NAE Frontiers of Engineering to Be Renamed The Grainger Foundation Frontiers of Engineering

The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) is pleased to announce the renaming of its Frontiers of Engineering program to The Grainger Foundation Frontiers of Engineering. The renaming honors the financial support and steadfast commitment The Grainger Foundation has made to Frontiers of Engineering throughout the life of the program.

“The Grainger Foundation Frontiers of Engineering’s goal will remain the same as the current program — introducing outstanding young engineers from different backgrounds and technical areas, expanding their networks, sparking their collaborations, and broadening their perspectives on new approaches to engineering problems,” said John L. Howard, chairman of The Grainger Foundation. “The program has proved successful in meeting these goals, helping to build our nation’s innovative capacity and enrich our national future.” 

The Grainger Foundation has committed $10 million to endow the Frontiers of Engineering program. This generous commitment from The Grainger Foundation builds on more than a decade of philanthropic support to Frontiers of Engineering, totaling more than $19 million since 2008.

“We’re honored that The Grainger Foundation has made such a notable investment in NAE,” said John L. Anderson, NAE president. “Their dedication to future engineers through support of Frontiers of Engineering has been extraordinary. In recognition of their generosity and in honor of their continued commitment, Frontiers of Engineering will be renamed The Grainger Foundation Frontiers of Engineering, which is a fitting tribute to the legacy of The Grainger Foundation,” Anderson added. 

Frontiers of Engineering holds a series of symposia that bring together a select group of emerging engineering leaders from industry, academia, and government labs to discuss pioneering technical work and leading edge research in various engineering fields and industry sectors. The symposia connect early-career engineers to facilitate collaboration in engineering, enable the transfer of new techniques and approaches across fields, and establish lifelong contacts among the next generation of engineering leaders.

There are five meetings in the Frontiers of Engineering portfolio: the U.S. Frontiers of Engineering symposium held annually, and a rotating schedule of Frontiers of Engineering symposia with Germany, Japan, China, and the European Union.

“Our focus in education and workforce development within science, technology, engineering, and mathematics has strengthened over the years,” Howard noted. “Frontiers of Engineering aligns with our mission, supports our focus, and fulfills our passion by preparing future engineers for a world we have yet to imagine. It is an honor to be a part of this worthwhile program.”

The unveiling of a new logo featuring the new name will be made at the NAE National Meeting taking place May 4-5 in Irvine, California. Effective May 5, 2022, the new name — The Grainger Foundation Frontiers of Engineering — and logo will be featured on the NAE and the Frontiers of Engineering websites and in all future outreach.

The Grainger Foundation is an independent private foundation based in Lake Forest, Illinois. Established in 1967, the Foundation provides substantive support to a broad range of organizations including educational, medical, cultural, and human services institutions.

Founded in 1964, the National Academy of Engineering is a private, independent, nonprofit institution that provides engineering leadership in service to the nation. Its mission is to advance the welfare and prosperity of the nation by providing independent advice on matters involving engineering and technology, and by promoting a vibrant engineering profession and public appreciation of engineering. The NAE is part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.