CU, CSU researchers among CO-WY Engine funding recipients

Researchers from the University of Colorado and Colorado State University were among eight groups to split $3 million in the latest Colorado-Wyoming Climate Resilience Engine funding round.

The CO-WY Engine was designated a Regional Innovation Engine this year by the National Science Foundation, making the collaborative effort eligible for as much as $160 million in federal funding over the next 10 years.

“Colorado is leading the way in addressing climate change and using innovative solutions to become more resilient in the face of its impact. I’m thankful for Wyoming and Governor Gordon’s partnership and openness to work together to drive innovation, strengthen public-private partnerships, and make the region more climate resilient,” Gov. Jared Polis said in a prepared statement. “These projects will help secure our water future, protect Coloradans from wildfire dangers, and protect our air and I am excited to see them in action.”

The CO-WY Engine initiative, led by Fort Collins-based accelerator program Innosphere with participation from CSU and CU, will “create technologies and tools needed to combat global climate changes, and develop a new climate economy, locally and nationally, through: 1) identifying climate challenges, including needs in measurement, standardization, and barriers to equitable technology adoption and implementation; 2) funding and providing strategic partnering for the selected technologies, developed via use-inspired and translational research; and 3) implementing new programs that align the regional workforce,” according to CO-WY Engine documents.

The recent $3 million funding round provided Use-Inspired and Translation Grant opportunities to accelerate the research, development, and commercialization of innovations into tangible products, services, or solutions that address climate resiliency.

“The CO-WY Engine received nearly 50 proposals across two areas: R&D, which focuses on catalyzing the commercialization of university-based projects, and Translation/Startups, which supports bringing early-stage commercial solutions to scale,” the organization said in a news release.

The CO-WY Engine expects to award another round of grant awards in early 2025.

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