We are dedicated to ensuring this Engine delivers on its promise.
Thank you for your time, your trust and your commitment. We’re proud of what we are building together and committed to continuing. Our future depends on it.
Brian Sherman CEO, NSF Futures Engine in the Southwest
Core organizations
The NSF Futures Engine in the Southwest is built on partnerships that power real change. By uniting leading institutions and organizations across Arizona, Nevada and Utah, the Engine transforms complex water, energy and air challenges into opportunities for innovation and resilience.
At the core are the lead and strategic partners — including Arizona State University; University of Utah; University of Nevada, Las Vegas; Desert Research Institute; Maricopa County Community College District and SciTech Institute — who all commit resources, expertise and leadership to advance the Engine’s vision.
Together, they form the foundation of a future-ready regional economy.
13 Ecosystem events hosted
Impact at a glance $16.4M
24 Startups/projects accelerated by the Engine
Average TRL advancement of supported technologies 1.6
Total Catalyst Grants awarded Individuals trained or upskilled 1,373 16
8
Total Innovation Grants awarded
Total funding raised by startups accelerated by the Engine
20 Stakeholders engaged per roadmap
Total funding awarded through Catalyst Grants $1.2M
Total funding awarded through Innovation Grants $1.5M $24.6M
Total partner contributions (cash and in-kind)
A future where the Southwest’s economic growth is no longer constrained by energy, water or air challenges.
The Futures Engine accelerates the translation of use-inspired research into technology solutions that strengthen the Southwest’s urban and rural economies through innovation in air, water and energy systems.
The Futures Engine spans three states — Arizona, Nevada and Utah — and aims to elevate the Southwest as a regional hub of economic development catalyzed by deep-tech innovation. The Engine serves as the region’s primary innovation platform, focusing on air quality, water security and energy reliability. These focal areas touch a range of industries — from semiconductor manufacturing, mining, aerospace and defense, artificial intelligence and more — and are pioneering many different technological solutions.
Scope and structure Technology solutions
Air
by domain
Water
Energy
The Futures Engine’s core academic partners include Arizona State University; University of Utah; University of Nevada, Las Vegas; Desert Research Institute; SciTech Institute and Maricopa Community Colleges.
About the Regional Innovation Engines program
The National Science Foundation’s Regional Innovation Engines initiative is the largest federal investment in place-based science and technology development since the Morrill Land Grant Act over 160 years ago. Launched in 2024, the NSF Engines program was established to create regional technology transfer hubs, assembling local partners to rapidly develop and deploy solutions-
inspired research and safeguard U.S. competitiveness in strategic technology domains.
Each Engine may receive up to $160 million in federal funding over 10 years, supporting durable public-private partnerships that drive innovation at scale. Overseen by the NSF Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships — the NSF’s first new directorate in more than 30 years — the first-of-its kind program is an effort to establish regional economic, technological and societal leadership.
Founded in 2024, the Futures Engine was among the first proposals selected by the NSF to establish a Regional Innovation Engine.
Water innovation
In the Southwest, water is a dealbreaker. It’s the line between growth and decline, between thriving communities and empty pipelines.
Water sustains life and fuels prosperity — delivering drinking water to millions, irrigating farmland that feeds the nation, generating electricity and supporting a thriving tourism economy built around reservoirs like Lake Mead. Its role has become even more critical with the growth of semiconductor manufacturing and data centers in the region, which are industries that require vast amounts of water.
To secure the Southwest’s future, the Futures Engine launched a strategic initiative to advance water sustainability. Focus areas include: atmospheric water harvesting, reducing water use in data centers and commercial facilities, and scaling industrial reuse.
WAVR Technologies, a Nevada-based startup, is looking to the sky for water security — but it’s not hoping for rain.
Born from research at University of Nevada, Las Vegas, the Futures Engine-backed startup is developing devices that capture water vapor from the air for commercial and industrial uses.
WAVR’s atmospheric water harvesting technology captures over five times more water than existing technologies and is effective down to 10% humidity. In the Engine’s first year, the startup delivered a prototype and has raised over $10 million in funding.
Highlights
Powerful partnerships
The Engine partnered with semiconductor manufacturing giant TSMC to address industrial water reuse, securing $1 million from the Arizona Water Innovation Initiative and $750,000 from the Department of Energy. Additionally, collaboration with the Water Research Foundation resulted in a commercial/industrial/institutional users water needs workshop and a funded project on non-evaporative cooling.
Investing in innovative technology for water security
The Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) invested $1.8 million in WaterStart, a Nevadabased nonprofit facilitating the development and deployment of water technologies. WaterStart was founded in 2013 by the GOED and Futures Engine partner Desert Research Institute. The funding will strengthen Engine ties in Nevada and bolster the state’s water-tech ecosystem.
Assembling experts
More than 500 members have joined the Engine’s International Atmospheric Water Harvesting Association, which convenes experts, startup founders, funders and other stakeholders to advance the technology toward commercialization. The association — the first organization of its kind and a byproduct of Futures Engine collaboration — reaches more than 10,000 people worldwide and is establishing the Southwest as a leader in atmospheric water harvesting.
Establishing testbeds
The Futures Engine and the state of Arizona rolled out a number of regional testbeds for atmospheric water harvesting technologies at Arizona State University. There are now six atmospheric water harvesting devices from different startups in operation to evaluate their efficiency in indoor and outdoor environments, greenhouses, and cooling towers.
Wastewater into valuable resources
Funding from the Futures Engine advanced biodegradable extractants for mineral reclamation from industrial waste streams from Salt Lake City-based company GlycoSurf. These bio-based extractants make mineral flotation — a process to separate valuable components from undesirable ones in wastewater — more efficient and help companies reclaim valuable rare earth minerals and enhance water purification. Engine support validates this technology and explores the potential of extracting additional high-value minerals such as gallium and germanium from industrial waste streams.
Saving water in a water-intensive industry
Semiconductor manufacturing in Arizona is projected to use an estimated 8 million gallons of water daily by 2030. With support from the Futures Engine, Arizonabased company Purity ReSource reduces the impact of this water-intensive industry on our arid region with its new membrane technology. Built to integrate into existing semiconductor wet cleaning tools, the technology is designed to extract purified water, reducing hazardous disposal costs and water waste. Engine funding supports field testing and optimization of this water-saving technology.
Energy innovation
The Southwest isn’t waiting for the energy transition— we’re driving it.
This is our moment to lead with solar, long-duration energy storage, and the next generation of clean power — not just for our economy, but for America’s energy security and global competitiveness. Vast land in the Southwest offers abundant energy opportunities, both above and below ground. Arizona and Nevada lead the nation in solar potential, and Nevada and Utah are trailblazing geothermal power production. All three states are poised to contribute to a clean nuclear energy renaissance and build a resilient regional grid with advancements in energy storage. In its first year, the Engine took decisive steps toward realizing our regional energy potential, accelerating promising technologies and forging strategic partnerships. Efforts are centered on long-duration energy storage, nuclear energy, geothermal power, biomass utilization and solar integration.
Long-duration energy takes root in the Southwest
The largest non-lithium battery project in the U.S. is coming to the Southwest with the support of the Futures Engine. The Desert Blume long-duration energy storage pilot project, led by Salt River Project — one of Arizona’s most influential public utilities and a cornerstone of the state’s energy infrastructure — will deliver 5 megawatts of 10-hour-duration of grid storage. As a major provider for the greater Phoenix region, SRP’s investment in LDES signals a major step forward in securing reliable, sustainable energy for Arizona. The project is slated to be operational by December 2025.
Highlights
Shaping the future of energy innovation
Convening stakeholders is key to driving energy innovation. In December 2024, the Engine hosted a Long-Duration Energy Storage Symposium at Arizona State University, drawing more than 150 representatives from academia, industry and government. The symposium served as a pivotal gathering to explore cutting-edge advancements in LDES technologies. More than 15 companies, including Salt River Project, Lockheed Martin and Energy Dome, participated to showcase their work, reinforcing the event’s value as a knowledge sharing and networking platform.
Amassing new energy sources
Biomass to X at Arizona State University is developing economically viable pathways to convert forest biomass into marketable products, including biochar (a carbon-rich material made from biomass), renewable natural gas, methanol, pellets and power. The project has established a comprehensive virtual data room to consolidate market research and preliminary modeling outputs in a single, secure repository, reducing time-to-decision for potential investors and partners. To this end, the project is acquiring data from county and forest service representatives to support biomass resource mapping and optimization modeling.
Powering a battery revolution
As electrified transportation becomes more widespread, critical gaps in the battery supply chain are emerging. The Futures Engine aims to fill these gaps by supporting burgeoning technologies, such as those from Aeonix, a spinout of Storagenergy Technologies. The Salt Lake City-based startup is developing safe, energy-dense, anode-free lithium metal batteries that pack more power, performance and efficiency into a smaller footprint.
Fusing new partnerships
Nuclear energy — especially small, modular reactors — could play an important role in the Southwest’s energy future, as rising energy demands due to population growth and data centers continue to strain our existing grid. The Futures Engine and the Idaho National Laboratory — a premier nuclear energy research site — forged a formal partnership, enhancing regional capabilities in this area.
Working in tandem
As solar electricity technology improves, the industrystandard silicon-based solar cells are rapidly approaching their theoretical efficiency limit of 27%. Futures Engine-backed startup Beyond Silicon is looking to shatter that barrier. The Arizona-based company is developing tandem perovskite-silicon solar cells, which have a projected efficiency of 38% and could deliver 30% more electricity than silicon solar panels. The technology is based on innovations pioneered by a team of researchers at ASU.
Air quality
Cities like Las Vegas, Phoenix and Salt Lake City don’t just top the charts for growth — they also top the nation for air pollution.
Particulate and ozone levels are choking our health and our progress. It’s time to clear the air — literally. To ensure the health of our fast-growing population, innovating new ways to combat these challenges is vitally important to our long-term success and sustainability.
To meet these challenges head on, the Futures Engine is advancing pilots and commercial demonstrations in carbon capture, and engaging with researchers and air quality experts across the western U.S. to improve air quality.
Clearing the air: GLOR Project invests $6 million on ozone-leveling
The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), in partnership with Arizona State University and key stakeholders including Engine partner Salt River Project (SRP), has launched the $6 million Ground Level Ozone Research (GLOR) Project to address rising ozone pollution in Maricopa and parts of Pinal counties. SRP, APS, Maricopa Association of Governments, ASU's Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory and Suntec Concrete contributed funding to support this collaborative effort, which brings together leading experts from the EPA, NASA and local governments to investigate ozone formation, transport and chemical behavior in Arizona’s unique environment. These insights may also bring greater understanding of ground level ozone formation in the greater Intermountain West. ASU is collaborating with research teams from Utah, Colorado and Nevada to explore similarities and differences and identify trends that impact the Intermountain West. The project will provide actionable, science-based insights to inform air quality strategies and policy, helping the region meet federal ozone standards and improve public health and environmental outcomes across the Southwest.
Highlights
Capturing pollution at the source
While many sectors have promising energy alternatives to fossil fuels, industries such as chemical production, long-haul transportation and materials manufacturing may prove difficult to decarbonize.
Faced with that challenge, Carbon Utility instead focuses on capturing the emissions from those high-polluting industries. Its modular, scalable direct air capture system removes carbon dioxide at a lower cost, with a smaller physical footprint than competitors. The Arizona-based company’s technology also transforms captured carbon into fuels and other sustainable carbon products. Funding from the Futures Engine enabled the company to scale its technology and create pathways to pilot programs implementing carbon capture in commercial and industrial settings.
Green concrete
Solid Carbon is on a mission to revolutionize the concrete industry, which produces approximately 8% of the world’s CO2 emissions. The company creates concrete admixtures made from organic waste streams to sequester biogenic carbon in concrete, lowering the carbon footprint of the most frequently used construction material.
Futures Engine funding enabled Solid Carbon to test recycling organic waste such as biochar from forests and transforming it into a durable, carbon-storing concrete. The company also completed their first small-scale pilot project with Engine support.
Reducing the water footprint of carbon capture
Thanks to Futures Engine funding, NuAria, a startup based at Arizona State University, completed a benchscale prototype of their direct air capture system. The startup is pioneering the integration of water vapor and carbon dioxide capture technologies through inexpensive, environmentally friendly materials. Simultaneous H2O/CO₂ removal from the atmosphere could reduce the water footprint of direct air carbon capture technologies by tenfold, a major advancement in climate and water sustainability.
Research translation
The Futures Engine in the Southwest was designed to turn research into realworld impact. Through focused programming, strong partnerships and practical tools for engagement, the team has helped lower barriers between innovation and implementation. These early efforts set the stage for faster paths to market, stronger collaboration across sectors and long-term economic growth throughout the region.
Over 200 submissions received
The Engine is pulling from a strong regional pipeline of pre-commercial technology.
Innovation Grants awarded
Completing these agreements enabled project work to begin and laid the groundwork for deeper engagement with eight funded startups in a range of industries.
$1.5M awarded
24 projects received funding from the Futures Engine to advance air, water and energy technologies.
$1.8M in third-party funding secured
This funding, backed by the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development and WaterStart, will support scalable innovation.
Innovation Summit established
Hosted at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, the inaugural Innovation Summit convened regional stakeholders, innovators, venture leaders, investors and industry.
Inaugural Innovation Summit
The Futures Engine hosted its inaugural Innovation Summit and Showcase on May 21–22, 2025 in Las Vegas, bringing together more than 200 innovators, investors, researchers and public leaders from across the region. The event spotlighted breakthrough technologies, introduced new partners and deepened crosssector collaboration to accelerate solutions in water, energy and air. During the summit,
100%
of respondents reported gaining unique insights or benefits they would not have gotten elsewhere, such as capital access, strategic clarity, new customers, partners and cross-regional collaborators.
participants played an active role in shaping the next five years of the Engine’s strategy. The agenda was constructed to facilitate a collaborative experience, with networking opportunities and pitch sessions offered throughout the two days. Designed to strengthen the region’s innovation ecosystem, the summit marked a major milestone in the Engine’s role as a catalyst for tech-driven economic growth.
95%
agreed that the Innovation Summit helped them identify potential partners for future collaborative projects or research, further highlighting the Engine’s role in fostering new connections across the region.
75%
reported creating a new collaboration.
14% strengthened an existing collaboration.
Catalyst Grants Innovation Grants
The Futures Engine rolled out Catalyst Grants for "ready to launch" research projects. This program quickly demonstrated the Engine's commitment to the region by advancing research and workforce development initiatives.
HIGHLIGHTS
• 16 projects were funded across the Engine’s four research institutions: Arizona State University, University of Utah, University of Nevada, Las Vegas and the Desert Research Institute.
• Projects collaborated with 26 unique partner organizations and spanned air, water and energy focal areas.
• The Engine’s $1.2 million in Catalyst Grants included:
• $377,750 toward progressing carbon technologies in six projects
• $119,500 toward funding systems transformation in governance
• $150,000 to furthering energy technology
• $615,100 to eight water technology advancement projects
Launched in November 2024, the Futures Engine Innovation Grant program helps early-stage companies accelerate their air, water and energy technologies to commercialization. Through nondilutive funding, the program targets technology startups with the potential for impactful solutions in the Southwest, while laying the groundwork for a strong, interconnected innovation community across Arizona, Utah and Nevada.
HIGHLIGHTS
• $1.5 million in grant funding was awarded to eight companies. These companies have since attracted $16.4 million in additional funding.
• 220 applications from 16 states were received.
• 42 experts from academia, venture capital and industry reviewed the applications.
Workforce development
Leading a deep tech economy requires advanced STEM education, strong industry-academic partnerships, and agile and impactful training programs that adapt to emerging technologies. Core industries in the Southwest, such as semiconductor manufacturing, aerospace and defense, mining, and AI infrastructure can only thrive with a talent pipeline with advanced skills in energy, water and air systems to enable that growth.
HIGHLIGHTS
• $3M invested in APS-EcoVac Project
Improving brine management while building in-state technical skills
• $2M+ committed to semiconductor water research funded by the Department of Energy and the state of Arizona
• 5MW energy storage project underway
New LDES system being installed in Florence, AZ by December 2025
• 5,400+ students trained
Thousands of Maricopa County Community Colleges students trained in the Sustainability Collaborative
• LDES technician training
Free courses offered through the Futures Engine, 10 pilot students trained
• Education landscape analysis completed Mapped skill needs across the region to guide program planning
• More than 840 participants completed nearly 3,400 engine-supplied courses
The Futures Engine Workforce Challenge invited employers across Arizona, Nevada and Utah to enroll their teams in free, online courses explaining the Southwest’s most pressing regional issues
• 222 chief science officers engaged Student leaders from Arizona, Utah and Nevada working on local STEM projects
• Joined Plug and Play Sustainability Accelerator Partnering with a global network of companies and investors to support deep tech growth
• 9,399 students reached through Green Box Curriculum
The two-month science curriculum kits expanded to 105 educators in three states, reaching thousands of middle school students.
Partners power the Futures Engine
Over the next decade, the Futures Engine will connect and institutionalize a distributed, regional, self-sustaining innovation ecosystem of researchers, innovators, investors, decision-makers and community and industry leaders — diverse stakeholders united by common goals for a thriving, deep-tech economy in a highly vulnerable region.
This goal makes connections and collaborations, more than anything, the lifeblood of the Futures Engine. Through partnerships, both formal and informal, we are building this ecosystem, and in our first year, we took clear action to lay strong foundations.
HIGHLIGHTS
• More than 180 partners joined the Engine.
• Drawn from academia, industry, government, finance and more, a multitude of different entities joined the Engine in its first year to work toward our shared mission.
• The Engine convened 13 events across Arizona, Nevada and Utah to advance research, commercialization, investment and training opportunities for our region.
• The Engine convened stakeholders to work together, identify opportunities and advance solutions for our region.
• Our academic partners — Arizona State University, University of Utah, Desert Research Institute and University of Nevada, Las Vegas — worked with their respective tribal relations offices to engage with tribal entities. These relationships allow the Engine to better understand the tribal perspectives and support startups on tribal lands.
• The Engine translated research priorities to market through grant programs, small and medium-sized businesses labs, and distinct networking collaborations among partners.
• Partners such as Plug and Play and gener8tor matched tech startups with investors and end user customers with Engine testbeds to accelerate tech commercialization in the region.
• Guidehouse, RTI International and PepsiCo joined the Engine to lead efforts ranging from advancing long-duration energy storage to innovation in governance and industrial water use.
Chett Boxley at the startup Glycosurf reported that the Futures Engine Innovation Grant is more than just financial support. He explained that the Innovation Showcase and Summit was essential in helping him crystalize the message of his organizational capabilities to various stakeholders, including investors, other startups and large industrial firms.
Yariv Erez, CEO of Frontier RNG, a desert and agri-tech accelerator, is excited about partnering with the Engine to advance critical technologies that will improve commerce across the Southwest. He intends to increase the firm's presence in Arizona, Nevada and Utah by supporting the startup community through direct investment, incubation, testbeds and mentoring.
Visualizing our partner network
Measured by activity, 125 partners are engaged in research and development (RD), innovating technology related to air, energy and water. Closely related to research and development is translation (T), with 79 partners — incubators, accelerators, investors — working to speed these technologies to market. There are 41 partners involved in our Catalyst and Innovation Grant programs (Grants), 40 in workforce development (W) and 13 in Engine governance and management (GM).
7/1/24 9/1/24 11/1/24 1/1/25 3/1/25
Since inception, the Futures Engine has tripled its partner roster. Partners have come from all sectors: industrial/commercial business, startups, investors, higher education, government and nonprofits.
The partners that make it possible
Governance board members
Arizona Governor's Office
Arizona State University
Desert Research Institute
Ecolab
Honeywell Aerospace
RTI International
University of Utah
Salt River Project
Southern Nevada Water Authority
Research partners
ASU
Central Arizona College
DRI
Northern Arizona University
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Utah Tech
UU
Government partners
Arizona Commerce Authority
Arizona Governor's Office
Clark County
City of Chandler
City of Cottonwood Heights
City of Phoenix
City of South Jordan
Nevada Department of Energy
Nevada Governor's Office of Economic Development
State of Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity
Salt Lake City
Utah Governor’s Office
Strategic advisors
Disruptive Technology Associates
DNH Consultants
Franklin Advisors
Pack Energy
Strata Innovations
Rucks Group
TSL Law Group
Industry partners
Ameresco
APS
BEC Environmental
Ceasars Entertainment
Ferbo
Freeport McMoRan
Guidehouse
MGM Resorts
PepsiCo
Rocky Mountain Power/PacifiCorp
Shasta Pools
Taiwan Semiconductor
Manufacturing Company
Trane
US Magnesium
Utah Clean Energy
Veolia
Foundation and nonprofit support
Center for the Future of Arizona
Friends of the Great Salt Lake
Glen Canyon Institute’s Returning
Rapids Project
Greater Phoenix Economic Council
Junior Achievement
Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance
Maricopa County Community
College District
Patchwork Community
Pipeline AZ
SciTech Institute
Semiconductor Research Corporation
Seven Canyons Trust
The Nature Conservancy
United Dairymen of Arizona
U.S. Green Building Council
Utah Rivers Council
Water Research Foundation
Waterstart
West-MEC
In the news
In its inaugural years, the Futures Engine earned widespread media attention for activating a coordinated innovation strategy across Arizona, Nevada and Utah.
Inside Greater Phoenix’s climate tech innovation and sustainability boom
'Sustainability Engine' aims to tackle climate challenges in the Southwest
Largest non-lithium battery project to break ground in Arizona this year
Hydrosat launches first payload to monitor hot-spots on Earth
A united front for sustainability and the economy
A hidden sea of opportunity: A newly launched UNLV startup advances the search for water sustainability solutions to the Southwest climate crisis.
‘There’s so much we can do collectively’: University of Utah hosts NSF, regional partners for Southwest Sustainability Innovation Engine site visit
National and regional news sources reported on Futures Engine initiatives, partnerships and breakthroughs, affirming its leadership in shaping a more resilient regional economy.
JANUARY
OCTOBER 2024
AUGUST 2024
In the news
Axios Phoenix spotlighted Greater Phoenix as a climate tech hub, with the Engine as a key player in the region’s innovation boom.
KTNV Las Vegas and ABC15 Arizona showcased Engine-backed energy and water innovations, including the nation’s largest non-lithium battery project and novel solutions in sustainable water use.
Core research partners ASU, DRI, UNLV and UU news outlets provided in-depth reporting on the Engine’s collaborative efforts across universities, government and industry, including the October 2024 Unity Event in Tempe, which brought together more than 115 partners to align on deployment strategies and regional workforce goals.
Breaking Defense featured a new Earth-observing payload from Engine partner Hydrosat, demonstrating how Engine-supported ventures are scaling regionally and nationally.
Through stories like these, the public learned of the Engine’s expanding partnerships and its projected regional impact: $2.7 billion in economic activity, 15,000 new jobs and $900 million in tax revenue over 10 years.
This growing media footprint underscores the Engine’s emerging role as a national model for cultivating jobs, infrastructure and market-ready innovation.
The Futures Engine Dispatch newsletter launched in November 2024, providing regular updates on opportunities to get involved, connect across the 180+ partner network and more. Subscribe to learn the latest.
The future of the Engine
The Futures Engine is entering its next phase — one centered on execution and scaling impact. We approach this work with the discipline and focus of a highperforming organization. The challenges we face in the Southwest demand solutions that are not only innovative, but also measurable, scalable and grounded in realworld needs.
Our goals for the next three years:
• Establish 16 new industry-research partnerships each year to address critical air, water and energy challenges
• Support 24 startups annually, with at least 70% reaching key commercialization milestones within 12 months
• Achieve $125 million in cumulative funding for Engine-supported startups by the end of Year 5
• Equip 25,000 learners per year with skills aligned to high-demand technology sectors through our partner network
• Mobilize $500 million in regional investment from public and private partners into Engine-aligned technology domains
Research doesn't determine our course. Rather, we are putting industry in the driver's seat. Our research agenda is shaped by market need, guided by the employers and sectors fueling regional growth. Workforce development efforts reflect the skills and capabilities required for future jobs, not past ones.
This is why we are deepening engagement with industry partners. Their input will shape the questions we ask, the projects we fund and the solutions we scale. Early alignment with the private sector leads to faster innovation, more effective deployment and greater long-term impact.
To enable this, we’re expanding our venture support, building regional testbeds and pilots, and training tomorrow's workforce to bring technology out of the lab and into the landscape.
Our language is changing.
From planning to producing
From potential to traction .
From learners to talent
From silos to systems
This is the future of the Futures Engine.
