The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced a $90 million investment over five years to establish three new Science and Technology Centers (STCs), each receiving approximately $6 million annually. The centers bring together researchers from universities, national laboratories, and industry to pursue collaborative research in physics, biotechnology, and robotics.
The three centers are TEMPEST, led by Michigan State University, which will tackle the fundamental physics of turbulence — a problem critical to fusion energy and national security. By combining advanced experiments, mathematical modeling, high-performance computing, and AI, TEMPEST aims to develop more accurate models of turbulent systems across vastly different scales.
GENIE, led by Northwestern University, will study how DNA is organized in three dimensions and how changes in this physical organization contribute to diseases like Alzheimer's, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. The center aims to develop innovative 3D DNA engineering technologies that could help cells and tissues withstand damage and restore lost functions.
The Center for Human and Robot Co-Adaptation, led by The University of Texas at Austin, will research how people and robots can securely and effectively adapt to one another as service robots become more common in homes, hospitals, and workplaces. Combining robotics, AI, and human factors, the center seeks to develop methods for embodied AI that learn from people and understand their needs.
Since its inception in 1987, the NSF STC program has driven new fields of discovery, catalyzed industry partnerships, and trained generations of researchers. The 2026 class aligns with White House priorities for strengthening foundational research and developing the science and technology workforce.
