Project Grant 2331572

This $400,000 Project Grant awarded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under the NSF Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (CFDA 47.084) program supports the LIGHT UP collaborative research project. The collaborative consists of six institutions - State University of New York College of Technology at Canton, Rowan College of Burlington County, Marymount University, Alvernia University, Kean University, and Bowie State University - representing the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions.

The project aims to establish a community of practice that will develop and enhance a research and innovation ecosystem. This will be achieved by capitalizing on external partnerships to shape the STEM talent pipeline and advance workforce development. Key objectives include expanding each institution's support systems for economic development, building a platform to drive more industry and government partnerships, and increasing innovation enterprise development. The collaborative approach leverages the strengths and resources of the participating institutions to promote innovative teaching, learning, and training for both faculty and students, while linking research with entrepreneurship to drive technological innovation and maintain U.S. global competitiveness in STEM fields.