Season 7 |

Season 7: Innovation Ecosystems

Water scarcity, food insecurity, and wasteful textile supply chains are major societal challenges with no easy solutions.

But some of the nation's leading scientists, researchers, innovators, and entrepreneurs are committed to tackling these problems.

In season 7 of Ecosystems for Change, I’m going to introduce you to nine different innovation ecosystems who are doing exactly that: solving some of our most pressing societal issues in real-time. And I invite you to come along.

With help from The Builder Platform, I'm taking you inside the ecosystems working to develop real-world solutions to make our communities more resilient, drive regional engagement, and create economic opportunity along the way.

We have the chance to solve the world's water challenges because of the innovation potential and power we have here in the Great Lakes region.

Alaina Harkness, Great Lakes REnew Engine

You'll learn how these Regional Innovation Engines build ecosystems grounded in research and innovation. You'll see first hand how these pioneers help turn ideas into practical applications that can benefit millions of people in the US and beyond. Innovation in a box doesn’t work. In this season, we’ll find out what does.

One of the things I care deeply about is that technologies that can change the world have a pathway to do so.

Emily Knight, The Engine

Browse Season 7

S07E11: Season Finale: Hard-Won Lessons from America’s Boldest Innovation Experiment

For season finale, I’m sharing some of my key takeaways and I’ll chat with three practitioners from The Engine who’ve been working closely with all of the Innovation Engines over the last year to get their perspective.

S07E10: Regenerative Economic Development with Brian Sherman at the NSF Futures Engine in the Southwest

NSF Futures Engine in the Southwest CEO Brian Sherman talks us through what they’re doing to address challenges in energy, water, and air systems in the American Southwest.

S07E09: Batteries for America, by America with Meera Sampath at the NSF Energy Storage Engine in Upstate New York

I sat down with the NSF Energy Storage Engine CEO, Meera Sampath, to learn about why bringing battery and energy storage innovation and production to the US is so important.

S07E08: Safeguarding the Fabric of our Nation with Anne Wiper and Molly Hemstreet at the NSF Textile Innovation Engine in North Carolina

I sat down with Molly Hemstreet and Anne Wiper to talk about how the Textile Engine is working to bring sustainability and circularity to the industry in North Carolina and beyond.

S07E07: The Future of Energy Innovation with Mike Mazzola at the NSF FUEL Engine in Louisiana

I sat down with Michael Mazzola, Executive Director of the NSF FUEL Engine in Louisiana to learn more about why Louisiana is uniquely qualified to drive innovation in carbon use, capture, and sequestration.

S07E06: Powering Ideas That Feed The World with FARMS CEO Dr. Hollie Mackey

I’m sitting down with FARMS CEO Dr. Hollie Mackey to get the scoop on how they’re empowering North Dakota’s diverse communities to create thriving, resilient food systems for now and the future.

S07E05: Scaling Regenerative Medicine for Global Impact with Tim Bertram and Jesse Thornburg at the Piedmont Triad Regenerative Medicine Engine

Tim Bertram and Jesse Thornburg of the Piedmont Triad Regenerative Medicine Engine are giving us a crash course in regenerative medicine and how their Engine is helping companies build, grow, and scale in the Piedmont Triad region.