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NSF EPSCoR awards major research ecosystem expansions in Nebraska, Puerto Rico, Oklahoma and South Carolina

The U.S. National Science Foundation Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (NSF EPSCoR) has funded four new NSF EPSCoR Collaborations for Optimizing Research Ecosystems (E-CORE) awards designed to strengthen the nation's capacity in science, technology, engineering and mathematics through investments in research infrastructure, workforce development and community partnerships.

The new awards will support major multi-institutional collaborations in Nebraska, Puerto Rico, Oklahoma and South Carolina. Each project is designed to expand access to research opportunities, strengthen partnerships across sectors, including colleges and universities, industry, government and other organizations, and build more resilient innovation ecosystems in jurisdictions that have historically received a smaller share of federal research and development funding.

The E-CORE program encourages networks of researchers and organizations to work across disciplines and sectors to address regional priorities while developing sustainable research capacity. The awards are expected to help create new pathways into STEM education and careers, enhance research competitiveness and foster collaboration that benefits jurisdictional strengths, while enhancing local communities and economies. Together, the four E-CORE awards represent a significant federal investment in strengthening STEM ecosystems across the United States.

  • The Nebraska Strengthening Partnerships for Innovation, Research and Education: By building a statewide network that bridges generations and geographic regions, NSPIRE connects public and private colleges, pre-K-12 students and educators, community colleges, research institutions, industry and organizations with critical research facilities, training opportunities and collaborative partnerships. The project aims to increase faculty competitiveness for research funding, attract more Nebraskans to STEM careers, engage local communities in scientific discovery and support the state's nationally significant work in emergent quantum materials.
  • Research Infrastructure for AI-based Sustainable STEM Technologies in Puerto Rico: By fostering sustainable collaborations among academia, government and industry, the project will enhance research infrastructure, support economic development and prepare a skilled workforce in Artificial Intelligence-based systems for energy-resilient systems, remote sensing and quantum-secure communications, while integrating hardware and software advances to improve computing performance and energy efficiency.
  • Oklahoma Research, Innovation and Opportunity Network: The project will expand research capacity through three integrated focus areas: an Administrative Core to coordinate research development and collaboration; a Research Facilities and Infrastructure Core to build a statewide network of research facilities, expand cyberinfrastructure for faculty and students, and create a support hub for AI and machine learning; and a Workforce Development Core to enhance internships, undergraduate research, academia-industry partnerships and K-12 STEM outreach. 
  • The South Carolina Collaborative Academic Pathways in STEM: The project brings together the South Carolina Research Authority and a statewide network of colleges and universities to strengthen the state's STEM research ecosystem through experiential learning, faculty development and statewide collaboration. By investing in research capacity, expanding research and internship opportunities, and providing bridge experiences, advising and peer mentoring, the project aims to improve student success, expand STEM pathways, grow the workforce and enhance South Carolina's long-term research competitiveness.
     
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