E 7.1 - Innovation Ecosystems: Inside the NSF Regional Innovation Engines

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Ecosystems For Change

Anika Horn, Social Venturers

75 episodes

2 months ago

Transforming communities is hard work. That may go without saying, but when your job is about helping your neighborhood, city or region thrive, talking about being underpaid, burnt out and frustrated with the slow pace of change is kind of frowned upon. As ecosystem builders, we amplify the work of local makers, doers and innovators by championing their efforts and rallying support around them. And maybe most importantly, we build a culture of trust and collaboration among all stakeholders, so that the doers and innovators among us have equal access to information, talent and resources when they need them. On Ecosystems for Change we'll explore how ecosystem building can help us unleash the full potential of the makers, doers, innovators and visionaries in our communities. And I’ll be talking with my guests about the tactics and practical skills they use in their everyday work and what they do to prevent burning the candle at both ends.

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E 7.1 - Innovation Ecosystems: Inside the NSF Regional Innovation Engines

Ecosystems For Change

53 minutes

6 months ago

E 7.1 - Innovation Ecosystems: Inside the NSF Regional Innovation Engines

How do we make our communities more resilient to extreme weather events?

How do we become smarter about using and recycling water, one of the most precious resources on our planet?

And how can we turn the textile industry into a more circular and sustainable economy that reduces waste and develops new fibers and materials?

Welcome to season seven of Ecosystems for Change, where I’ll be talking with the innovators and changemakers tackling these kinds of complex issues, not just within their own communities, but for the world at large.

Throughout this season, I’m going to introduce you to the Regional Innovation Engines Program, a program funded by the US National Science Foundation. In partnership with the Builder Platform I will highlight nine so-called Engines, and their place-based strategies to these wicked problems.

To start us off, I sat down with three key players in the implementation of this nationwide program: Ben Downing, Patricia Grospiron, and Emily Knight.

Ben Downing is Vice President of Public Affairs at The Engine. Before joining The Engine, Ben was Vice President for New Market Development at Nexamp, a veteran-founded, Boston-based clean energy company. Prior to this, Ben represented the state's largest Senate district while serving as State Senator for 52 communities in Western Massachusetts.

Patricia Grospiron is the Executive Director of The Builder Platform, where she is responsible for leading the strategic direction to foster the development of the NSF Regional Innovation Engines. Patricia has several decades of experience in innovation ecosystem building thanks to her roles at Avery Dennison, JumpStart, Inc and Ohio Aerospace Institute.

Emily Knight is the President of The Engine, where she is responsible for shaping the organization's strategic direction and building partnerships with industry leaders and educational institutions to foster an environment where Tough Tech teams can thrive and innovate.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

How the NSF funding is acting as a catalyst for innovative, place-based economic development while tackling some of our thorniest problems
Why the program is committed to innovation that supports communities from within
How The Builder Platform developed a human-centered approach to engaging with the NSF Engines and providing ongoing partnership and support
How The Engine’s experience and history helps them collaborate with the regional Engines
Why learning together, collaboration, and flexibility are key to developing in-place innovation

Learn more about Ben Downing:

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Learn more about Patricia Grospiron:

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Learn more about Emily Knight:

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Learn more about Anika Horn:

Resources:

The Rise of the Rest: How Entrepreneurs in Surprising Places Are Building the New American Dream, Steve Case