SCHUMER APPLAUDS FOUR UPSTATE NY PROJECTS ADVANCING IN NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION “INNOVATION ENGINES” COMPETITION CREATED IN HIS CHIPS & SCIENCE LAW

Schumer Says Projects Range From University At Buffalo AI Research To Rochester’s Laser Lab To Cornell’s New Technology For Upstate Dairy Farmers And FuzeHub’s Semiconductor Manufacturing Initiative; All To Spur New Innovations And Good-Paying Jobs Across Upstate NY

In 2024, Schumer-Supported And Binghamton University-Led Battery Hub Won Inaugural NSF Engines Competition, And Now More NY Projects Compete In Second Year Of CHIPS & Science Law Created Program

Schumer: Upstate NY Projects One Step Closer To Major Fed $$ To Boost American Innovation And Jobs!

U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today applauded four New York projects have advanced to the next round of consideration as semifinalists for federal investment through the National Science Foundation’s Regional “Innovation Engines” Competition (NSF Engines), which was created by his bipartisan CHIPS & Science Law.

The four proposals include projects ranging from the University of Rochester’s effort to develop cutting-edge laser technology, to the University at Buffalo-led AI for Health Equity, to Cornell University leading sustainable dairy innovation, to FuzeHub strengthening Upstate NY’s microelectronics manufacturing. 

Schumer said NSF will now conduct final assessments of these four projects in NY, along with a total of 29 teams across the country, to select finalists that will receive awards of up to $160 million in federal investment from the bipartisan CHIPS & Science Law. Nearly 300 letters of intent from across the country were submitted for this second round of NSF Engines funding, a group that has now been narrowed down to the 29 semifinalists, including the four New York proposals. You can read more about this year’s competition here.

“I created the NSF Regional Innovation Engines program in my bipartisan CHIPS & Science Law with Upstate NY’s world-renowned universities and innovation ecosystem in mind. I’m proud to see four Upstate NY-based proposals advanced to the semifinalist round of consideration for major federal funding that will boost Upstate NY as the heart of American innovation and job creation,” said Senator Schumer. “From Buffalo pioneering the next generation application of AI for health and Cornell discovering new technology to help our Upstate dairy farmers to Rochester powering the future of laser development and FuzeHub supporting Upstate NY’s buildout of a global semiconductor hub, this investment is establishing Upstate New York as a world leader in developing technology of the future, all while creating good-paying jobs, jobs, jobs. More federal support will translate to more research and development, company investment and expansion, and jobs across Upstate New York, keeping America at the cutting-edge of innovation.”

More details on the four New York-based proposals named semifinalists, all of which Schumer has advocated for the NSF to select, can be found below:

• The University of Rochester’s proposal, officially named “STELLAR: Advancing Laser Technologies in the Rochester NY/Finger Lakes Region,” is focused on establishing a diverse coalition of partners in the Rochester-Finger Lakes region to accelerate laser discovery, technological advancement, education, and company creation, drive manufacturing and boost workforce development in order to help recapture U.S. national competitiveness and strengthen our security. The STELLAR Engine will foster laser-oriented workforce development, particularly in underserved communities in Rochester and rural communities in the Finger Lakes, accelerate use-inspired R&D, entrepreneurship, and regional business development that will create jobs, build a laser science and technology talent pipeline, bolster the supply chain, and grow and sustain the region’s economy.

• The University at Buffalo’s proposal, officially named “AI for Health Equity,” will work to utilize artificial intelligence to develop cutting-edge health care solutions, further highlighting Western New York’s leadership in building an AI innovation ecosystem, something Schumer has actively pushed for. The project aims to boost new start-up companies and help partners commercialize AI technology centered on health and wellness. This new technology will aid health care providers and serve as personal assistance to community members. Eventually, the project will expand so that its technology can serve communities beyond Western NY and across the country.

• Cornell University’s proposal, officially named “Sustainable Utilization of Scalable Technologies & Advanced Innovation for NetZero NY (SUSTAIN Dairy),” aims to reduce waste, create new dairy products, and develop new rural and workforce development opportunities. It is one of five projects in this round that is focused on agriculture and the only project focused on dairy. This proposal aims to develop a holistic, science-based framework for achieving net zero by 2050 from farm to fork through an advanced dairy innovation ecosystem. With dairy manufacturing and family farms scattered throughout rural New York, achieving place-based innovation that builds community wealth is vital for the future success of Upstate New York.

• FuzeHub’s proposal, officially named “A Materials Innovation Engine for Manufacturing Sustainability,” will work to mitigate the negative impacts on the environment from manufacturing industries by replacing toxic or scarce components with advanced materials. FuzeHub competed last year for this award as well and was asked to resubmit.

In 2024, Schumer helped the Binghamton University-led Upstate New York Energy Storage Engine win the esteemed competition in its inaugural year, bringing $15 million in federal funding immediately, with up to $160 million total over the life of the program from the NSF to supercharge growth and cutting-edge research in battery development and manufacturing in Upstate NY.

Schumer created the NSF’s Regional Innovation Engines Program in his bipartisan CHIPS & Science Law as a program that falls under the newly created NSF Directorate of Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships. Schumer proposed the creation of this new Directorate originally in his bipartisan Endless Frontier Act, with a focus on delivering investment in research, workforce training, and entrepreneurship in key technology areas like AI, semiconductors, quantum computing, biotechnology, climate-smart research, advanced materials, and more. The NSF Regional Innovation Engines program catalyzes and fosters innovation ecosystems across the United States to promote and stimulate economic growth, job creation, and spur regional innovation.

Each NSF Engine can receive up to $160 million over 10 years; actual amounts will be subject to a given NSF Engine's status and overall progress, as assessed annually. The teams selected in this recent announcement submitted full proposals this past spring and are now eligible for final awards later this year after NSF conducts live, virtual assessments of the semifinalist teams. NSF anticipates announcing the final list of NSF Engines awards in early 2026.

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