Athens State University has been awarded a $400,000 grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). The Enabling Partnerships to Increase Innovation Capacity (EPIIC) program provides institutions with training and networking support to develop the capacity and institutional knowledge needed to help build more inclusive ecosystems and enable participation in regional innovation ecosystems, potentially connecting to NSF Engines.
With the grant funds, Athens State will be collaborating with Southern Utah University and Georgia College & State University to implement the Fostering Unity and Teamwork for Rural Excellence (FUTURE) initiative. FUTURE aims to increase institutional capacity and participation in innovation partnerships through three key goals:
- Developing centralized knowledge, expertise, and a transparent repository of partnerships and resources to leverage institutional capacity to build sustainable partnerships.
- Building faculty capacity through training, incentives, and policies to enable innovative partnerships.
- Strengthening new and existing industry relationships through student showcases, industry-faculty integration opportunities, and enhancing advisory boards.
Each of the three universities will receive a $400,000 award paid out over the next three years.
“The FUTURE initiative marks an exciting time of growth and collaboration for our institution,” said Dr. Katie Holm, Associate Professor of Career & Technical Education. “By centralizing our resources and building strong industry partnerships, we’re not just enhancing our faculty’s ability to innovate—we’re positioning ourselves as a key contributor to regional and national economic development. Collaborating with our partner universities amplifies our impact, helping us create meaningful connections between academia and industry. Through FUTURE, we’re paving the way for lasting innovation that benefits our students, faculty, and the communities we serve.”
The EPIIC program has awarded nearly $19 million to 48 awardees at U.S. institutions of higher education, including teams from historically Black colleges and universities, minority-serving institutions (MSIs), primarily undergraduate institutions, and community and technical colleges.
For more information about EPIIC, please visit www.nsf.gov.