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Miami-Dade County will compete for up to $160 million in federal support for regional coalitions of researchers, institutions and companies to be formed to conduct technology research to solve problems impacting the economy and society. It is in a hurry.
Funding will come from a National Science Foundation Award for Regional Innovation Engines. The first 10 prizes in January amounted to up to $15 million each. A new round of grants announced in April will increase payments by up to $160 million over 10 years.
The new round also allows applicants to allow state and local government agencies to submit letters of intent for such regional projects by June 18 and short preliminary proposals by August 6. group was also expanded. Full proposals are expected to be submitted by February 11, 2025. .
The county is now scrambling to coordinate and develop research proposals to meet deadlines.
Commissioners voted 13-0 last week to enter the funding race under Chairman Oliver Gilbert's bill. The bill gives no hint as to who will be part of the coalition or what proposals the county-led group will make.
The bill would require Mayor Daniela Levin Cava, or her designee to coordinate with Mr. Gilbert's office and the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, to submit a letter of intent or application for funding for federal programs by the deadline. It is mandatory.
Competition is likely to be fierce as companies develop specific goals in other areas as well.
One of the inaugural winners is from Florida. The Central Florida Semiconductor Innovation Engine, led by the International Consortium for Advanced Manufacturing Research, aims to play a key role in supporting the nation's capabilities in advanced packaging design and manufacturing for semiconductors.
Other winners of the competition earlier this year included the Great Lakes Water Innovation Engine, the Upstate New York Energy Storage Engine, the Piedmont Triad Regenerative Medicine Engine and the North Carolina Textile Innovation and Sustainability Engine, according to Gilbert's Law. included, but according to Mr. Gilbert's law these were not admissible. It passed a committee hearing before last week's vote but was not discussed by the committee.
In awarding the grants, the National Science Foundation recognizes “interdisciplinary collaborations across state and local governments, tribal nations, other federal agencies, academia, philanthropy, and private industry to expand the frontiers of technology and innovation.” We are keen to identify and invest in regional consortiums that will drive economic growth across the country,'' said Tyaga Nandagopal, Division Director, Foundation Group, who is leading the Engine program. “This program welcomes proposals from all corners of our country, especially from regions that have not fully participated in the technology boom of the past few decades.”
