New 24/7 resource will better connect manufacturers to New York State technology solutions
Governor Cuomo today announced the launch of FuzeHub, a new collaborative resource platform developed to spur the growth of New York State manufacturers. FuzeHub aims to better connect small and medium sized manufacturing companies to a wealth of State technology resources, including the New York Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program, universities, economic development organizations, and other state programs to help these businesses overcome challenges, encouraging innovation and driving economic growth and job creation.
“The FuzeHub initiative builds on the State’s work to create a business environment that allows manufacturers to thrive in New York,” Governor Cuomo said. “FuzeHub brings together all of our leading technology resources under one umbrella allowing companies to quickly and easily access critical expertise and resources. Manufacturers are the economic backbone of many communities in New York, and when they do well, all New Yorkers reap the benefits. This initiative will stimulate innovation, spur job creation and grow companies across the state.”
FuzeHub provides a new way for companies to connect directly to the expertise they need on a 24/7 basis by submitting their requests online at www.fuzehub.com. A core team of technical and manufacturing professionals will respond within 48 hours and work with the companies through live, one-on-one discussions to identify business challenges and provide targeted connections to the specific set of experts and resources needed.
This federally funded initiative was developed in partnership between Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology & Innovation (NYSTAR) and the U.S. Department of Commerce National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The FuzeHub web platform – developed by a New York State start-up company,
Rock the Deadline – was presented today at NYSTAR’s fall meeting at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, which brought together nearly 100 representatives of its programs across the state, including its Centers of Advance Technology (CAT); Centers of Excellence (COE); Regional Technology Development Centers (RTDC); High Performance Computing Program (HPC) and other NYSTAR partners.
Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Kenneth Adams joined the NYSTAR meeting via teleconference today and said, “Under Governor Cuomo’s leadership and in collaboration with our universities and economic development partners across the state, we can use FuzeHub to better connect with our manufacturing businesses and provide the resources they need to succeed and grow. This powerful new tool has the capacity to bring the breadth of the State’s assistance directly to the companies who need it and we urge all of our NYSTAR partners to use it to help communicate the needs of New York State businesses.”
“FuzeHub works for manufacturing companies. It’s our business to know in-depth, what resources, equipment, expertise and capabilities are available, affordable and reliable. Our technical and manufacturing professionals source and connect companies to custom solutions and resources, and we are available at every step of the way-live and in-person. Our goal is to accelerate growth and access for companies, and we strive to be a fast, effective way for companies to get the solutions they need,” said NYSTAR Director of Technology Development Matt Watson, who oversees the initiative.
“FuzeHub provides an excellent integration mechanism for New York State to leverage its significant investment in collective technology expertise and assets; and interface with the industry and commercialization communities. This closer integration enables all stakeholders to more effectively meet their respective missions-whether that is transfer of technology to industry, deployment of service and support to targeted economic development constituents, or increased innovation sourcing and high quality investment opportunities,” said NYSTAR Director Ed Reinfurt.
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, “The FuzeHub initiative is the kind of innovative effort we need to grow and strengthen manufacturing throughout New York. Our manufacturers powered our economy through the 20th century, and will be the key to fueling our economy in the 21st century. It’s time to see ‘Made In America’ again starting right here in New York, and this federally-funded partnership with the state will provide critical resources and support to reinvigorate New York’s great manufacturing communities, start more new businesses, and create more family-supporting jobs right here where we need them the most.”
Congressman Eliot Engel said, “New York State is the place to do business, with an established industrial base, a developing technological capability, and a trained and educated work force. Creating an incubator to foster further growth is the way to grow for New York. Washington would do well to follow New York’s example.” Rep. Engel is a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Congressman Paul Tonko said, “New York has always led the way in advancing private sector manufacturing jobs and the Made In America brand. FuzeHub will help us develop this mission and bolster job creation in the Capital Region as well as throughout the state. I applaud Governor Cuomo for moving forward with this public-private partnership, and I look forward to continuing my work in Congress to support small businesses and grow quality, good-paying jobs.”
In addition, the FuzeHub initiative includes Solutions Forum events, which are hands-on, half-day workshops held across New York to match small and medium sized manufacturers with the State’s technology and business resources. At these events, companies have the opportunity to problem solve and analyze options in-person with invited experts, such as individuals from key research, engineering and design programs throughout New York’s research universities and commercialization and production experts and organizations. More than 350 companies have attended the 18 Solutions Forums hosted by FuzeHub to date.
Through the FuzeHub initiative, the Hudson Valley Technology Development Center and the Center for Economic Growth (the Capital Region MEP Center) recently collaborated to provide assistance to ThermoAura, a Nanotechnology and Clean-Tech start-up in the Capital Region. Outcomes to date include: a $300,000 investment in ThermoAura from a local investor group; site selection assistance in the Capital Region; and a multi-phase manufacturing floor and process design and fit-up with targeted completion date of fall 2013 to meet a customer order.
“Getting the company to this point has not been easy,” said ThermoAura’s founder Dr. Rutvik Metha. “We thought that the transition from lab to commercial scale would be relatively simple; however, we found out that we needed the expertise that FuzeHub provided.”
For more information on FuzeHub, please visit www.fuzehub.com or contact Laura Mann, Director of Strategy and Operations, at [email protected].
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