NSF Funding Boost: The NSF named 12 new Regional Innovation Engines, with initial $15M awards (up to $160M over 10 years) aimed at turning university-led research into jobs and tech partnerships across states. Grid Modernization in the Carolinas: Clemson and UNC Charlotte are tied to a major NSF-backed effort to modernize the electric grid, including testing grid-enhancing technologies with large regional partners. Textile Research Push: NSF renewed support for NC State’s Textile Innovation Engine with $16M (potentially $45M total), targeting next-gen textile tech from wound-healing materials to embedded safety sensors. Food Safety Watch: FDA is investigating multiple produce items, including lettuce, as cyclosporiasis cases surge across dozens of states, with Michigan and other clusters pointing to a shared source. Health Care Turnaround: UNC Health Appalachian says it’s financially stable again after a turnaround that included difficult staffing and service changes, plus plans like a mobile MRI. AI Policy Fight: UNC-Chapel Hill researchers found overwhelming public pushback on a White House proposal to reshape how federal science grants are awarded. Workforce & Tech Education: ECU and Craven Community College signed an industrial technology transfer pathway, while NC community colleges highlighted digital learning innovations. Local Tech in Action: N.C. State students helped build a faster food-bank delivery app for Duke Med’s Root Causes.