On April 25, the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) instructed the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) to suspend work on the Regional Innovation Engine and Aerospace Center pending further review. The NSF stated that they had become aware of a potential issue with the NSF Regional Innovation Engine and immediately referred it to their Office of Inspector General for further review. No NSF funding will go to this NSF Engine until the review is complete.
In a letter sent to the NSF on May 6, UTEP acknowledged that they became aware of potentially incorrect statements in their proposal for the Regional Innovation Engine Program on April 6. Upon review, they found that these statements committed resources to the NSF grant that UTEP does not have. UTEP informed the NSF of these erroneous claims, stating their commitment to transparency and accuracy in all their research efforts.
ABC-7 reached out to UTEP for more comments and information on the matter, but there has been no additional response from the university at this time. KVIA ABC 7 encourages civil and constructive conversation on their platforms and asks participants to keep their comments respectful and relevant. They provide Community Guidelines for reference, and invite individuals to share their story ideas through their submission process.
It remains uncertain when work on the Regional Innovation Engine and Aerospace Center will resume, as further review by the NSF is required before any funding can be released. However, it is clear that UTEP takes its responsibilities seriously and is committed to ensuring accuracy in all its research efforts.