On September 18, the National Science Foundation announced that the BRIDGES proposal, developed by HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology in collaboration with University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and Auburn University, had reached the final stage of competition in the Regional Innovations Engines Program and remains under consideration for an award totaling up to $160 million.
BRIDGES—which stands for Biobased Rural Innovation for Domestic Growth and Economic Security—models a shift in the regional economy that benefits industry, farmers, and consumers by eliminating industry reliance on petroleum. BRIDGES scientists will focus on developing a circular bioeconomy in the Southeastern United States by converting perennial agricultural grass crops into consumer goods in the packaging, automotive, and construction materials industries.
“The NSF Engines program creates economic and technological opportunities in regions across the country, and BRIDGES is a visionary project that can lead to transformational impact,” said UT Chancellor Donde Plowman. “We celebrate the team’s advancement to the next stage of competition and the potential for innovation-based economic development in Tennessee and beyond.”