Cleveland Water Alliance (CWA) is proud to be a partner of two U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Regional Innovation Engines: Great Lakes RENEW and the NSF NEO-SMART Engine. Supported by significant federal investment, these multi-sector initiatives position Ohio and the broader Great Lakes region as a national hub for technological innovation, economic growth, and water resilience. Through these awards, CWA distinguishes itself as one of the few organizations nationwide involved in two distinct NSF Engines.

What Are NSF Regional Innovation Engines?

Created by the National Science Foundation, the NSF Regional Innovation Engines program accelerates the development and deployment of critical technologies essential to American competitiveness and economic growth. By bringing together coalitions of universities, private companies, government agencies, and civic organizations, NSF Engines foster regional innovation ecosystems, create high-paying jobs, and advance solution-focused research to solve complex national challenges.

Great Lakes RENEW: Circular Water Solutions

Led by Chicago-based water innovation hub Current, Great Lakes RENEW is a multi-state coalition of 75 partners focused on turning wastewater into a valuable resource. Backed by an initial pledge of up to $160 million over 10 years, NSF recently committed up to $45 million over three years to scale the initiative. In its first two years alone, the coalition launched 12 R&D projects, conducted over 40 real-world technology pilots, supported 22 startups, and trained 560 workers for blue economy careers.

The initiative targets major water reuse challenges, such as removing contaminants like PFAS and microplastics while extracting critical minerals like lithium and phosphorus from industrial wastewater. CWA leads the project’s technology scouting, testing, and validation through our Connected Testbed Network.

Moving into its next phase of growth, Great Lakes RENEW plans to:

• Expand the nation’s first connected testbed network to pilot new water technologies across utilities, industrial sites, and open-water environments.
• Direct millions in funding to leading organizations, entrepreneurs, and researchers across RENEW’s six-state region of service.
• Support hundreds of new solutions aimed at recovering critical minerals and removing harmful contaminants from wastewater.

NSF NEO-SMART Engine: Advanced Manufacturing & Resilience

Led by Case Western Reserve University, the NEO-SMART Engine (Northeast Ohio Strengthening Manufacturing for American Resilience through Technology) has been awarded up to $160 million over 10 years from the NSF, complemented by $120 million in initial co-investments from regional partners.

Bringing together a coalition of more than 70 organizations across 18 counties, NEO-SMART aims to re-industrialize Northeast Ohio by advancing technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and automation in key sectors including metals, polymers, and coatings. Over the next decade, the initiative aims to:

• Create or retain 20,000 jobs across the region and train 12,000 workers in advanced manufacturing skills.
• Support 1,000 corporate ventures and provide seed funding for 250 startup companies.
• Strengthen domestic supply chains for the automotive, aerospace, defense, and medical device industries.

The Vital Role of Water in Regional Growth

"Participating in two NSF Regional Innovation Engines places Cleveland Water Alliance and our region at the center of national innovation. Our involvement in both Great Lakes RENEW and NEO-SMART demonstrates how critical water technology is to the future of American manufacturing, regional resilience, and economic growth. CWA is proud to provide our industry expertise, testbed infrastructure, and commercialization support across these initiatives to accelerate market-ready technologies and secure our freshwater future." -Bryan Stubbs, President and CEO of Cleveland Water Alliance 

As global water scarcity drives industries to relocate to the water-rich Great Lakes region, proactive water management is essential to maintaining our region’s competitive advantage. Through our work across both NSF Engines, Cleveland Water Alliance continues to validate cutting-edge technologies, build cross-sector partnerships, and ensure our region's industrial growth is matched by long-term water security.