The Pennsylvania Industrial Hemp Engine (PAIHE) Type 1 Award

In May 2023, the National Science Foundation awarded a Type 1 Regional Innovation Engine award to establish the Pennsylvania Industrial Hemp Engine (PIAHE). The mission of the PAIHE is to develop robust industrial hemp ecosystem centered in Pennsylvania's I-81 Corridor, built upon self-sustaining collaborative research and demonstration programs addressing plant genetics, bioengineering, crop production and processing, industrial product development, manufacturing, distribution, and reclamation. The PAIHE also works with partners in the region to help to strengthen STEM workforce and economic development impacts and to engage disadvantaged communities in PAIHE activities.

More than 40 public and private sector collaborator organizations are already engaged with the PAIHE. To date, more than $10 million of investments have been brought forward by PAIHE industry collaborators to support research programs and facilities exploring industrial hemp production and process improvement and end-user industry research. Another $2 million has been invested by Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture in industrial hemp development grants. The PAIHE is making excellent progress and is on track to be considered to submit a proposal for an NSF Type 2 Engine award in 2024. 

The Pennsylvania Industrial Hemp Engine (PAIHE) Type 2 Proposal

The PAIHE is now preparing a Type 2 Engine proposal for submission to the NSF in 2024. The planned Type 2 activities are grouped into three main investment categories:

· Production and Processing Research and Demonstration: Existing industrial hemp processing systems are large scale ($30-50 million capital cost) and serve farms within large radii of up to 100 miles, and often cannot meet the high refinement requirements for industrial and consumer product applications. The Type 2 PAIHE will competitively select five-ten smaller scale processing technologies ($500,000-$1,000,000 capital cost) with greater flexibility and refinement capability for pilot scale deployment at concentrated farming locations in Pennsylvania's I-81 Corridor. The pilot facilities will offer technical assistance and access to shared growing and harvesting equipment. The facilities will purchase crops from nearby farms and will market fiber and other high grade industrial hemp materials to end users.

· End User Industrial and Consumer Product Development: The PAIHE will engage research partners to develop applications of industrial hemp in new and existing industrial and consumer product lines. The PAIHE is already engaged with end-user industry partners within selected sectors including building materials, textiles, paper and plastic products, and others. End-user industrial research programs are currently exploring applications such as ceiling tiles, drywall, insulation, single-use flatware, non-woven fabrics, vapor barriers, absorbents, packaging, autobody panels, wood pellets, and many others. The PAIHE will competitively award product development R&D challenge grants to end-user industry and university researchers to expand these and other product development research projects.

· Partnerships for Regional and Community Impact: The PAIHE is partnering with community colleges, workforce investment boards, and other partners in the I-81 region to broadly help prepare workers for jobs in agriculture and other sectors that are experiencing workforce shortages. This group is also engaging economic and community development organizations and disadvantaged communities as collaborators in PAIHE activities. The PAIHE data science strategy is designed to collect data to support DEIB performance assessment. Planned Type 2 PAIHE activities include PAIHE workforce and economic development partnerships, outreach to disadvantaged communities, and oversight of PAIHE DEIB activities. 

The PAIHE is now identifying partners for participation in the Type 2 proposal development process. Information briefing sessions are being held with industry, higher education institutions, economic and workforce development agencies, and others. For additional information please contact Ms. Ariel Matz at amatz@vpsresearch.org.

View a map of all the NSF Engines Development Awards.  

More information can be found on the NSF Engines program website.