The National Science Foundation (NSF) Futures Engine is advancing technologies to safeguard the region’s deep-tech economy, addressing critical challenges across water, energy, and air quality.
As AI-driven growth accelerates, so does the strain on power grids and water systems—especially in the desert states. Ensuring resource resilience across this region is essential to sustain long-term economic growth and maintain U.S. competitiveness in critical sectors.
With support from the NSF Regional Innovation Engines program, the NSF Futures Engine is building a regional, cross-sector technology ecosystem to meet that demand. Bringing together an extensive network of partners—including startups, Fortune 500 companies, universities, and state and local governments across three states—the NSF Engine is advancing breakthrough technologies designed to strengthen water and energy systems, improve air quality monitoring and detection, and support durable, long-term economic development across the region.
Lead organization: Arizona State University.
Core Partners: Desert Research Institute, Maricopa Community Colleges, SciTech Institute, University of Nevada Las Vegas, University of Utah, Water Research Foundation.
Region of service: Arizona, Nevada and Utah.
NSF award: NSF-2315479
