VESTAL — Millions in federal funding are coming to the Binghamton University–led Upstate New York Energy Storage Engine after it was selected for funding in the U.S. National Science Foundation’s regional “Innovation Engines” (NSF Engines) competition. The Binghamton–led project was one of only 10 projects across the country selected for the award, the office of […]
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VESTAL — Millions in federal funding are coming to the Binghamton University–led Upstate New York Energy Storage Engine after it was selected for funding in the U.S. National Science Foundation’s regional “Innovation Engines” (NSF Engines) competition.
The Binghamton–led project was one of only 10 projects across the country selected for the award, the office of U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D–N.Y.) announced Jan. 29.
Upstate New York Energy Storage Engine is led by Binghamton University and its New Energy New York (NENY) coalition of partners, per the NENY website.
It will bring $15 million in federal funding immediately, with up to $160 million total over the life of the program, from the NSF to spur growth and research in battery development and manufacturing in upstate New York over the next decade.
NSF Engines was created by the majority leader’s CHIPS & Science Law, his office noted.
“Up to $160 million is now on its way to supercharge Upstate NY as a booming battery research hub being led by Binghamton University,” Schumer said in a news release. “Thanks to my CHIPS & Science Law, Binghamton will be the beating electric heart of federal efforts to help bring battery innovation and development back from overseas to spark growth of this critical industry vital to our nation’s national and economic security.”
Schumer made the announcement during a Jan. 29 appearance at Binghamton University.
Binghamton University’s NSF Regional Engines proposal will capitalize on efforts already underway and “synergize” existing resources to launch new initiatives focused on strengthening the battery supply chain, accelerating the transfer of battery technologies from lab to market, and mobilizing resources around research and development to complement battery-manufacturing initiatives and growing cross-sector partnerships per the release.
“Establishing a battery and energy storage Engine here in upstate New York is a crucial step to bringing domestic production of batteries and a secure supply chain to the U.S.,” M. Stanley Whittingham, Engine chief innovation officer, Binghamton University professor, and Nobel Laureate recipient, said. “It is critically important that battery innovations stemming from university and industry researchers can be developed, prototyped and manufactured in the U.S. in order to leap frog today’s Asian technology. With Senator Schumer’s continued support, we are confident we can transform our region, attract investment, create new jobs and fill those jobs with a skilled workforce.”
Schumer’s office noted that the Jan. 29 funding award follows the more than $113 million announced in 2022 for Binghamton to establish its battery manufacturing and innovation hub. He also secured the federal tech-hub designation for Binghamton University’s NENY project.
About NENY
Binghamton University President Harvey Stenger called the Jan. 29 announcement “another extraordinary win” for the school’s New Energy New York project and the entire coalition.
“We have all of the right academic and research collaborators on board, we are partnered with major industries as well as small businesses, and our ecosystem is diverse. This is what the NSF Engines program is all about. Of course, we want to thank Senator Schumer for his vision, leadership, and support for Binghamton University and the entire NENY coalition,” Stenger said in the Schumer release.
The coalition includes entities in 27 counties in upstate New York. With Binghamton University as the lead, the initiative brings together cross-sector partners including research universities such as Cornell University, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), and Syracuse University, for efforts in research and development, as well as New York Battery and Energy Storage Technology Consortium (NY-BEST), Launch NY, and multiple private-sector partners to “ensure effective industry-informed projects,” Schumer’s office said.
Since having been awarded funding, the NENY coalition has supported more than 30 high-tech startups through innovation and technology translation programs, further establishing New York State as a destination for battery and energy storage technology startups ranging from prototyping to scale-up to manufacturing. NENY has also developed a host of innovative programs to support the growth of the battery and energy storage manufacturing industry, which have introduced or trained more than 650 people, per Schumer’s office.
