The 2025 competition season introduced a new fleet of innovators across contests like the agriculture-focused Grow-NY, the photonics-geared Luminate NY, and the startups-supporting 43 North and Genius NY. Here’s a rundown of this year’s competitions and winners—representing various regions across the globe, as well as industries represented across New York’s vast innovation ecosystem.

Grow-NY 

The food and agriculture business competition Grow-NY, administered by the Center for Regional Economic Advancement (CREA) at Cornell University, identifies, supports, and funds the top food, beverage, and agriculture innovations, annually awarding $3 million in prize money along with mentorship and business development support. Winners are required to relocated to the Grow-NY region (Central New York, Finger Lakes, or Southern Tier) for one year to receive the monetary award.

This year’s top prize of $1 million went to Brekland of Brooklyn, a company that develops biodegradable foam coating that brings new in-field functionality to crop protection products. Other honorees included:

$500,000 winners:

• Mothership Materials (New York, NY) – Transforms agricultural waste into carbon-negative raw materials such as glucose and cellulose.
• Seen Nutrition (Ithaca, NY) – Food tech startup focused on the menopause market with patented dietary calcium chew made with dairy produced in Central New York.

$250,000 winners:

• Living Ink Technologies (Berthoud, CO) – Repurposes renewable biomass waste like algae into sustainable black printing inks and pigments.
• Trebe Biotech (Pergamino, Argentina) – Uses insect larvae to produce faster, more scalable bioproducts for animal health such as recombinant proteins and vaccines.
• Whipnotic (New York, NY) – Develops fruit-infused whipped creams with unique nozzle tech.
• ZILA BioWorks (Renton, WA) – Converts vegetable oils into recyclable bio-epoxy resins.

Luminate NY 

Administered by NextCorps in Rochester, N.Y., Luminate NY is the world’s largest business accelerator for emerging companies with technologies enabled by optics, photonics and imaging (OPI). Each year, Luminate NY selects 10 to 12 companies to participate in its program, providing instruction and resources, including $100,000 apiece in funding upon the start of the program. Participating teams also compete for awards, which totaled more than $2 million in 2025.

This year’s $1 million “Company of the Year” was San Diego, California’s Pensievision, whose breakthrough 3D imaging technology for demanding environments from medical diagnostics and factory floors to orbital missions, using miniaturized single-lens setup, AI, and astronomy-inspired optics.

Other winners included:

$500,000:

• amPICQ (Hyderabad, India) – Designs and develops Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) to make quantum-safe security both practical and accessible across Quantumcom, Datacom, and Telecom industries.

$200,000:

• Oblate Optics (San Diego, CA) – Makes ultra-thin lenses that keep laser beams in perfect focus—even on curved or uneven surfaces—without the need to move or refocus the optics.
• Pixel Photonics (Münster, Germany) – Removes the barriers to the widespread use of superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) with its waveguide-integrating design (WI-SNSPDs) to support OEM integration across quantum communications, microscopy, medical diagnostics, and advanced sensing.
• SNOChip (Princeton, NJ) – Produces on-chip optical components, such as microlens arrays, computer-generated holograms, and metasurfaces, designed for seamless integration with semiconductor lasers and sensor chips.

$10,000 Audience Choice Award:

• LirOptic (Dublin, Ireland) – Produces adjustable solid-state lens that offer optical innovators unparalleled precision, reliability, and compactness in the realm of medical imaging devices, communication, more.

43North

New York State’s startup competition held in Buffalo invests $5 million into seed-stage companies, offering founders a chance to secure $1 million in funding and gain access to support services including mentorship, connections to investors, and inroads to customers. Winners are required to relocate to Buffalo for one year to receive funding.

The competition looks for startups that have a strong team in place, traction with customers, and have received previous investment. The 2025 43North cohort, each earning a $1 million investment, included:

• Cellsense (New York, NY) – Transforms algae and cellulose into compostable beads that eliminate microplastics across the fashion and cosmetic industries.
• Cosi Care (London, UK) – Created the world’s first medical devices that offer instant itch relief and safe alternative to scratching for those living with eczema or chronic itch. (The company also won $25,000 People’s Choice Award.)
• Floe (New Haven, CT) – Offers smart, cost-effective and eco-friendly solution for ice and snow management on roofs.
• RadEmploy (New York, NY) – Radiology staffing platform that leverages conversational AI to efficiently connect radiology professionals with large hospital systems.
• Tukki.ai (Miami, FL) – Uses AI to help immigrants and companies manage visas and green cards efficiently.

FuzeHub Commercialization Competition 

As part of the Jeff Lawrence Innovation Fund, this competition is administered by FuzeHub and held annually at the New York State Innovation Summit. The Commercialization Competition awards totaling more than $500,000 to New York State-based startups that can demonstrate the commercialization potential of their technology or product.

The funding awarded is intended to help small manufacturing and technology companies further develop their prototype in an effort to pursue additional investment and customers as well as strengthen their “go-to-market” strategies.

This year’s top prize ($150,000) went to Southern Tier biorecovery scale-up, REEgen, who has genetically engineered a new approach for recovering and purifying critical minerals from industrial waste, making their production cleaner, safer, and more efficient. Scarsdale’s Gyn-Strong ($100,000) earned runner-up honors for creating the world’s first intravaginal device that uses electrical pulses to provide targeted pain relief and menstrual collection in one discreet, app-connected product.

Other winners included:

• $80,000: CryoBio, Inc. (Southern Tier) – Developing a one-of-a-kind spray solution that prevents ice formation on crops to eliminate frost damage.
• $60,000:
  • IVSonance Biomedical, Inc. (Southern Tier) – Addresses in-vitro fertilization (IVF) challenges with a transformative acoustic technology built on the powerful principle of moving objects without touching them.
  • TunaBotics (Central New York) – Develops robotic grippers made of soft materials that let robots pick up objects that are too small, delicate, or curved for existing tools.

New York Business Plan Competition

The New York Business Plan Competition is a statewide, intercollegiate entrepreneurship competition, administered by Upstate Capital, that awards more than $100,000 in cash prizes to up to 30 student teams in six tracks.

Columbia University’s Sara Technology took home the $25,000 Grand Prize for its AI-powered platform that expands access to pediatric speech therapy. The team’s mission to make speech therapy more affordable and accessible for families and Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) stood out for its impact and scalability.

See the complete list of this year’s winners here.

HUSTLE

Administered by Griffiss Institute in Rome, N.Y., the HUSTLE Defense Accelerator is for early-stage and pre-seed tech startups pushing artificial intelligence, machine learning, cybersecurity, quantum science, or aircraft system solutions, culminating with a Demo Day Competition that awards a total of $600,000. Winners are required to conduct substantial businesses operations in the Mohawk Valley for at least 12 months after the HUSTLE Defense Accelerator.

This year’s application deadline was extended to December 19. Following an initial down-select, selected teams will be notified after the deadline to participate in a Virtual Pitch event. From this pitch, five winners will be chosen to participate in the HUSTLE cohort, starting in March 2026.

GENIUS NY 

Based in Syracuse and administered by CenterState CEO, GENIUS NY is an accelerator in the UAS (uncrewed aerial systems) industry, distributing a total of $3 million across five winning teams. Winners are required to relocate two of their leadership staff to Syracuse for a minimum of 12 months.

This year’s cohort is:

• Flox (Stockholm, Sweden) – Employs AI on drones to deter wildlife from critical infrastructure.
• Lamarr AI (Georgia) – Provides faster, more affordable building exterior inspections using drones and AI. A Syracuse University professor is a co-founder.
• Lighthouse Avionics (Ohio) – Offers cost-effective optical solutions for monitoring low-altitude airspace to detect drone and bird threats.
• Modovolo (New York) – Develops low-cost, modular drones with extended flight capabilities for commercial and defense applications.
• Skyfire AI (New Jersey) – Uses autonomous drone swarms and AI to enhance situational awareness for first responders and defense teams.

Winners of up to $1 million will be announced in May 2026.

Congratulations to the most recent winners! To learn more about New York’s startup accelerators and competitions, click here.

As the demand for domestic lithium-ion battery production grows, U.S. manufacturers face increasing pressure to secure their supply chains and meet federal requirements for domestic sourcing while maintaining performance and cost competitiveness.

The companies Natrion and BridgeGreen Upcycle—both empowered by Koffman Southern Tier Incubator—identified the opportunity to expand their possibilities, all while creating a significant and locally sourced production footprint, job opportunities for New York’s manufacturing workforce, and significant efforts toward building a resilient and sustainable battery supply chain for the U.S.

For Natrion, the battery technology company significantly increased its production capacity to meet growing demand for high-performance, American-made battery components officially by opening its new manufacturing site in Buffalo in early September 2025. Supported by a $1.3 million grant from the New York Power Authority (NYPA)—as well as $250,000 from Empire State Development’s performance-based Excelsior Jobs Tax Credit Program to support staff additions and a $1.5 million investment in continued growth through New York Ventures— company’s expansion underscores Natrion’s commitment to advancing domestic battery manufacturing and innovation, and now houses production lines for the company’s proprietary Active Separator: a key technology that enhances battery safety, energy density, lifespan, and fast-charging capabilities. Critically, Natrion’s Active Separator supports domestic American battery builders in qualifying for Section 45X subsidies under new federal legislation while simultaneously diminishing cell manufacturing costs and material intensity.

Heading into 2026, the new Buffalo facility has already achieved 20,000 square meters of monthly capacity throughout with its first commissioned line at the site. At full projected utilization, the new site is expected to supply Active Separator for over 500 MWh of lithium-ion batteries per year—equivalent to approximately 11,000 electric vehicles. The expansion is expected to create 19 new jobs and positions Natrion as a key contributor to New York’s advanced manufacturing ecosystem, and is accelerating its mission to deliver safe, high-performance, and domestically produced battery solutions to meet the nation’s energy transition goals.

For Bridge Green Upcycle, the tech company is redefining battery end-of-life management by returning valuable materials to the circular battery economy. Their technology supports the full recycling ecosystem—from battery health monitoring and second-life innovation to extracting high-grade black mass and precursor materials for new batteries.

To enable this work, Bridge Green is using two wet labs at the Koffman Incubator, each equipped with fume hoods, filtration systems and specialized infrastructure for safe R&D and validation of lithium-ion battery feedstock. When the company first connected with the Southern Tier incubator, it initially operated one wet lab at Koffman, but rapid growth quickly called for even more space for operations including staging, assessment and evaluation, and expanded manufacturing space that could support a larger and more efficient workflow.

Bridge Green looked to expand within Koffman, specifically occupying the facility’s 1,200-square-foot high bay space. This offered the open, versatile, and adaptable area the company needed, with 20-foot ceilings, room for vertical storage, staging and equipment setup, and the customizable square footage suited to their evolving processes, allowing the team to scale their battery evaluation process and create needed efficiencies in processes, transportation of materials, and more. In addition, the facility’s configurable infrastructure supports required safety protocols and employee training for compliant handling of lithium-ion raw materials, and is now able to serve as the central intake hub where batteries are assessed before moving to the wet labs for mineral extraction.

But Bridge Green is not only expanding its physical footprint. With $250,000 in additional support from New York Ventures, it’s building the skilled workforce needed to support the circular battery economy. As the company prepares for future manufacturing scale-up, the ability to train, upskill and grow talent within the Koffman ecosystem will be a critical driver of New York’s clean-energy innovation leadership. The high bay facility strengthens Bridge Green’s ability to develop a skilled workforce in the Southern Tier. As Bridge Green looks ahead to establishing a full-scale manufacturing facility in New York, this consolidated environment provides a foundation for operational excellence and future talent development.

And as is the case with its fellow battery tech contemporaries at Natrion, the company’s growth contributes to regional economic development by preparing workers for emerging roles within the circular battery industry—and is making Western New York and the Southern Tier a vital part of the U.S. battery supply chain.

Thanks to the many NYSTAR centers, hotspots and incubators for submitting their success story. Click here to submit your stories to share with the NYSTAR network — we want to hear from you!

Susan Bardack/Buzz Media Solutions
Phone: (518) 867-7940
susan@buzzmediasolutions.com

Patty Rechberger

patty@fuzehub.com

Grand awardee received $150,000; 6 startups were awarded $50,000 each and 2 were awarded $25,000 each to advance the development of their technologies

(Albany, NY – October 27, 2022) — FuzeHub, a not-for-profit organization responsible for assisting small and medium-sized manufacturing companies in New York State, has selected the awardees for its 2022 Jeff Lawrence Innovation Fund Commercialization Competition. The sixth installment of the Commercialization Competition was held October 25-26 at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center as part of the NYS Innovation Summit. The Competition awarded a total of $500,000, the largest payout since the program inception, to nine entrepreneurs from across New York State who pitched their ideas before a live audience and a panel of 4 expert judges from the economic development community.

Empire State Development (ESD) Senior Vice President Matt Watson, who directs ESD’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR), said, “My warmest congratulations to the 9 startups awarded. This is a very competitive program with a tough selection process, and all of the finalists have clearly come prepared. We are happy to support more talented entrepreneurs each year and continue to look for ways to expand our services to them.”

The annual two-day Innovation Summit was held in Buffalo, NY, and included keynote speakers, an executive roundtable, exhibits, breakout sessions on economic development trends and disruptive technologies, and tours of local Centers of Excellence and a new Incubator. Over 500 people and 100 exhibitors were in attendance. During the Commercialization Competition, which is the 4^th Track in the Summit breakout sessions, twelve companies demonstrated the commercialization potential of their product or technology while competing against each other for the opportunity to win an award that will lead them closer to market.

“We are very excited to add these companies to our awardee portfolio. Many previous awardees have achieved significant, sustainable growth, and some have even received national recognition,” said Elena Garuc, Executive Director of FuzeHub, “We believe that this year’s winners are in a position to do just as well, if not better, and we are proud to support them in their journey.”

FuzeHub is pleased to announce the awardees:

Grand Award – $150,000

Farm to Flame Energy Inc. (Syracuse)

Farm to Flame Energy repurposed a Steam Turbine to generate electricity through a smokeless-odorless and portable biomass electricity generation process. They use pulverized feed stocks as biomass to achieve a thermal efficiency of 98%, against the traditional biomass thermal efficiency of 78%.

$50,000 Awards

Aha! Solutions, Inc. (Mechanicville)

Aha! Solutions developed a revolutionary step stool that provides a safer, better step up for customers. The Next-Step Stool contains 2 hooks that attach to a cabinet door of any height, minimizing the distance between the stool and the desired area of reach. These hooks provide a built-in anti-tipping mechanism, creating a higher level of safety during use. Furthermore, the steps can be customized on demand – if the upper step is not needed, it can be easily folded away without any obstruction to using the lower step alone.

Carapace Analytics (Syracuse)

Carapace Analytics is ready to scale their existing automated mobility assessment which measures users’ fall risk. This project includes investment technology infrastructure and sensors.

Envision Biopolymers LLC (Syracuse)

Envision will provide a waste-to-bioplastic platform technology for chemical suppliers to the pulp and paper-based food packaging industry. This not only answers their customers’ demands for more sustainable packaging solutions, but also an impending critical need to replace soon-to-be outlawed

workhouse chemistries (PFAS) that they have been using

Photonect Interconnect Solutions Inc. (Rochester)

Photonect Interconnect Solutions is creating a state-of-the-art laser attach machine which connects optical fibers to photonic chips using fusion splicing with a patented adapter integrated into the photonic chip. This improves device performance by 4x and decreases the speed of manufacturing by 10X leading to a cost savings of 50% per connection.

Levelle Inc. (Poughkeepsie)

Levelle Nutrition seeks to design, procure and install a manufacturing line that forms, fills and pasteurizes energy purée and seed butter single-serve pouches. Levelle aims to revolutionize the sports nutrition industry by focusing on female athletes and tailoring products to the female metabolism. They use low-glycemic, plant ingredients to deliver a sustained release of energy, without a side serving of agony

SOTRO Innovations Inc. (Brooklyn)

SOTRO Innovations builds tech-enabled products to make it easier & faster to style and grow healthier, thicker, and longer hair. They are going to launch an environmentally-sustainable, collapsible hair steamer that facilitates aromatherapy integration, self-sanitizes & allows for set-up on any flat surface.

$25,000 Awards

K-Neesio LLC (Rochester)

NuNee is a clinically proven and recommended bracing system for treatment of anterior knee pain. In 2023, K-Neesio will grow their existing manufacturing capacity in the NY Finger Lakes Region, expand their clinical marketing and sales efforts nationally, and harden the NuNee product for use in the military and contact sports.

Mohawk Machine Works LLC (Amsterdam)

Mohawk will manufacture innovative technology to quickly & efficiently clean & dry surfaces for commercial & government customers in infrastructure & transportation. Market research has identified a worldwide need for Mohawk technology in multiple applications/market segments, with many years of future growth potential.

The Jeff Lawrence Innovation Fund, consisting of over $1 million annually, supports a set of activities designed to spur technology development and commercialization across New York State. FuzeHub is administering this fund as part of its role as the Empire State Development designated statewide MEP center. For more information about the Jeff Lawrence Innovation Fund, contact Patty Rechberger, Innovation Fund Manager, at patty@fuzehub.com or visit Jeff Lawrence Innovation Fund.

About Jeff Lawrence

During his more than 20 years at the Center for Economic Growth, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) affiliate in the Capital Region where he served as executive vice president, and MEP Center Director, Jeff Lawrence directed programs of direct assistance to manufacturers and technology companies to increase their competitiveness. He is remembered for being an invaluable and generous mentor to many in the area’s business community and a tireless advocate for manufacturing innovation throughout New York.

About FuzeHub

FuzeHub is a not-for-profit organization that connects New York’s small and mid-sized manufacturing companies to the resources, programs and expertise they need for technology commercialization, innovation, and business growth. Through our custom assessment, matching, and referral platform, we help companies navigate New York’s robust network of industry experts at Manufacturing Extension Partners centers, universities, economic development organizations, and other providers. FuzeHub is the statewide New York Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program (MEP) center, supported by Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology & Innovation.

For more information on FuzeHub, visit FuzeHub.

About Empire State Development

Empire State Development is New York’s chief economic development agency. The mission of ESD is to promote a vigorous and growing economy, encourage the creation of new job and economic opportunities, increase revenues to the State and its municipalities, and achieve stable and diversified local economies. Through the use of loans, grants, tax credits and other forms of financial assistance, ESD strives to enhance private business investment and growth to spur job creation and support prosperous communities across New York State. ESD is also the primary administrative agency overseeing the Regional Economic Development Councils and the marketing of “I LOVE NY,” the State’s iconic tourism brand. For more information on Regional Councils and Empire State Development, visit www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov and www.esd.ny.gov.

###

Contact:

Kristin Devoe (ESD): kristin.devoe@esd.ny.gov | 518.414.1087

John Mackowiak: jmackowiak@martingroupmarketing.com | 716-785-5475

Will Leverage the Power of Advanced Materials to Promote Greater Environmental Sustainability and Drive Innovation Across the State

Empire State Development (ESD) today announced the New York State Advanced Materials Innovation Challenge is open and accepting applications through September 30. As manufacturers statewide adopt cleaner and greener practices to eliminate waste and emissions, advanced materials have the potential to accelerate the process of making manufacturing more environmentally sustainable. To support these goals, the New York State Advanced Materials Innovation Challenge will award up to $150,000 for projects that will develop new materials or new applications of existing materials.

Empire State Development President, CEO, and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “Advances in materials science are providing groundbreaking opportunities to replace or reduce the use of toxic or excessive materials in manufacturing while also developing new and improved high-performance products. The strongest proposals for the New York State Innovation Challenge will deliver positive change by using or developing advanced materials that are themselves sustainable while creating applications that promote environmental sustainability.”

New York State-based innovators are encouraged to submit projects for the Advanced Materials Innovation Challenge that achieve one or more of these goals:

• Reduce the use of toxic chemicals during manufacturing.
• Shorten the supply chain to use locally-sourced and sustainable materials instead of materials that require long-distance transportation.
• Identify, develop and/or validate alternative sustainable materials.
• Reduce or eliminate the creation of harmful byproducts during manufacturing.
• Reduce landfilling and/or repurpose waste from manufacturing or product end-of-life.

FuzeHub Executive Director Elena Garuc said, “By using advanced materials to conserve natural resources and protect ecosystems now and in the future, New York State manufacturers can lead the way nationally and globally for environmental sustainability within this vital industry. New Yorkers are known for rising to the occasion and tackling big challenges — this is a moment for our state’s innovators and problem-solvers to create positive change by harnessing the power of advanced materials.”

Innovation Challenge organizers expect to award three grants of $50,000 each. More details, including guidelines and the application, are available at fuzehub.com/innovation-challenge.

Advanced materials are new or substantially enhanced materials that have unique properties or provide improved performance relative to conventional materials, facilitating innovation that benefits the industry, consumers, and society. Across the state, advanced materials innovations involving ceramics, chemicals, glass, metals, plastics, and more are enabling high-performance products in sectors ranging from semiconductors and aerospace to medical equipment and consumer products.

The Jeff Lawrence Innovation Fund — which will serve as the source of funding for this Innovation Challenge — supports a set of activities designed to spur technology development and commercialization across New York State. Launched in December 2016, the fund is named for Jeff Lawrence, a champion of the New York manufacturing and entrepreneurial communities. Each year, the Innovation Fund provides more than $1 million in direct assistance to the manufacturing, research and development, technology, and entrepreneurial ecosystems. To date, the fund has awarded $6.7 million in funding to support collaborative projects throughout the state.

About Empire State Development

Empire State Development (ESD) is New York’s chief economic development agency. The mission of ESD is to promote a vigorous and growing economy, encourage the creation of new jobs and economic opportunities, increase revenues to the State and its municipalities, and achieve stable and diversified local economies. Through loans, grants, tax credits, and other forms of financial assistance, ESD strives to enhance private business investment and growth to spur job creation and support prosperous communities across New York State. ESD is also the primary administrative agency overseeing the Regional Economic Development Councils and the marketing of “I LOVE NY,” the State’s iconic tourism brand. For more information on Regional Councils and Empire State Development, visit www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov and www.esd.ny.gov.

###

Annual technology showcase expanded to include FuzeHub’s Jeff Lawrence Innovation Fund Commercialization Competition

Registration is now open – click here

VERONA, N.Y. — The New York State Innovation Summit, an annual showcase and celebration of technology and discovery, will make its return November 8 and 9 at the Turning Stone Resort in Verona, Oneida County. The annual Summit brings together New York’s brightest minds, most promising tech and manufacturing companies and most resourceful innovation support services. It leads to new connections and collaborations that have the potential to accelerate technology-led economic growth.

Through a series of speakers, breakout sessions and pitch sessions, attendees are given opportunities to demonstrate, discover and collaborate on new and emerging technologies. The Summit is organized by NYSTAR, Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation, and FuzeHub, the statewide center for the New York Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NY MEP).

The Summit is back this year after the 2020 event, which had been planned for the Mohawk Valley, was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2019 Summit, held in Rochester, attracted more than 500 innovators, business leaders and entrepreneurs, as well as 100-plus exhibitors, providing a boost to area hotels, restaurants and attractions.

Several prominent executives and leaders are scheduled to speak at the 2021 Summit, including Plug Power President and CEO Andrew Marsh, Cree President and CEO Gregg Lowe, Velan Studios President Guha Bala, and Verizon 5G Labs Senior Manager Joshua Ness.

NYSTAR Senior Vice President Matt Watson said, “This year’s lineup not only illustrates the strength of New York State’s innovation economy, but also represents some of its key sectors: clean technology, semiconductors, digital gaming and information technology. And with a $1 billion chip fabrication plant rising near Utica, the Mohawk Valley is the perfect location to showcase — and accelerate — our state’s technological prowess. Many attendees and exhibitors — including companies represented by our keynoters — have received support from NYSTAR’s extensive network. The Summit brings them together to spur even more growth, which in turn creates jobs and strengthens New York’s economic future. We look forward to the return of this vital event and to the inevitable success stories that will be traced back to November 2021 at the New York State Innovation Summit.”

At the Summit, NYSTAR and FuzeHub will feature companies and researchers at the forefront of advancements in technologies and production capabilities. Experts in several areas — including biotechnology, new materials, energy innovation and artificial intelligence — will explore current technology convergence opportunities, ways to quicken commercialization, and issues of manufacturing sustainability.

During the breakout sessions, participants will learn about:

• Economic development in New York, including today’s capital funding landscape and the state-supported programs that provide critical resources and incentives for manufacturing and technology companies.
• National trends related to the future of electronics packaging and manufacturing, innovations that protect our waters and promote sustainable food production, and emerging strategies for manufacturers in a post-COVID era.
• Disruptive technologies, including the wide-ranging impact of quantum breakthroughs, the competitive advantages of harnessing data and artificial intelligence, and the opportunities that exist for innovators in biotechnology and advanced healthcare.

New to the Summit in 2021 is FuzeHub’s annual Jeff Lawrence Innovation Fund Commercialization Competition. Now in its fifth year, the Commercialization Competition awards significant funding to companies from across New York State. Finalists pitch their innovations in front of a live audience, and a panel of industry experts select the winners based on the commercialization potential of their technologies.

At last year’s Commercialization Competition, FuzeHub and NYSTAR awarded a total of $300,000 to six companies.

FuzeHub Executive Director Elena Garuc said, “At the heart of each Innovation Summit has been the potential for commercialization of cutting-edge technology developed and manufactured in New York State. That’s what makes our Commercialization Competition a natural fit — I expect the bar to be higher than ever before. As in the past, startups and manufacturers will also have access to resources from NYSTAR and NY MEP to help them get to the next level.”

For the latest on the summit, visit nysinnovationsummit.com.

About NYSTAR

Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation – known as NYSTAR – advances technology innovation and commercialization in New York State. NYSTAR offers programs that assist companies from start-up through maturity, leveraging the state’s unparalleled investment in world-class technology assets and expertise. It provides roughly $55 million annually in funding to support over 70 centers that provide direct assistance to New York State companies – a network of vital assets for enabling technology- and manufacturing-led growth and job creation. NYSTAR and its partners are proud to contribute to New York’s leadership in the global innovation economy. For more information, visit esd.ny.gov/nystar.

About FuzeHub

FuzeHub is a nonprofit organization that connects New York’s small and mid-sized manufacturing companies to the resources, programs and expertise they need for technology commercialization, innovation and business growth. Through its custom assessment, matching, and referral platform, FuzeHub helps companies navigate New York’s robust network of industry experts at Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) centers, universities, economic development organizations, and other providers. FuzeHub is the statewide New York MEP center, supported by Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology & Innovation. For more information on FuzeHub, visit www.fuzehub.com.

###

As part of the fund, FuzeHub offers Manufacturing Grants to New York State not-for-profit organizations, which are proposing innovative projects to be undertaken in partnership with a New York State small to medium-sized manufacturer. Project categories cover adoption of new technology to enhance a process and/or product, prototype development, design for manufacturing, proof-of-concept manufacturing, certain equipment purchases, manufacturing scale-up, and other projects to advance manufacturing capabilities. In addition, the fund is used to provide assistance to early-stage companies through an annual commercialization competition.

ESD Senior Vice President and NYSTAR Executive Director Matt Watson said, “This is a powerful program that links small manufacturers and promising start-ups to valuable expertise at New York State’s many innovation assets. ESD congratulates the winners and looks forward to seeing them continue to drive economic growth in our strategic industry sectors.”

“In the current climate, the Jeff Lawrence Innovation Fund Manufacturing Grant awards are a vital resource to the companies that are supported in these projects” said Elena Garuc, Executive Director of FuzeHub. “The awards are allowing companies to stimulate the economy and further bolster manufacturing in NYS.”

Awardees:

ITAC / New York Embroidery Studio $48,900

ITAC is partnering with New York Embroidery Studio (NYES) and we are working with RIT’s Golisano Institute for Sustainability, Precision Textiles, Vartest Laboratories and NYS Workforce Development Institute, to bring the ECOSAFE biodegradable gown to market. This gown is the first of its kind medical use biodegradable product manufactured from US made fabric that is cut and assembled in the NYC region. As used PPEs become a Medical Waste nightmare, the ECOSAFE medical gown made by NYES decomposes to water and harmless gas in a fraction of time versus the single use gowns currently being used. All gown components have been developed by our local supply chain which avoids the global logistical disruptions and cost surcharges that have kept erupting since early 2020. This makes our project transformative not only for its impact on the environment and the local economy, but also for its ‘total cost of ownership’ competitiveness with foreign made products.

Hudson Valley Textile Project Inc / Battenkill Valley Fibers Inc $50,000

Hudson Valley Textile Project is partnering with Battenkill Fibers Carding and Spinning Mill to implement a wool scouring line operation. In order for the Hudson Valley’s farm to fabric supply chain to expand to meet growing demand for locally-sourced materials, the Hudson Valley Textile Project has determined that commercial-scale scouring capability is needed in the region. Consumer interest in local fibers was rising prior to the pandemic; and since shipments have become unreliable and fluctuations in quality of materials sourced overseas are more pronounced, the demand has increased more. In addition to short term jobs needed to install the new equipment and renovate the building space, the commercial-scale scouring line is expected to create three new permanent jobs as well as contribute to considerable cost savings in fiber processing.

Stony Brook University, College of Engineering / SuperClean Glass Inc. $50,000

Large-scale solar power plants are present in many parts of the world. In many cases, they are located in the areas of the highest solar intensity, which often include desert regions. Dust on solar panels can reduce energy output by up to 25% in desert regions and up to 100% during dust storm events. The technology developed by Stony Brook University and Superclean Glass Inc. removes dust from solar panels and regains up to 98% of lost energy. This project will lead to substantial improvements in Manufacturing Readiness Levels and create a pathway for a large-scale manufacturing of this novel technology in the NY State.

Arc of Monroe / ArcWorks a division of Arc of Monroe $50,000

ArcWorks, a division of The Arc of Monroe, will partner with NextCorps to develop the LVCM Lab (Low Volume Contract Manufacturing Lab), a flexible, low volume assembly facility to enable rapid assembly/build of pre-EP and EP (Engineering Prototype) hardware. ArcWorks’ integrated and diverse workforce including those with intellectual and developmental disabilities will be empowered to build new technology devices on the forefront of IOT, Climatetech, and other sectors. The LVCM Lab at ArcWorks will be an ideal first step for companies participating in NextCorps and NYSERDA incubator and scale up programs that need to develop hardware and build processes, but are not quite ready for full high volume CM partnership.

Cornell University, Institute of Biotechnology / Inso Biosciences Inc $50,000

Inso Biosciences Inc. (“Inso”) is a startup from Cornell University and a Client Company of Cornell’s Kevin M. McGovern Family Center for Venture Development in the Life Sciences incubator. Inso is developing a technology platform—originally invented at Cornell University– that can automate sample preparation for subsequent DNA sequencing or optical-mapping analysis. As “first generation” prototypes, Inso’s proprietary microfluidic systems extracted, purified, and prepared nucleic acids with speed and accuracy far superior to current standard manual methods. The goal of Inso’s FuzeHub project is to fund design and prototyping of “second generation” devices, associated controls and packaging. This would enable scale-up of manufacturing for initial Inso commercial sales to early adopters and “beta” testers. With this early commercial experience and validation in hand, Inso expects to attract and close their first significant investment. This, in turn, will enable Inso to hire on additional staff, and establish its initial manufacturing operations in the Company’s Ithaca NY location.

SUNY Polytechnic Institute / Lux Semiconductors Inc. $49,967

Lux Semiconductors is developing a high performance, thin, and flexible platform for electronics called System-on-Foil, which represents a leap forward for printed circuit boards. The System-on-Foil platform will enable more durable, lightweight, and flexible electronics for a wide range of industries, including aerospace, defense, clean energy, medical wearables, and Internet-of-Things. Lux is preparing to install its upcoming pilot-scale manufacturing tool at SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Albany, NY, allowing the company to increase the quality and throughput of its proprietary crystalline thin-film silicon, a key component of its System-on-Foil platform. This FuzeHub sponsored award, in collaboration with SUNY Poly, while leveraging Lux’s relationships with SUNY Poly’s hosted New York State Center for Advanced Technology in Nanomaterials and Nanoelectronics (CATN2) and New York State Center of Excellence in Nanoelectronics and Nanotechnology (NYS CENN), will accelerate the company’s path toward commercialization by facilitating the pilot tool installation and process development.

Clarkson University, Shipley Center for Innovation / Reset Water, LLC & Square One Coating Systems, LLC $50,000

This project will accelerate the commercialization of technology developed at Clarkson University to address the growing problem of harmful algal blooms (HABs) in New York State and around the world. HABs have existed for many years, but in recent decades the scope of the problem has increased dramatically as runoff from nutrient rich fertilizers works its way into our freshwater systems, and as global climate change has increased average temperatures around the world. Through the generous funding provided by FuzeHub, startup company Reset Water, LLC will launch a prototype boat outfitted with “HABs Terminator” technology licensed from Clarkson. This technology applies a proprietary electrochemical oxidation process to treat waters affected by HABs, removing both the visible blooms as well as their toxic side effects. This boat, the second prototype that will be launched by Reset Water in 2021, will be outfitted with components sourced from another NYS manufacturer, Square One Coatings of Oriskany. The project will enable both of these companies to increase revenue with a new product line, ultimately leading to new manufacturing jobs that help to solve one of New York State’s most pressing environmental challenges.

Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation / Clip.Bike $50,000

The Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation (BNYDC) partnered with Clip.bike to launch the Clip project and democratize access to e-bike technology. This project consists of producing CLIP, the world’s first portable propulsion device that can be attached to any bike to instantly upgrade it to an e-bike. The first pre-production series of CLIPs will occur at the New Lab of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, leveraging BNYDC and its tenants’ manufacturing expertise and advanced equipment. Once completed, the Clip project will be the first commercial project combining AI and additive manufacturing to produce customers’ electronics devices in New York State.

Rochester Institute of Technology, College of Science, Center for Imaging Science / Aktiwave LLC

$49,898

Associate Professor Jie Qiao of Rochester Institute of Technology’s Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science, is partnering with Aktiwave LLC to develop a Femtosecond-Laser-Based Welding System prototype, which provides epoxy-free bonding of optical, electronic, mechanical components, and medical devices. Aktiwave is a growing, ultrafast laser-based company. The Aktiwave-RIT team is aligned with the goals of the FuzeHub innovative manufacturing program. The project leverages Qiao’s femtosecond laser expertise and facility at RIT and the ultrafast lasers and the laser-based manufacturing knowledge of Aktiwave. This collaboration aims to open the path for flexible, high- precision, and autogenous fabrication and integration of photonic/medical devices and sensors with improved instrument lifetime and reliability.

Rochester Institute of Technology, Department of Packaging Science / Cinterest LLC $49,585

Researchers at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) are partnering with Cinterest to develop alternatives to conventional packaging solutions by combining biochar with various plant-based and bioplastic materials that offer a pathway to significantly reduce cost and net greenhouse gas emissions. Cinterest is a technology company that designs, develops, and licenses a variety of closed-loop production processes and products focused on carbonizing underutilized organic materials. Carbonizing organic residues in high temperature, low oxygen conditions can significantly reduce the amount of volume of biomass while producing valuable co-products including heat, bio-oil or syngas and biochar, a material with durable carbon sequestration opportunities. Cinterest’s initial product focus is on protective packaging materials, specifically temperature-controlled packaging used for shipping vaccines, food and other temperature sensitive materials.

Seneca Cayuga Yates Counties Chapter NYSARC, Inc. / Natural Beauty Breast Prosthesis, LLC $50,000

Finger Lakes Textiles is proud to partner with Natural Beauty Breast Prosthesis, LLC, to manufacture an organic, all-natural fiber, external breast form for women who have had mastectomies without reconstruction. This project will create 10 new hires over the next three years. Many of these new hires will be individuals with disabilities. The two businesses expect to increase production capacity by 300%. This collaboration will provide thousands of women with breast forms they can wear with comfort and give them peace of mind knowing that what they are wearing is safe as well as comfortable.

Long Island High Technology Incubator, Inc. / Unique Electric Solutions $50,000

Funded by the New York State Energy Research and Development Agency (NYSERDA), the CEBIP at Stony Brook University, a program of the Long Island High Technology Incubator (LIHTI), has been in operation since October 2011 providing assistance and resources for developers of renewable and clean-energy technologies. Under this FuzeHub program, CEBIP has partnered with Unique Electric Solutions (UES) to establish a pilot electric vehicle (EV) battery cell laser welding energy storage system (ESS) manufacturing production line. As a pathway to a larger New York State-based battery manufacturing facility, this effort will also enable local job creation and support New York State and United States EV adoption goals. Through the expertise, business acumen and technological resources of CEBIP’s management team, advisory board, researchers at Stony Brook University and other extensive partnerships, CEBIP helps bridge the gap between innovation and market with a full commitment to helping entrepreneurs develop and commercialize clean-energy technology. CEBIP’s goal (as supported by this program) is to develop a successful clean-energy economy on Long Island, creating high-paying “cleantech” jobs, industry within Long Island and New York State and supporting the LIHTI’s mission to support and stabilize early-stage high-risk high-tech businesses.

Binghamton University, Center for Advanced Microelectronics Manufacturing (CAMM) / Aincobio LLC

$50,000

Bacterial infections that spread into the bloodstream can be lethal in a few hours, but current lab tests used to determine the most effective antibiotic drug(s) can take 2-5 days. This time delay contributes to high rates of mortality and morbidity, and often makes bloodstream infections one of the most expensive conditions to treat. In this project, the Center for Advanced Microelectronics Manufacturing (CAMM) at Binghamton University and Aincobio LLC, based in Syracuse, New York, are teaming up to produce new additively printed, conductive-ink microelectronic biosensors capable of quantifying the antibiotic resistance of bacterial pathogens in less than one hour. Although this technology has the potential to improve clinical outcomes by empowering physicians to provide patients with higher efficacy drug(s) in less time, current production costs are prohibitively high. By applying less costly state- of-the-art, high-volume additive-manufacturing techniques, the CAMM and Aincobio hope to reduce the cost of these rapid lab tests by 10x or more, thereby enabling the commercialization of this life-saving technology.

SUNY Polytechnic Institute / StemCultures, LLC $50,000

SUNY Polytechnic Institute’s ability to leverage vast resources, including the New York State Center of Excellence in Nanoelectronics and Nanotechnology (NYS CENN) and New York State Center for Advanced Technology in Nanomaterials and Nanoelectronics (CATN2), along with nano/micro fabrication facilities and industrial partnerships, will underpin Professor of Nanobioscience Dr. Yubing Xie’s collaborative efforts with StemCultures to advance novel control release sutures for advanced wound healing. While many are familiar with receiving stitches that often lead to impaired wound healing, infection, and/or scarring, by further developing microstrings that act as control release sutures, the sutures can avoid such issues through time-release growth factors and an inhibition molecule that can greatly expedite the healing process. This award from FuzeHub’s Jeff Lawrence Innovation Fund is expected to support optimization, validation, and commercialization of this promising biotechnology.

William H. “Bill” McDonald, the associate dean of academic affairs for the Business, Health, Science and Technology Division, recently spoke with NYS Manufacturing Now about Herkimer College’s mission, Cree’s new construction, previous events with FuzeHub, and the winning combination of food, technology, and manufacturing in the Mohawk Valley.

Bill also underscored the importance of attending How the Mohawk Valley Feeds Innovation, a June 2nd event that’s sponsored by FuzeHub in partnership with Herkimer College and leading organizations.

The grant, awarded in late 2019, provided Pvilion with risk assessment, policy development, employee training and other tools to fulfill federal cybersecurity requirements. Achieving compliance has become increasingly critical for companies in the supply chain to obtain or renew contracts with the DOD, which began implementing its new cybersecurity provisions in late 2020.

FuzeHub and AIM have since launched the newest iteration of this effort, the NY MEP Cybersecurity Assistance Program, to help manufacturers strengthen their cybersecurity protocols and meet standards in the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS).

Small- and medium-sized manufacturers in New York State can join the NY MEP Cybersecurity Assistance Program’s cohort of participating companies — free of charge — to gain access to funding and support. Trainings and workshops are ongoing; nearly 70 companies will be eligible for a risk-assessment grant.

“The stakes for safeguarding information have never been higher. Suppliers not in compliance with the Department of Defense — or unmindful of their status — could lose out on lucrative federal projects,” said FuzeHub Executive Director Elena Garuc. “This program helps companies like Pvilion assess their operations, address any issues, and keep DOD contracts in the capable hands of New York’s manufacturing community.”
Empire State Development Acting Commissioner and President & CEO-designate Eric Gertler said, “We’re strengthening New York State’s cybersecurity sector through NYSTAR, our Division of Science, Technology and Innovation, which assists defense-related manufacturers with grant funding, training and assistance through our network of New York Manufacturing Extension Partnership centers. With help from NYSTAR-supported innovation assets, manufacturers like Brooklyn-based Pvilion have access to more opportunities to secure defense contracts and develop innovative tech-driven solutions for use by the U.S. armed forces.”

Pvilion’s recent contracts with the U.S. Air Force are for furnishing autonomous self-erecting shelter systems and expanding the use of solar energy generation to various squadrons and Wing Commands. The latest contract provides funding to deploy and field-test Pvilion’s new robotic shelter that opens and closes at the push of a button, saving time and resources usually required to set up temporary shelters.

“The cybersecurity grant has proven integral to our ability to serve the U.S. armed forces,” said Pvilion CEO and co-founder Colin Touhey. “Pvilion has benefited greatly from this and other programs offered by FuzeHub, which have kept our company at the forefront of solar fabric technology and military-market innovation.”

The NY MEP Cybersecurity Assistance Program is supported by funding from NYSTAR, Empire State Development’s NYS Division of Science, Technology and Innovation, with funding from the Department of Defense’s Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation.

The program is one element in a robust innovation infrastructure that NYSTAR supports in communities across the state. AIM and FuzeHub are NYSTAR-supported New York Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NY MEP) centers, serving small- and mid-sized manufacturers in the Mohawk Valley region and statewide.

Learn more about the NY MEP Cybersecurity Assistance Program at newyorkmep.org/cyber-security-assessment-program.

In the COVID era, just a few additional people in a room can make the difference between low and high risk of catching the disease. How can an organization track room density without posting an employee at each entrance to every space? Or without relying on the honor system?

Enter the aptly named Density, a company collaborating with SyracuseCoE—New York State’s Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems, an innovation asset within the NYSTAR network—on an innovative solution: an “internet of things”-based people-counting device. But the technology wasn’t developed—at least not initially—for pandemic-era purposes.

In the spring of 2020, three members of SyracuseCoE’s Faculty Fellows Program partnered with Density and won a competitive research grant from the center. With the funding, they set out to find a new approach to evaluate energy savings, thermal comfort, and indoor air quality for “occupant-centric” buildings. Occupant behavior, like switching on and off lights or adjusting a thermostat, has a significant influence on the energy usage and environmental quality within a building; automating building controls according to how many occupants are in the space could drive sizable savings.

Using the Total Indoor Environmental Quality Laboratory (TIEQ Lab) at SyracuseCoE, researchers set up two identical lab spaces like a typical open office to measure the performance of an occupancy-centric space. They used heating bulbs and CO2 to mimic different occupancy loads. The results showed that controlling the HVAC according to how many people are in the space could save around 28% in total energy usage.

With this research, Density developed technology that uses sensors over doorways and a network of lasers that measures head patterns, anonymously tracking the number of individuals in a space in real time. The device then informs the building controls how many people are in the space and can adjust lighting, fans, heating and cooling—minimizing the impact on energy use, air quality and thermal comfort. “This collaboration with SyracuseCoE faculty has been valuable because it helps to prove the applicability of our product in the green-building space,” said Steven Von Deak, co-founder and chief of staff of Density. “It also has the potential to inform the entire industry as it works toward higher building efficiency.”

Then COVID-19 hit. Fortunately, Density was well-positioned. The company pivoted its technology to help organizations adapt to pandemic-era regulations, which included the number of individuals in an enclosed space.

Density experienced a surge in interest this year as states began easing their lockdown restrictions. And that interest wasn’t limited to small-square-footage offices. Higher-education institutions, warehouses, casinos, and meatpacking facilities all used Density’s technology to safely reopen their facilities.

The company—which has Notre Dame, Booz Allen Hamilton, TakeTwo Interactive Software among its clientele—outpaced its entire 2019 book of sales in the first 75 days of the pandemic. To keep up with demand, Density increased production at its Syracuse facility by 90 percent.

In July, the company announced that it had raised $51 million in funding.

Density and SyracuseCoE are showing the vast possibilities of technological innovation. “Before the pandemic we were collaborating, using Density’s occupancy counting sensor to observe how occupant behavior influences the performance of building systems and, when the unimaginable happened, they scaled up their product to meet a previously unknowable need,” said the SyracuseCoE project director Bing Dong. “Because it was already developed and to market, the device could be quickly made available as a solution for businesses and institutions. That pivot helped Density, its workers, its new clients, and our economy.”

SyracuseCoE is an industry-university collaborative research and development enterprise, backed by NYSTAR. Led by Syracuse University, SyracuseCoE engages students, faculty, and industry collaborators to catalyze innovations for clean energy, healthy buildings and resilient communities.

The 55,000-square-foot headquarters building adjacent to downtown Syracuse serves as a hub for university-industry collaborations and includes specialized laboratories and spaces for training and public engagement. Among the Center’s activities are research and commercialization projects addressing indoor air quality, IoT systems and controls, high performance building technologies, sustainable transportation, advanced heating, ventilation and air conditioning controls, and more.

For years, New York State has been investing in and building out its innovation infrastructure through NYSTAR, Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation. NYSTAR oversees a robust, statewide network that provides innovators, entrepreneurs and business leaders with access to the support they need to solve challenges and keep growing, even during periods of downturn. There are over 70 NYSTAR-backed centers across the state that are actively working to generate technology-driven economic growth.