National Science Foundation funding will accelerate the Permian Energy Development Lab’s work
Grant funding is part of a national effort to encourage job creation, spur regional innovation and advance the development of critical technologies
Odessa, Texas—The National Science Foundation (NSF) today announced a funding award that will lay the groundwork for a new regional innovation engine in the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico. The grant funding—$1M to cover a two-year period—is the first step toward a possible ten-year, $160M NSF investment.
NSF is an independent federal agency that provides billions of dollars in grants each year to support basic scientific research. Its innovation engines program is managed by the directorate for technology, innovation and partnerships, an NSF entity created by the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. The innovation engines program reflects a new focus on helping places thrive—especially places that have not fully participated in the tech boom of recent decades. Community engagement plays a critical role in the NSF approach, helping foster trust and inclusive growth.
Community engagement is also at the heart of the Permian Energy Development Lab’s approach. Launched in March, the Lab will focus its work in three areas: conducting advanced energy research and deployment, educating the next generation of energy professionals, and supporting energy-intensive communities and the natural resources they depend on.
The NSF award will accelerate the Permian Energy Development Lab’s progress in all three areas, with particular attention to bridging the gaps between research, entrepreneurship and job creation in the region.
“NSF is seeding the future for in-place innovation in communities and to grow their regional economies through research and partnerships,” said NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan. “This will unleash ideas, talent, pathways and resources to create vibrant innovation ecosystems all across our nation."
The University of Texas at Austin led the application effort, bringing together a diverse coalition of academic institutions, non-profit organizations, companies, and national laboratories. In alphabetical order, these include:
The Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation
GTI Energy
Midland College
The US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
New Mexico State University
New Mexico Tech
Odessa College
Sandia National Laboratories
Texas A&M University
The University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at El Paso
The University of Texas Permian Basin
