Project Office: Innovation, Culture, and Creativity

认识到文化、创造力和技术创新之间的良性循环，该项目的目标是将美国的一项重要战略资产，即全国各地个人的创造力和创新能力，与STEM研究、创新和劳动力发展建立更强大、更高效、更持久的关系。在nsf支持的研究中，世界交流和创造的方式越来越多地与探索和应用的关键和新兴技术交织在一起。该项目汇集了来自全国各地的专家和利益相关者，旨在在五到十年的路线图中制定可操作的步骤，解决这一交叉机会的三个关键方面。首先，它考察了区域文化和创造力在加强创新生态系统中的作用。其次，它以美国国家科学院的建议、其他国家的成功举措、工业和高等教育的实践经验为基础，开发项目，并寻求与国家STEM研发项目更紧密的联系，以支持美国产业在创意领域的持续竞争力。最后，它制定了新的战略，通过支持和参与技术、创新和创造力交叉的领域，扩大和多样化STEM劳动力。这与美国国家科学委员会（National Science Board） 2022年对科学与工程（S&amp；E）指标中STEM劳动力的重新定义是一致的，该指标将涵盖所有在工作中使用科学和工程技能的工人。潜在的深远的长期影响包括：将地方创新生态系统更好地融入区域生活结构；通过成功吸引和留住对创造性和创新性工作感兴趣的学生、工人和研究人员，在全国范围内增加STEM领域的多样性；通过更好地整合美国软实力的三个最具弹性的方面：教育机构、文化生产和技术创新，来保持全球竞争力。一个关键的目标是让更广泛的国家参与NSF在用户启发和转化研究方面的使命，正如其技术、创新和伙伴关系理事会的活动所体现的那样。该项目还将制定战略，以加强各州和各地区拥有各种传统技能和手工艺的人与现代计算技术之间的联系。通过强调国家优先技术，如人工智能，该项目将最大限度地发挥其影响，并补充其他TIP项目。为了实现这些目标，加州大学洛杉矶分校将成立一个项目办公室，开展为期一年的一系列活动，包括在全国范围内举办有竞争性奖励的区域研讨会、由美国国家科学基金会（NSF）参加的行业峰会和全国会议。可交付成果包括一个路线图，该路线图突出了与学术界、工业界、社区组织以及地方、州和联邦政府等广泛合作伙伴的合作机会。该项目旨在确定现有和新项目如何能够1)通过与特定地区的创意和创新活动进行深思熟虑的联系，增强和维持创新生态系统；2)支持美国在关键和新兴创新领域的技术和创造力交叉点上的竞争力；3)通过与在广泛的创造性活动中应用STEM技能和创新的学生、教师、工人和组织进行更深入的接触，加强STEM劳动力。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Recognizing the virtuous cycle between culture and creativity and technological innovation, the goal of this project is to bring an important strategic asset of the United States, viz., the creativity and innovative abilities of individuals in all regions across the country, into stronger, more productive, and sustained relationships with STEM research, innovation, and workforce development. How the world communicates and creates is now increasingly intertwined with critical and emerging technologies explored and applied in NSF-supported research. Gathering experts and stakeholders from across the country, this project aims to develop actionable steps within a five- to ten-year roadmap that addresses three key aspects of this intersectional opportunity. First, it examines the role of regional culture and creativity in strengthening innovation ecosystems. Second, it builds on recommendations from the National Academies, successful initiatives in other countries, and hands-on experience in industry and higher education to develop programs and pursue stronger connectivity with the nation’s STEM R&D programs in support of the continued competitiveness of U.S. industries involved in the creative sector. Finally, it develops novel strategies to expand and diversify the STEM workforce through support and engagement with fields at the intersection of technology, innovation, and creativity. This is consistent with the National Science Board’s 2022 redefinition of the STEM workforce in Science and Engineering (S&E) Indicators to encompass all workers who use science and engineering skills in their jobs.The potential for profound long-term impact ranges from improved integration of local innovation ecosystems into the fabric of regional life; to nationwide increases in diversity in STEM fields by successfully attracting and retaining students, workers, and researchers who are interested in creative and innovative work; to continued global competitiveness through better integration of the three most resilient aspects of U.S. soft power: educational institutions, cultural production, and technological innovation. A key objective is to engage a broader cross-section of the nation to participate in NSF’s mission in user-inspired and translational research, as embodied by the activities of its Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships Directorate. This project will also develop strategies to enhance the connections between people with a range of traditional skills and crafts found across the states and territories with modern computational techniques. By emphasizing national priority technologies, such as AI, the project will maximize its impact and complement other TIP programs.To achieve these objectives, a project office will be created at UCLA to conduct an approximately year-long series of activities including competitively awarded regional workshops across the country, an industry summit involving NSF, and a national conference. Deliverables include a roadmap that highlights collaboration opportunities with a wide range of partners including in academia, industry, community organizations, and local, state, and federal government. The project seeks to establish how existing and new programs could 1) enhance and sustain innovation ecosystems through thoughtful and deliberate connections to the creative and innovative activities in a given region; 2) support U.S. competitiveness at the intersection of technology and creativity in critical and emerging areas of innovation; and 3) strengthen the STEM workforce through deeper engagement with students, faculty, workers, and organizations who apply STEM skills and innovations in a broad range of creative activities.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.