NSF Engines Award Accelerates Growing Energy Innovation Ecosystem Across the Carolinas
By Michelle Fiscus, Senior VP & Chief Communications Officer
Research-Triangle Park, NC
July 15, 2026
The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced the selection of the Carolinas Engine for Grid Modernization, led by UNC Charlotte, as one of the nation's Regional Innovation Engines.
For NCInnovation, the award represents more than a federal funding opportunity. It reflects the growing strength of a regional innovation ecosystem that is bringing together universities, industry, workforce partners, economic development organizations, and government leaders around a shared vision for the future of energy innovation in North and South Carolina.
The Carolinas Engine was created to accelerate innovation in grid modernization. The coalition spans both states and includes universities, utilities, industry leaders, workforce organizations, economic development partners, and public-sector stakeholders working together to strengthen the region's long-term competitiveness.
The initiative aligns closely with the National Science Foundation's goal of helping regions translate research strengths into economic growth, new companies, workforce opportunities, and globally competitive industries.
"One of our goals has been to ensure NCInnovation is supporting and integrated into major coalition-based federal funding opportunities across North Carolina," said Michelle Bolas, CEO and President of NCInnovation. "The Carolinas Engine is an example of what can happen when universities, industry, government, and innovation organizations align around a shared strategy for economic growth."
“This award reflects what is possible when the public and private sectors and communities come together around a shared challenge and shared opportunity,” said UNC Charlotte Chancellor Sharon L. Gaber. “The Carolinas have built the partnerships, research capability and infrastructure needed to move grid technologies from concept to deployment, and few regions are better positioned to lead that work than Charlotte, where connections across North and South Carolina create a natural gateway for collaboration and innovation. UNC Charlotte is proud to help bring those efforts together.”
NCInnovation supported the proposal development and participated in the NSF review process as part of the broader coalition supporting the proposal. During the site visit, NCInnovation was asked to speak to three areas that are central to its mission: research translation, university innovation leadership, and the critical role that robust innovation ecosystems play in attracting major industry partners.
Those conversations reflect a larger story unfolding across the Charlotte region. "Grid modernization cannot happen through isolated efforts. The challenge is not simply developing new technologies. It is moving them from research to testing, commercialization, and adoption quickly enough to meet rising demand. You can look across the country and ask, ‘Where is the highest concentration of expertise, infrastructure and partnerships to accelerate grid modernization?' The answer is clear; it's here,” said John Daniels, Vice Chancellor for Research, UNC Charlotte.
For decades, Charlotte has been recognized as a national financial center. Increasingly, it is also becoming a center for energy innovation. The region is home to major energy companies, advanced manufacturers, research universities, workforce development organizations, and entrepreneurs working on technologies that will shape the future of the electric grid.
Researchers are developing solutions in areas ranging from grid resilience and cybersecurity to artificial intelligence and electrification. NCInnovation-supported projects are helping move many of these technologies from university laboratories toward industry adoption and commercialization.
One example is the work of UNC Charlotte researcher Dr. Sukumar Kamalasadan, whose Grid-Aware Uninterruptible Power Supply (GAUPS) technology is designed to improve grid resilience and power reliability while supporting utility operations. NCInnovation funding is helping advance customer use-case development and industry engagement as the technology moves toward commercialization. Projects like these help create the innovation pipeline that makes large-scale initiatives such as the Carolinas Engine possible.
NCInnovation, Inc. is a Research Triangle Park, NC-based 501(c)(3) public-private partnership designed to accelerate commercialized innovation from North Carolina’s research universities. Backed by more than $25 million in private philanthropic commitments, NCInnovation uses the interest and income from a $500 million State-funded endowment to provide non-dilutive grant funding, mentors, and support services so that North Carolina university proofs-of-concept return value to the regional communities that created them. Learn more at NCInnovation.org.