NSF Engines Development Award: Utilizing space research, development and manufacturing to improve the human condition (OH)

这一区域创新引擎发展奖旨在整合该州在空间、生物和物理科学方面的独特优势，以改善我们星球上的生命。拟议中的乔治·华盛顿·卡弗(GWC)科学园区加速器和区域催化剂俄亥俄州(SPARC俄亥俄州)引擎旨在将俄亥俄州定位为预计1T美元太空经济的首选目的地，通过创造数千个就业机会重振俄亥俄州经济不景气的地区，通过全面和包容性的教育和培训计划激励所有年龄段的学生，并确保美国在新兴商业太空经济中的领导地位。如果成功，这个项目产生的最终NSF发动机将利用：1)为空间、空间实验和制造开发的技术的好处，以及独特的地面设施，以进行受使用启发的研发，如果没有太空作为催化剂，这些研发几乎是不可能进行的；2)俄亥俄州一流的与空间相关的设施和学术机构，为发动机提供空间研究和劳动力发展的基础；3)经过验证的商业化实践和强大的加速器和投资者社区；4)劳动力发展计划的连续性；5)俄亥俄州作为一个极具吸引力的目的地的吸引力，提供了经济激励和高质量的生活，吸引了个人和组织在俄亥俄州站稳脚跟。为空间应用开发的技术必须在恶劣环境中高度可靠和可持续。由此产生的创新包括耐高温、重量轻、寿命长和高效的产品，这些产品具有改善地球生活的巨大潜力。由于微重力(提供失重)、近真空状态和更高水平的辐射，在太空运行为各种部门提供了独特的研究和制造环境。获得长期微重力是天基研究和制造的一个关键推动因素。重力影响着地球上的一切，从生命的发展到物质之间的相互作用。轨道航天器上的微重力环境使科学家能够进行实验并开发在地球上不可能实现的制造工艺。俄亥俄州SPARC将利用支持地面和空间研究的设施和服务，显著扩大俄亥俄州与联邦政府、工业界和学术界之间的现有伙伴关系。该引擎将开发路径，将关键的空间、生物和物理科学知识与区域和国家利益攸关方联系起来，以解决受使用启发的问题。预计的结果包括重建美国在半导体领域的竞争力，通过创新产品改善消费者的生活，增进健康和健康，加强食品生产和安全，以及促进环境可持续发展。该发展奖将使SPARC俄亥俄州能够参与一个地区性的、协作的规划过程，以准备一个未来的引擎来实现这些目标。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This Regional Innovation Engines Development Award aims to integrate the state’s unique strengths in space, biological, and physical sciences to improve life on our planet. The proposed George Washington Carver (GWC) Science Park Accelerator & Regional Catalyst – Ohio (SPARC Ohio) Engine seeks to position Ohio as the go-to destination for the projected $1T space economy, revitalizing economically depressed regions in Ohio by creating thousands of jobs, inspiring students of all ages through comprehensive and inclusive education and training programs, and securing US leadership in the emerging commercial space economy. If successful, the eventual NSF Engine stemming out of this project will leverage: 1) The benefits of technology developed for space, in-space experiments and manufacturing, and unique terrestrial facilities to conduct use-inspired R&D that is all but impossible to perform without space as a catalyst; 2) Ohio’s premier space-related facilities and academic institutions, which provide the Engine’s foundation in space research and workforce development; 3) Proven commercialization practices and a robust accelerator and investor community; 4) A continuum of workforce development programs; and 5) Ohio’s appeal as a highly attractive destination, offering economic incentives and a high quality of living that draw individuals and organizations to establish themselves in Ohio. Technologies developed for space applications must be highly reliable and sustainable in a harsh environment. Resulting innovations include high-temperature resistant, lightweight, long-life, and high-efficiency products with enormous potential to improve life on Earth. Operating in space offers a unique research and manufacturing environment to a broad range of sectors due to microgravity (which provides weightlessness), a near-vacuum state, and higher levels of radiation. A key enabler of space-based research and manufacturing is access to long-term microgravity. Gravity influences everything on Earth, from the development of life to the interactions between materials. The micro-gravity environment aboard an orbiting spacecraft allows scientists to conduct experiments and develop manufacturing processes that are impossible to achieve on Earth. SPARC Ohio will leverage facilities and services that support both ground- and space-based research to significantly expand the existing partnership between the state and federal government, industry, and academia throughout Ohio. The Engine will develop pathways to connect critical space, biological, and physical science knowledge with regional and national stakeholders to solve use-inspired problems. Projected outcomes include re-establishing US competitiveness in semiconductors, improving consumers’ lives through innovative products, advancing health and wellness, strengthening food production and security, and promoting environmental sustainability. This Development Award will enable the SPARC Ohio to engage in a regional, collaborative planning process to prepare a future Engine to meet these goals.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.