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Regional Engines
Critical Materials Crossroads consortium selected as one of NSF's Regional Innovation Engines
$160M Grant
UMKC-led effort wins potential $160M grant: Feds back KC in race to control tech’s most critical materials
CEO,Tony Caruso Interview
NSF-CMC builds a national supply chain for critical materials
Read What Industry Partners Say
This award is a powerful validation of what the Kansas City region can achieve when industry, higher education and public partners unite behind a shared vision. With world-class infrastructure, a thriving talent pipeline and a collaborative ecosystem, our region is uniquely positioned to lead the next generation of advanced manufacturing and create new opportunities for critical materials innovation and production.
Kansas City has long been a place where complex challenges are solved through collaboration. Today's announcement recognizes the strength of our region's talent, industry and research community. We are proud that UMKC in leading this important initiative and look forward to supporting the development of new and lasting economic opportunities here in Kansas City while strengthening America's critical materials supply chain.
This is a transformative moment for Greater Kansas City and a powerful validation of what is possible when universities, industry, government and civic partners come together around a shared vision. The NSF Regional Innovation Engines award positions our region to lead the nation in advancing critical materials innovation while strengthening our economy, creating high-quality jobs and building a more resilient domestic supply chain. The KC Chamber is proud to have supported this effort, and we congratulate UMKC and every partner whose collaboration helped make this achievement possible. We look forward to building on this momentum to ensure Greater Kansas City continues to compete and lead on the global stage.
This project holds great promise for the region’s workforce, and will create pathways for thousands of in-demand, quality careers in sectors that play to the Kansas City region’s economic strengths. Through training and support systems that match the needs of employers and job seekers concurrently, the Critical Materials Crossroads Engine will ensure that opportunity is accessible to the workforce and employers in Greater Kansas City region.
... This initiative will strengthen research collaborations, accelerate innovation and create new pathways for students, researchers and industry partners to address critical workforce needs. Pittsburg State University is proud to support this transformative effort and to contribute our expertise in applied research, workforce development and industry engagement. Together, we are building a stronger innovation ecosystem that will enhance regional economic growth while advancing the nation's leadership in critical materials and advanced manufacturing.
Rebuilding America's critical materials supply chain will require strong partnerships across research, manufacturing, workforce development and logistics. Wagner is proud to support the UMKC-led Critical Materials Crossroads Engine and the coalition of partners working to strengthen domestic manufacturing, enhance supply chain resilience and position the Kansas City region as a national leader in critical materials innovation.
...Wichita State University is proud to support this transformative effort and contribute its expertise in research and development. Critical materials are essential to industrial manufacturing, technological advancement and national security. The establishment of this regional engine will create significant opportunities for innovation, commercialization and domestic production of critical materials in the Kansas City region, with subsequent expansion and broader economic impact extending to Wichita and the surrounding areas.
The National Science Foundation’s investment in UMKC’s Critical Materials Crossroads Engine is a major win for Kansas City and our region. It recognizes the expertise and commitment behind an effort that can strengthen American manufacturing, expand career opportunities and position this region as a leader in critical materials. JE Dunn is proud to support UMKC and congratulate everyone whose work made this achievement possible.
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Newsfeed
Innovation Engines to Fuel Jobs and Economic Growth
Columbus Daily Tribune
These NSF Engines will build and scale innovation clusters that aim to accelerate the development of critical technologies
NSF awards 12 New Regional Innovation Engines
U.S. National Science Foundation
Newest awardees join a portfolio of regional technology clusters that are spearheading the development of critical technologies across the country
NSF Critical Materials Crossroads Engine $15M Award
Discovery Alert
America’s Critical Minerals Bottleneck Has Never Been About the Ground Beneath Its Feet
Record-Setting Grant to Generate 10,000 Jobs, $40B Output
FOX4KC
The University of Missouri-Kansas City just received what’s believed to be the largest research grant in the state’s history
Hear from our federal and state leaders
Missouri is doing its part to secure American dominance on the world stage. Kansas City’s NSF Engine will be an important driver in enhancing U.S. competitiveness and strengthening the domestic critical mineral supply chain. I am proud to support a transformational NSF investment that accelerates innovation, creates high-paying jobs and establishes the Kansas City region as a national hub for critical materials and advanced manufacturing.
Eric Schmitt
U.S. Senator
The National Science Foundation’s selection of UMKC for this award is an important investment in the Greater Kansas City region. This investment will strengthen our local economy, support job growth and position the region to continue leading in research, innovation and advanced manufacturing while creating new opportunities for the next generation. As chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that funds NSF, I have long made it a priority to support efforts like these to strengthen our domestic supply chains and support U.S. economic and national security.
Jerry Moran
U.S. Senator
Today’s announcement proves that the future of American innovation is being built right here in Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District. UMKC’s designation as an NSF Regional Innovation Engine reflects the extraordinary talent and collaboration that define our community. This investment will strengthen our economy, create good-paying jobs, and ensure our region continues to lead in developing the critical technologies of tomorrow. I congratulate Chancellor Agrawal, UMKC and all of the partners who helped make this achievement possible. Today, we are reminded that our greatest successes come when there’s collaboration towards a shared vision. That’s the Kansas City way, and today the nation is taking notice.
Emanuel Cleaver
U.S. Representative
This historic investment for UMKC is a major win not only for Missourians, but for our entire country as we work to rebuild American manufacturing. Our state is now well-positioned to help lead the next generation of innovation, and this investment will ensure that our researchers, manufacturers and workforce are driving the advancements needed to strengthen our economic and national security. Funding merit-based, evidence-driven research is exactly what the NSF should be supporting to help grow advanced manufacturing, secure our domestic supply chains and keep America competitive on the global stage.
Bob Onder
U.S. Representative
The Critical Materials Crossroads is a huge deal for the Kansas City region and the State of Missouri. The future of our country is dependent on having the ability to produce our own critical materials. Missouri is well-positioned to develop the resources, technology and talent to make that happen here at home and I can think of no one better than the University of Missouri System to lead this effort.
Sam Graves
U.S. Representative
I’ve been proud to support this effort since day one because Kansas City has the talent, the partnerships and the know-how to help solve our nation’s biggest challenges. This investment shows what’s possible when we work across state lines and across sectors to build the future right here in the heartland. By strengthening our critical materials supply chains, we’re not only protecting our national security — we’re creating good-paying jobs and new opportunities for the next generation of Kansas City innovators.
Sharice Davids
U.S. Representative
For too long, the United States has watched critical minerals supply chains shift overseas, leaving our energy security dependent on foreign adversaries like China. This grant is a serious step toward reversing that, building a real domestic supply chain for the materials that power everything from batteries to jet engines, right here in Missouri. I was proud to join my colleagues in a letter of support for the University of Missouri System’s effort to secure this award, and I’m glad to see that work pay off for our great state. Missouri has the mineral supply, the research talent and the manufacturing base to lead the effort in rebuilding our domestic critical minerals supply chain, and this grant gives us the resources to do so.
Jason Smith
U.S. Representative
This is a tremendous win for Missouri and for America's future, and I am proud to have helped lead congressional efforts supporting this proposal. Developing secure domestic sources of critical materials is essential to protecting our economic competitiveness and national security. Missouri has long been a leader in innovation, manufacturing and research, and this award further showcases our state's central role in strengthening America's industrial base. Congratulations to the University of Missouri System and the partners who came together to make this monumental investment a reality.
Ann Wagner
U.S. Representative
Kansas City is proud of UMKC for its receipt of one of the largest federal grants in our region’s history to make Kansas City the national center for critical materials research, ensuring our country can produce materials we rely on in our phones, cars and daily lives with less reliance on unsustainable forms of mineral extraction elsewhere in the world..
Quinton Lucas
Mayor of Kansas City
This is a big win for Missouri’s New Fourth District and for America’s future. I was proud to support this effort because rebuilding our domestic supply chains for critical materials is essential to our national security, our energy independence and our economic strength. This investment will create good-paying jobs, strengthen our manufacturing base and ensure the Heartland continues to lead the way in innovation.
Mark Alford
U.S. Representative
We are grateful to the colleagues, partners and supporters for all you do to advance this vision!
Launched by the NSF Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships, the NSF Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines) program is building and scaling regional innovation ecosystems nationwide. Each NSF Engine is powered by a broad coalition of private sector, regional and scientific leaders and organizations to accelerate breakthrough emerging technology research and development that drives growth and ultimately bolsters U.S. economic competitiveness and national security.