NC EcoTech

The NC EcoTech mission is to develop and apply Ecosystem Technology, or ‘ecotech,’ to drive innovation, translation and workforce development that improves the quality of life and coastal resilience at local, regional and national levels. Find out more about our initiative at ncecotech.org.

find out more at ncecotech.org

Advancing Climate Technologies in Eastern North Carolina

About the Project

Ecosystem Technology, or ‘ecotech,’ is an emerging and solutions-based branch of applied science that uses living ecosystems and their derivatives to produce and enhance products and processes. The NC EcoTech Prospective Engine is organizing a diverse and responsive team of researchers from universities and community colleges in partnership with Chambers of Commerce, non-profits and for-profit businesses that seek to develop a pipeline for translating use-inspired innovations into marketable products while developing a robust regional workforce.

Challenges facing low-lying coastal regions include climate change stressors, population growth and a growing socioeconomic divide. These stressors intersect with race, gender and socioeconomic status disproportionately. Economies need to become more sustainable and resilient to climate and population change and do so rapidly.

Eastern North Carolina is the region of service with the base in Wilmington. The focal sectors slated for rapid development are:

Coastal infrastructure
Aquaculture
Renewable energy ancillary services

For each of these three focal sectors, we target five areas of ecotech:

Engineering with Nature
Environmental Sensing & Signaling
Ecosystem-inspired Materials
Ecosystem Genetic Engineering
Ecosystem Service Measuring & Modeling

Outcomes & Broader Impacts

We Aim To

Our NSF Prospective Engine seeks to develop a pipeline for translating use-inspired innovations into marketable products while developing a robust regional workforce.

a person works on a lidar installation at the beach.

We Will Establish:

(1) Regional transdisciplinary use-inspired research network. (2) Strategies that promote novel Research & Development opportunities. (3) Cross-university network of research translation expertise and capital. (4) Community engagement strategies that build participation.

a person works on an artificial oyster bed

We Will Develop

Through these activities we will develop a network to foster growth of ecotech as a means for promoting community climate resilience while establishing a robust and inclusive regional economy.

National Science Foundation

The NC EcoTech team was one of 40 teams across the country selected to receive this prestigious development award in 2023, which supports collaboration and planning efforts to advance impactful partnerships in the region.

NSF Engines program website

"These NSF Engines Development Awards lay the foundation for emerging hubs of innovation and potential future NSF Engines. These awardees are part of the fabric of NSF's vision to create opportunities everywhere and enable innovation anywhere. They will build robust regional partnerships rooted in scientific and technological innovation in every part of our nation. Through these planning awards, NSF is seeding the future for in-place innovation in communities and to grow their regional economies through research and partnerships. This will unleash ideas, talent, pathways and resources to create vibrant innovation ecosystems all across our nation."

- NSF Director, Sethuraman Panchanathan