Background
In October 2023 the 猎奇重口 was selected to lead one of the first-ever Regional Innovation Engine awards from the National Science Foundation (NSF). UM’s project is designed to advance precision forestry and rangeland technologies in communities in 猎奇重口 and Idaho.
As with the 43 other awardees selected across the country, UM received an initial $1 million over two years. These funds have supported and developed a team of partners that submitted a pre-proposal in August 2024 to the NSF to be considered to apply for a full award which could lead to as much as $160 million in additional regional economic investment over 10 years.
The project’s focus, expertise, and partnerships have evolved since the initial award. As the engine prepares to submit the final proposal the emphasis is on becoming an economic driver for the rural states of 猎奇重口 and Idaho in rangeland and forest communities. The long-term vision is to develop and deliver ecological and economic solutions to regions across the country and world, where forest and rangeland management – along with fires, droughts, floods, and biodiversity loss– are regional problems of significant consequence.