NSF BRIDGES Engine in Alabama and Tennessee

Award ID: 2532496

The significance of the Biobased Rural Innovation for Domestic Growth and Economic Security (BRIDGES) Engine is its potential to transform rural economies by advancing domestic biobased manufacturing using locally grown resources. The project will strengthen both agriculture and manufacturing by integrating low-input perennial grasses, such as miscanthus and switchgrass, into advanced manufacturing systems that can supply materials and products for the automotive, construction materials, and packaging sectors. By connecting local production with domestic manufacturing, BRIDGES addresses national priorities, including revitalizing rural prosperity, improving the resiliency of domestic supply chains, and strengthening the U.S. agricultural enterprise. The effort is designed to foster new industries, support job creation, and expand workforce development opportunities in rural communities across Alabama and Tennessee while also stimulating entrepreneurship and contributing to long-term national prosperity. The projects importance extends beyond traditional economic outcomes and will create lasting impacts through innovations that engage farmers, researchers, industry, and communities. The goals and scope of the project encompass the creation of a multidisciplinary innovationecosystemthat connects agriculture, advanced manufacturing, and biotechnology to accelerate the commercialization of new biobased products. The project willcombineuse-inspired researchwithtechnology development and capacity-buildingacrossthreetargeted industries:automotive, constructionmaterials, and packaging. The project will employ participatory and data-driven approaches, including digital twinsand AI-enabled decision-support systems, tooptimizecrop design, manufacturing efficiency, andsupply-chain performance. Evaluation methods will apply mixed quantitative and qualitative analyses totrack andmeasure progress toward strategicobjectivesand ensure adaptivity and long-term impacts. By coupling scientific advancement with community engagement and education,BRIDGES willadvance national competitiveness in biobased manufacturing, enhance workforce readiness, andprovidea replicablemodelfor regional innovation-led growth. 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.

NSF Program Director: Michael Reksulak