May 7, 2026
Partner Appreciation and Renewal Celebration Marks a Milestone for Upstate New York’s Battery Future
The NSF Energy Storage Engine in Upstate New York gathered its growing community of partners, collaborators, and champions for a Partner Appreciation and Renewal Celebration, an evening dedicated to honoring the people and organizations helping to build Upstate New York’s battery future.
The event was co-hosted by Engine CEO Meera Sampath and Binghamton University President Anne D’Alleva, and brought together a wide cross-section of the Engine’s ecosystem, including core partners, academic institutions, community colleges, industry leaders, startups, elected officials, NSF representatives, SUNY leadership, and students from high school through PhD.
Engine CEO Meera Sampath set the tone for the evening in her remarks. “This Engine is where we don’t just talk about what’s possible, we build it. This is where we turn ideas into industry-leading solutions. This is where we turn talent into real opportunity. And this is where Upstate New York doesn’t just participate in the future of energy, we lead it, together.”
President D’Alleva took a moment to recognize the many people whose support has made this work possible. She honored New York elected officials Donna Lupardo and Lea Webb, who were in Albany working on the state budget but whose commitment to the region never wavers, and recognized Governor Kathy Hochul and Senator Chuck Schumer for their steadfast support of research and economic development. She also thanked the SUNY Research Foundation and SUNY Senior Vice Chancellor Shadi Shahedipour-Sandvik, who joined the celebration in person.
The evening included a memorable moment with Nobel Laureate Stan Whittingham, who reflected on the history of battery science and its deep roots in the Upstate New York region. His remarks were a powerful reminder that this community is not just building on a vision. It is building on a legacy.
Engine Board Chair and Griffiss Institute President and CEO Heather Hage honored the team’s remarkable progress, noting that this group has laid the foundation for American batteries to advance national security and economic competitiveness, and that everyone in that room should be incredibly proud of what they have built together.
NSF Program Director Michael Reksulak brought both good humor and a clear signal of confidence. Joking that the room “had great energy, and I wish I could store that,” he affirmed that the Engine has already demonstrated measurable progress in advancing next-generation battery technology, drawing private investment, and creating workforce opportunity. As part of the inaugural NSF Engines cohort, this team has shown what the program can do when the right people, partners, and place come together around a shared mission.
The NSF Energy Storage Engine in Upstate New York is now entering Years 3 through 5. If you are an innovator, entrepreneur, educator, or community leader who believes in Upstate New York’s energy future, the doors are open.
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