| Risk ID |
Risk Category |
Risk Description ("if then" |
Trigger |
Watch Date |
Risk Ranking |
| E-1 |
Ecosystem |
If de minimus isn't addressed, then we could see further industry collapse |
US DOL BLS data indicates continued job losses in relevant NAICS sectors |
Quarterly |
High |
| E-2 |
Ecosystem |
If key partners experience major operational disruption (e.g. loss of funding, loss of key personnel), it could weaken the leadership and productivity of the Engine |
Indications in budget negotiations that forecast funding cuts to State budgets, community college budgets and UNC system budgets programming; changes to legislative body |
Biweekly |
Low |
| E-3 |
Ecosystem |
If funding for the Engines program doesn't continue, some projects will not be brought to fruition |
Indications in budget negotiations that forecast funding cuts to NSF or Engines programming; changes to legislative body |
Quarterly |
Medium |
| E-4 |
Ecosystem |
If regulatory and environmental policy is poorly informed or not enacted, it will hinder the ability of the Engine to launch products into commercialization and could negatively impact the industry overall |
Sponsorship of EPR or other legislations that are restrictive to the process of developing sustainable fibers |
Quarterly |
High |
| R-1 |
Research and Development |
If inflation continues, equipment and material prices could deplete Engine resources |
Pricing exceeds budgeted amount by more than 5% |
Per purchase exceeding $5,000 |
Low |
| R-2 |
Research and Development |
If research and development does not move quickly enough, US sustainable products will not be competitive in the market and other countries will consume the majority of market share |
TRL levels do not advance per project deadlines, Brands discontinue interest in projects to pursue other technologies |
Quarterly |
Medium |
| T-1 |
Translation |
If sustainable fibers cannot be produced within current costing structures, brands will not adopt them |
Brands are not convinced to participate in early pilots or commit to purchase orders |
Per pilot project |
High |
| T-2 |
Translation |
If capital isn't available to support new business ventures and manufacturing technologies, Engines innovations will not make it to the marketplace |
Decrease in capital investments across Engines activities |
Quarterly |
Medium |
| T-3 |
Translation |
If navigating the complexity of intellectual property ownership becomes untenable, then we can't maximize shared knowledge and incentivize businesses to be members |
Non participation in the Engine by emerging R&D Leaders |
Quarterly |
Low |
| W-1 |
Workforce |
If industry continues to shrink, fewer jobs will be available |
US DOL BLS data indicates continued job losses in relevant NAICS sectors |
Quarterly |
Medium |
| W-2 |
Workforce |
If products aren't commercialized, the manufacturing sector will not grow and new jobs won't be created |
Early pilots are not successful; brands are not convinced to participate in early pilots |
Quarterly |
High |
| W-3 |
Workforce |
If K-12 education systems don't see the importance and/or future of textiles, they won't support early childhood and vocational education that will build a workforce pipeline for these industries |
NC DPI discontinues curriculum discussions and development |
May-June 2024 |
Medium |