The Engine will focus on environmental monitoring technologies and predictive analytics for climate resiliency. The CO-WY Engine will work with core partners and stakeholders including community members, researchers, and industry partners to prioritize R&D initiatives that will build more climate-resilient communities, address user needs, and demonstrate market potential through an integrated co-production process. The research and translation goals of the NSF Engine are to: (1) accelerate community-driven R&D in monitoring technologies and predictive analytics for climate-resilient communities; (2) de-risk translational projects with accelerator programs and rapidly scaling promising innovations; and (3) generate and attract more substantial investments, technologies, and startups to build a sustainable NSF Engine that will nurture a diverse, skilled workforce for a climate-tech innovation ecosystem across Colorado and Wyoming. Collectively, these goals will enable the region to become a global leader in innovations for climate resiliency and accelerate regional economic growth. The leadership team brings deep expertise across all core functions of the NSF Engine to ensure the NSF Engine goals are met. This expertise includes climate science and data analytics, technology commercialization, entrepreneurship, small business management, and development of sustainable partnerships across higher education, industry, community, and government.
The Engine has engaged economic and workforce development organizations, industry, national labs, and technical colleges across Colorado and Wyoming to build training and mentorship opportunities. Specific activities include a range of work-based learning programs, talent matching programs to connect employers to future employees, and the development of credentialing programs for a climate science workforce. Workforce development activities will prioritize rural and historically underserved communities within the region of service.
The Colorado – Wyoming Climate Resilience Engine has brought together a strong coalition of partners and identified strong alignment with regional assets and priorities. The NSF Engine has identified critical R&D topic areas that must be advanced to build climate-resilient communities worldwide. It will support R&D and translational activities to cultivate an innovative ecosystem of technology companies focused on climate science, while also driving economic growth through job creation and training opportunities.
