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A RESOLUTION recognizing and expressing support for Kentucky's three 1
accepted preliminary proposals for the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Regional 2
Innovation Engines program. 3
WHEREAS, in 2022, the United States Congress adopted the Creating Helpful 4
Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) and Science Act, which authorized the 5
National Science Foundation (NSF) to create the Regional Innovation Engines program 6
with intent to expand our nation's innovation capacity by investing in key areas of 7
technology and economic growth in distinct regions; and 8
WHEREAS, the Kentucky-based organizations that submitted preliminary 9
proposals were the Kentucky Science & Technology Corporation, the University of 10
Kentucky, and the University of Louisville. All three were accepted for submission of 11
full proposals; and 12
WHEREAS, Kentucky is one of only eight states with three or more accepted 13
preliminary proposals; and 14
WHEREAS, the NSF received nearly 300 letters of intent to request funding and 15
accepted only 71 preliminary proposals for full proposal submissions; and 16
WHEREAS, the General Assembly has demonstrated its commitment to high-17
quality, advanced research through the passage of Senate Bill 1 of the 2024 Regular 18
Session that established an endowment research fund to be managed by the Council on 19
Postsecondary Education; and 20
WHEREAS, the three institutions behind these proposals are committed to 21
collaboration to boost Kentucky's competitiveness and realize the Commonwealth's 22
potential as a center for innovation; and 23
WHEREAS, each of these proposals have the potential to bring long-lasting impact 24
by attracting and developing industries, companies, and high-wage skilled jobs to the 25
Commonwealth; and 26
WHEREAS, each proposal could receive up to $160 million in NSF funding over 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1174
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the next 10 years; and 1
WHEREAS, each institution will submit their full proposals to the NSF by 2
February 11, 2025; and 3
WHEREAS, proposals previously funded by the NSF received state financial 4
commitments; 5
NOW, THEREFORE, 6
Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of 7
Kentucky: 8
Section 1. The Senate does hereby recognize the Kentucky Science & 9
Technology Corporation, the University of Kentucky, and the University of Louisville's 10
accomplishment of reaching the full proposal submission stage for funding from the NSF 11
Regional Innovation Engines program. 12
Section 2. The Senate does hereby express support for the three institutions' 13
proposals for the NSF Regional Innovation Engines program funding. 14
Section 3. The Senate will endeavor to provide substantial and competitive 15
financial investment to each awarded NSF Regional Innovation Engines grant to enhance 16
opportunities for success and to enrich science research in Kentucky. 17
Section 4. The Clerk of the Senate is directed to transmit a copy of this 18
Resolution to the principal investigators of each NSF Regional Innovation Engines 19
proposal from the Kentucky Science & Technology Corporation, the University of 20
Kentucky, and the University of Louisville. 21