Aptive Awarded $8.4M Contract to Support National Science Foundation’s Convergence
Aptive Awarded $8.4M Contract to Support National Science Foundation’s Convergence
Aptive will continue providing support for the expansion of the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Convergence Accelerator’s regional program through a new contract award. This expansion is part of NSF’s mission to drive innovation and address complex societal challenges by fostering collaboration among researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs and industry experts across the country. The NSF Convergence Accelerator program focuses on accelerating research that leads to tangible, use-inspired solutions through a multi-disciplinary approach. This contract is valued at $8.4M over a period of two years.
The contract supports the planning, outreach and execution of regional events for Stage 2 of the NSF Convergence Accelerator’s national expansion, which will introduce the program to three new regions: the Mid-Atlantic, South Central and Northwest. These regions encompass a diverse range of states and territories, including Pennsylvania, Maryland, Texas, Oklahoma, Washington and Alaska, among others. The goal of this expansion is to build strong regional innovation ecosystems by identifying “Regional Anchor” organizations that serve as strategic partners to NSF in leading and implementing the NSF Convergence Accelerator program at the regional level. This work is a continuation of Aptive’s existing support for NSF through a five-year blanket purchase agreement.
As part of this contract, Aptive will provide comprehensive support in planning and executing regional outreach events, conducting market intelligence to identify potential Regional Anchors and stakeholders and managing stakeholder engagement. Aptive will work closely with NSF to ensure that outreach efforts are tailored to each region’s unique economic and societal landscape. This includes identifying organizations that have deep connections to their communities and the capacity to implement the NSF Convergence Accelerator’s program model.
These efforts are part of NSF’s broader goal to create a robust, nationwide network of innovation ecosystems that can rapidly translate research into real-world solutions. By focusing on underserved regions and fostering collaboration among a diverse range of organizations, the NSF Convergence Accelerator aims to accelerate the development of tools, technologies and products that can address pressing challenges in areas such as health, sustainability, and economic growth.
“Aptive is proud to support the National Science Foundation in its mission to accelerate innovation through collaboration and regional engagement. By facilitating the growth of regional innovation ecosystems, Aptive is helping to ensure that diverse organizations from across the country can contribute to solving some of the nation’s most pressing challenges.”
— Marisa Cole
Director, Human Experience