The Origins: A National Strategy

Manufacturing Day began in 2012. The catalyst was a looming crisis: the “skills gap.” Leaders recognized that while manufacturing technologies were advancing, the public still saw industry as a “Rust Belt” legacy. That included the next generation of workforce talent, which was often encouraged to pursue careers in other fields.

Getting started took a team effort. The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association International (FMA), and several federal partners all worked together. One of those federal partners, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), leads the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), to which New York MEP (NYMEP) belongs.

In MFG Day’s inaugural year, approximately 240 events were held across the United States. They weren’t just open houses – and they still aren’t. Instead, they’re opportunities for students, educators, and parents to see for themselves that modern manufacturing isn’t dark, dirty and dangerous. Instead, it’s bright, digital, and highly skilled.

Why It Matters: Addressing the Skills Gap

Manufacturing Day isn’t just a series of events at various companies. It’s a matter of economic necessity. Research shows that by 2030, the United States will face a significant shortfall of manufacturing workers if more talent isn’t recruited. Ask any small-to-medium manufacturer about this today and you’ll probably hear that the problem isn’t four years away. It’s happening right now.

The good news is that public perception is changing. Today, Manufacturing Day connects local schools with regional employers. It’s part of a larger effort to ensure that vocational training matches the needs of nearby industries. That’s crucial because the same small-to-medium manufacturers who need workforce talent are the economic backbone of their communities.

Key Milestones and Growth

What started with a few hundred events has scaled exponentially. By 2016, the number of MFG Day events surpassed 2,800. By 2019, participation included all 50 states and Puerto Rico. In 2020 and 2021, local events adapted to the global pandemic by introducing virtual tours and digital career panels. NY MEP participated through Remo, a virtual event platform used by FuzeHub.

Pivoting during the pandemic seemed like making the best of a tough situation, but it expanded Manufacturing Day’s reach. Students took virtual tours of manufacturing facilities that were too far to reach on a school bus. They also gained insights from manufacturing leaders that they wouldn’t have met otherwise. Today, a hybrid physical-digital model remains a staple in some areas.

By the Numbers: Impact and Statistics

The success of MFG Day is tracked by The Manufacturing Institute. The data shows a significant shift in student sentiment after attending an event.

• Student Awareness: 84% of students felt more aware of manufacturing careers.
• Career Viability: 64% of students were more motivated to pursue a career in the industry.
• Parental Support: 71% of parents said they would encourage their child to pursue a manufacturing career.

FuzeHub’s Role in Manufacturing Day Across New York

Throughout October, FuzeHub is partnering with organizations across New York to connect students with manufacturing education and career opportunities. As part of National Manufacturing Month, FuzeHub, MACNY, and AIM are partnering with Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC) on Manufacturing Day events. The month kicked off October 2 with a tour of MVCC’s Mechatronics Department for the Syracuse ITC P-TECH class, giving senior engineering students an inside look at programs and opportunities available after graduation. Upcoming events include a Worthington Steel visit for Rome Free Academy students on October 13 and an MVCC Manufacturing Day event for Syracuse Academy of Science students on October 22, focused on mechatronics, modern manufacturing, and career opportunities.

The Future of MFG Day – and Manufacturing

Today, some MFG Day events feature collaborative robots (cobots) or 3D printers. Others showcase the latest equipment for metal machining, plastic injection molding, or electronics manufacturing. By focusing on innovation and problem-solving, Manufacturing Day is much more than an open house. It’s a workforce recruitment engine.

Importantly, Manufacturing Day is also the start of National Manufacturing Month – more proof that October isn’t just about falling leaves and Halloween pumpkins. October is also the season for the New York State Innovation Summit, a multi-day event that unites manufacturers with technology leaders, researchers, entrepreneurs, and investors.

Be part of the action. Join us for the New York State Innovation Summit on October 27^th and 28^th at the Buffalo Convention Center. There’s still room in the Exhibit Hall. Manufacturers who are referred by FuzeHub can receive a deep discount, so don’t delay.

“Annual Summit Gathers New York’s Technology Leaders, Manufacturers, Researchers, Entrepreneurs, And Investors who are Shaping the Next Era of American Innovation.”

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This Upstate NY product was voted the coolest thing made in the state

“Finger Lakes Textiles recently won the 2026 Coolest Thing Made in New York contest for its Arctic Gear hats, which range from winter beanies and balaclavas to trucker hats and baseball caps.”

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UAlbany symposium focuses on measuring nanoscale chip features

“October 22-23, the 2026 Albany Nanotechnology Symposium will convene at UAlbany’s ETEC Building, culminating UAlbany’s Research & Economic Development Week with a focus on the critical measurements used in advanced chip fabrication.”

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Manufacturing Month Kicks Off Across Chautauqua County and Western New York

“Throughout the year, and with an intensified focus during Manufacturing Month, Dream It Do It works with schools and manufacturers to move students beyond simply hearing about manufacturing careers to actually experiencing them.”

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Annual Summit Gathers New York’s Technology Leaders, Manufacturers, Researchers, Entrepreneurs, and Investors who are Shaping the Next Era of American Innovation

Empire State Development (ESD) today announced nine finalists for the ninth annual Commercialization Competition, which will take place October 27-28, 2026, at the Buffalo Convention Center during the New York State Innovation Summit. The competition is part of the Jeff Lawrence Innovation Fund, supported by ESD and administered by FuzeHub.

The finalists will present their business plans to a panel of judges and a live audience for a chance to receive one of four awards totaling $430,000. The winner will receive $150,000, the runner-up $110,000, and two additional finalists $85,000 each.

The New York State Innovation Summit brings together companies, researchers, manufacturers, investors and economic development partners to explore emerging technologies and advances in production. This year’s program will feature biotechnology, new materials, energy innovation and artificial intelligence, with discussions on technology convergence, commercialization and manufacturing sustainability.
During the Summit, finalists will demonstrate the commercialization potential of their products or technologies. Award funds must be used to improve an existing prototype or go-to-market strategy, helping recipients pursue additional investment and customers and advance toward commercialization.

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight, “New York’s innovation economy depends on helping promising technologies move from the lab to the marketplace. Together with our partners, ESD is helping entrepreneurs strengthen prototypes, attract investment, and bring new solutions closer to market. This year’s finalists reflect the breadth of talent across New York, and I look forward to seeing them compete at the Innovation Summit in Buffalo.”

“The Commercialization Competition finalists have worked hard to get here,” said Patty Rechberger, Innovation Fund Manager at FuzeHub. “By the time they present at the Summit, they may have spent years refining their prototypes and commercialization plans. These are some of the best ideas coming out of New York State, and it is always super exciting to help them take that next step.”

The Innovation Summit offers opportunities to connect entrepreneurs with potential customers, investors and support professionals, and to learn how new technologies are being developed and commercialized across New York. Registration is open, and the full agenda is available on the Summit’s website.

Watch the video announcement here: https://youtu.be/qdkrGJTVVKM?si=l9p77WOkKrePe4kb

The nine finalists, listed alphabetically, are:

Axenica Bioscience (Western New York)

Axenica Bioscience – Manufacturing a Living Catalog of Contemporary, Characterized Viral Reference Materials

Accurate infectious disease testing depends on a simple question: can a diagnostic test properly detect the viruses circulating today? Yet diagnostic developers and laboratories often rely on older reference strains that may not reflect current viral diversity. When natural sequence changes affect the region a test is designed to recognize, infections can be missed. A false-negative result can delay treatment and infection-control decisions, allowing consequences to compound beyond one patient. Axenica Bioscience is building a system to close this clinical-readiness gap. Through its Clinical Isolate Partner Network (CIPN), Axenica will source contemporary viral isolates and convert each specimen into one manufactured, highly characterized and traceable reference lot. Its “One Source, One Lot” model gives diagnostic developers, clinical laboratories and other infectious-disease organizations a common, contemporary material against which to evaluate performance. As new strains are collected, Axenica’s living catalog will continuously refresh the biology available for testing, helping the industry identify strain-dependent blind spots before they become public-health failures.

CarbonCLAIR (New York City)

Commercial Metal Scale-Up of CarbonCLAIR’s Mobile Air Treatment Platform

Construction and infrastructure work can create high concentrations of dust, fumes, and odors that affect workers, nearby communities, and project schedules. CarbonCLAIR is developing a mobile air-treatment system that captures polluted air near the source, filters particulate matter, treats selected fumes through liquid scrubbing, and monitors conditions in real time. CarbonCLAIR has progressed from laboratory research into field testing in active construction, infrastructure, and community air-quality environments across New York. Its high-flow prototype has operated at approximately 5,500 cubic feet per minute while using about 2 kilowatts of power, demonstrating the potential for high-volume air treatment with relatively low energy demand. FuzeHub support would help CarbonCLAIR replace its current wood-framed prototype with a durable metal platform designed for stronger airflow, longer duct runs, repeated deployment, and future chemical and plasma-activated treatment. The goal is to turn a field-tested prototype into a repeatable, New York-made commercial service for construction, infrastructure, and other high-exposure environments.

CaroRhythm (New York City)

CaroRhythm First-in-Patient Prototype Validation

The current post-stroke standard of care is a virtual nurse follow-up after survivors are discharged from the hospital. Survivors are most vulnerable to recurrent stroke within the month after their initial event, yet they and their care partners have no way of proactively monitoring for recurrence risk. CaroRhythm is developing a non-invasive wearable device to track stroke risk indicators and provide survivors, care partners, and clinicians with real-time notifications of stroke onset. CaroRhythm brings continuity of care to stroke survivors by giving them the information necessary to seek care before physical symptoms are present. Early detection decreases the likelihood of long-term disability due to stroke, and every minute saved prevents 1.9 million neurons from dying. The World Stroke Organization predicted in 2025 that 25% of the global population will have a stroke in their lifetime. CaroRhythm could be the critical secondary prevention monitor for the 500 million people who will have a recurrent stroke.

Eggstraordinary (Southern Tier)

Commercialization of Eggiyo by Eggstraordinary LLC

Busy mornings often force a choice between convenience and nutrition, pushing many people toward sugary cereals or skipping breakfast altogether. Eggstraordinary is changing that with Eggiyo, the first egg-based breakfast cereal designed to deliver the nutrition of a whole egg — without having to crack one. Built on egg as its protein source, Eggiyo is grain-free, gluten-free, and dairy-free, offering a familiar breakfast format with a nutritional profile closer to eggs than to traditional cereal. The product has already shown its potential, winning the American Egg Board’s 2025 Eggcelerator competition and validating it through consumer testing and pilot-scale manufacturing. The company is now aiming for commercial launch, working to bring Eggiyo from pilot batches to retail shelves. By reimagining a bowl of cereal as a source of complete protein rather than empty carbohydrates, Eggiyo is poised to introduce a new breakfast category, one where speed and nutrition are no longer at odds and where busy families can trust what’s in the bowl.

Lucent EMS Solutions (Long Island)

Lucent EMS Solutions

Every day, emergency medical responders spend up to an hour typing out patient care reports after a single call. After long overnight shifts responding to multiple emergencies, recalling precise details becomes difficult, leading to exhaustion and keeping ambulances off the road longer between calls. Lucent EMS Solutions is building an automated, hands free sidekick that documents emergency calls more efficiently. Designed specifically for EMS first responders, the AI powered tool captures essential patient details and treatment steps during a call, instantly drafting compliant reports for review. By eliminating tedious manual paperwork, this technology helps first responders finish report writing in minutes rather than hours, allowing ambulance crews to return to service faster, reduce burnout, and focus on high quality patient care.

ProViZiGen (New York City)

Development of engineered polymer gel to enable sustained and targeted delivery of novel therapeutic for post‑traumatic osteoarthritis

ProViZiGen is advancing HydroGEN™, a first-in-class injectable biologic designed to prevent post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) following joint injury. Osteoarthritis affects millions of people worldwide, yet no approved therapy currently exists that can prevent or modify disease progression after injury. HydroGEN combines a thermoresponsive protein hydrogel with a novel therapeutic protein to provide sustained delivery directly within the joint, targeting inflammation, cartilage degeneration, and disease progression at their source. Funding from this award will support critical preclinical development activities, including product optimization, efficacy validation, safety studies, and manufacturing readiness. These efforts will generate the data needed to advance HydroGEN toward IND-enabling studies and future clinical trials. Founded to commercialize breakthrough protein-engineering innovations, ProViZiGen is dedicated to transforming orthopedic care from reactive symptom management to proactive disease prevention. The company is supported by a team of experts in biomaterials, protein engineering, orthopedic medicine, regulatory strategy, and commercialization, with collaborations spanning leading institutions including NYU and Yale. By developing a therapy capable of preventing PTOA before irreversible joint damage occurs, ProViZiGen aims to improve patient outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and preserve mobility and quality of life for athletes, military personnel, and millions of individuals at risk of developing osteoarthritis following injury.

PSSP Technologies (Long Island)

Continuous Hormone Monitoring From Passive Sweat 

A woman in her forties who stops sleeping, loses words mid-sentence, and no longer recognizes her own moods will usually be told her blood test came back normal. It probably did. Hormones swing hour to hour during perimenopause, and a single morning draw catches one moment of a moving target. Perimenopause remains the only hormonal disorder not diagnosed by measuring hormones. PSSP Technologies is developing OVAI, a skin-worn patch that measures hormones continuously from passive sweat, without a blood draw. The recognition chemistry is field-exclusively licensed from the University of Leicester. This award funds the step before any device: proving the chemistry detects estradiol and progesterone in real human sweat, in perimenopausal and menopausal women, the population hardest to measure. Paired sweat and serum samples collected at a Garden City obstetrics and gynecology practice will be quantified against laboratory reference methods. In NSF I-Corps interviews with 69 women and 28 physicians, 83 percent of women already paying for hormone testing spent roughly $200 a month out of pocket for answers that arrive one snapshot at a time. The demand is established. What has been missing is a device women can eventually wear.

Resolvia Biosciences (Capital Region)

Resolve to Solve: A New Approach to Treat Chronic Inflammation

Chronic inflammation is the leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for 3 out of every 5 deaths. Current therapies that dominate healthcare often cause severe complications and carry significant risk of adverse effects and even death. They also fail to cure disease and require continuous treatment. Resolvia Biosciences is a biomedical research venture translating discoveries in natural pathways that limit inflammation into new therapeutic strategies for treating chronic inflammatory diseases. Resolvia’s lead approach combines the lipid Resolvin E1 with the FDA-approved drug cyclosporine to create a dual-acting therapy that both blocks inflammation and repairs damaged tissue. Advantages over current therapies include shorter treatments, reduced toxicity, and better outcomes. Resolvia is committed to partnering with clinical and translational innovators to bring a safer, smarter immune therapy to patients in need.

SUPERClean Glass (Long Island)

Waterless Self-Cleaning Solar Panels: A Customer-Site Validation Tool for Performance and Payback

Dust and dirt reduce the output of solar panels, creating maintenance costs and environmental impact problems for utility-scale solar fields especially in dry regions where potable water is scarce. SUPERClean Glass has developed a waterless self-cleaning technology that uses an electric field to lift dust from solar-panel glass without moving parts, damaging physical scrubbing, or costly water. This project helps take the technology to market by building a transportable test & demonstration system that can be deployed at prospective customer sites. Side-by-side solar panels would measure how much power is being lost to local dust and soiling, how much performance SUPERClean’s technology restores, and the energy gains which provide an attractive financial payback. The system would give solar developers and operators confidence that the company’s technology works by providing site-specific evidence before committing to a larger commercial deployment. By making solar panels more productive while reducing cleaning costs, labor, and water consumption, SUPERClean Glass aims to remove one of the persistent operating costs facing solar power generation.

The Jeff Lawrence Innovation Fund, with more than $1 million available annually, supports activities that spur technology development and commercialization across New York State. FuzeHub administers the fund as part of its role as ESD’s designated statewide Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) center. For more information, contact Patty Rechberger, Innovation Fund Manager, at patty@fuzehub.com or visit the Jeff Lawrence Innovation Fund website.

About Empire State Development

Empire State Development is New York’s chief economic development agency, and promotes business growth, job creation, and greater economic opportunity throughout the state. With offices in each of the state’s 10 regions, ESD oversees the Regional Economic Development Councils, supports broadband equity through the ConnectALL office, and is growing the workforce of tomorrow through the Office of Strategic Workforce Development. The agency engages with emerging and next generation industries like clean energy and semiconductor manufacturing looking to grow in New York State, operates a network of assistance centers to help small businesses grow and succeed, and promotes the state’s world class tourism destinations through I LOVE NY. For more information, please visit esd.ny.gov, and connect with ESD on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X.

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 Partnership 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 (NYSTAR). 

For more information on FuzeHub, visit FuzeHub.

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.

TelosAir Inc.—a Clarkson University startup based in Potsdam, N.Y., in collaboration with university researchers and NASA’s Glenn Research Center—has developed the OPto-Electrical Real-time Aerosol sensor (OPERA), a compact, low-power air quality sensor successfully deployed aboard the ISS.

Monitoring air quality in spacecraft is critical to astronaut health and safety. Smoke particles can signal the earliest stages of a fire; biological particles can spread infection during long-duration missions; and future lunar and Martian habitats will need to detect dust that astronauts carry inside from planetary surfaces. And in the microgravity environment of space, large particles can clog the airflow pathways of conventional aerosol sensors and render them unusable within days.

Therefore, NASA needed a compact, quiet, energy-efficient sensor that could operate continuously and reliably amid the microgravity of the ISS.

Led by Professor Suresh Dhaniyala (co-director of Clarkson’s Center for Air and Aquatic Resources Engineering and Science – CAARES), the OPERA sensor was developed using a novel focused light scattering technique, which eliminated the clogging problem of conventional designs and allowed the sensor to be compact, low-power, and quiet — meeting the strict operational constraints of spacecraft.

OPERA has operated on the ISS over the past year, continuously measuring airborne particle concentrations in the station’s microgravity environment, producing one of the first detailed records of particle levels aboard the station. The technology is also being advanced to identify specific particle types—including smoke, biological materials, and lunar dust—in support of future NASA missions to the moon and Mars.

The company has received support from several members of the NYSTAR network, including the Center for Advanced Materials Processing (CAT), Shipley Center for Innovation (Hot Spot), FuzeHub (MEP), and NY Ventures (via Launch NY), as well as funding from NYSERDA for student interns to help with sensor testing and evaluation.

For the Rochester-raised Pensievision, the deep-technology company and first-place winner of Luminate NY Cohort 8 developed a precision imaging platform that combines artificial intelligence with astronomy imaging techniques to generate high-resolution 3D information using a compact, solid-state optical system with no moving mechanical components.

Traditional precision 3D imaging systems often rely on multiple cameras, lasers, structured light, or mechanical scanning. These systems are frequently expensive, bulky, power intensive, and difficult to deploy in harsh environments.

Pensievision’s solution: an AI-powered precision 3D imaging platform that combines artificial intelligence with astronomy imaging techniques to generate high-resolution 3D information using a compact, solid-state optical system with no moving mechanical components.

Thanks to support from Empire State Development through Luminate NY and the broader NYSTAR ecosystem, Pensievision was enabled to accelerate product development, establish its research and development headquarters in Rochester, expand its engineering team, build strategic collaborations with New York universities and international research partners, and propel the company’s flight hardware into successful environmental testing at NASA’s Johnson Space Center.

After further research and testing, the company developed two independent spaceflight payloads. The first imaging system, built for biological research in microgravity, was deployed aboard the ISS. The second system, for autonomous space imaging validation, was installed aboard a CubeSat launched on SpaceX’s Transporter-17 mission.

With two active imaging systems now operating in orbit, Pensievision has demonstrated that technology developed and commercialized in New York can meet the demanding requirements of spaceflight while opening new opportunities in aerospace, advanced manufacturing, and healthcare, with the same platform now being commercialized for precision industrial inspection, minimally invasive endoscopy, cervical cancer screening, and other medical applications.

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!

“Initiative will support high-impact pollution prevention projects totaling $250K in 2026-27.”

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GlobalFoundries Finalizes $375 Million CHIPS Act Award for Onshore Quantum Semiconductor Fabrication

“Distributed over a five-year milestone-based schedule, the award accelerates the expansion of GF’s dedicated Quantum Technology Solutions (QTS) business unit at its Malta, New York manufacturing complex to scale domestic quantum hardware production from research prototypes to volume fabrication.”

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How DeIorio Foods is evolving a century of dough-making heritage into a custom manufacturing model

“In a market full of commodity dough suppliers, DeIorio Foods (DeIorio) has built its business on being something else entirely: a partner, not just a producer.”

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Governor Hochul Celebrates Completion of IMA Life North America’s $30 Million Expansion Project in Tonawanda

“Expansion Allows the Company To Create 70 New Jobs and Retain 195 Jobs in Western New York.”

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Let’s take a virtual trip along the I-90 corridor and meet a few companies that make some of what we need today. Then we’ll consider where to discover what’s coming tomorrow.

Precision Machining

Precision machining is the process of removing unwanted material from a solid block of metal, plastic, or composite to produce parts with very tight dimensional or geometric tolerances. It uses CNC machinery to achieve measurements that are sometimes measured in microns. For reference, a human hair is typically 50 to 100 microns thick.

Precision-machined parts don’t have to be small, however. In the Capital Region, Greno Industries uses precision machining to produce large parts for gas turbines, combustion engines that convert natural gas or other fuels into mechanical energy. This energy then drives a generator that produces electricity used by facilities such as AI data centers.

Injection Molding

Injection molding is a high-volume manufacturing process that injects a molten material into a metal tool called a mold. Typically, this material is plastic; however, elastomers such as liquid silicone rubber (LSR) are also used. After parts cool, they’re ejected from the mold and finished during post-processing. For example, excess material call flash or flashing may need to be removed.

That doesn’t mean injection molding is imprecise In Central New York, Tessy Plastics is a contract manufacturer of precision plastic components for medical, pharmaceutical, and diagnostic products. The company has ISO Class 7 and 8 cleanrooms, holds an ISO 13485:2016 quality certification, and is registered with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Converting, Printing, and Packaging

Converting is a manufacturing process that transforms bulk materials such as sheets and rolls into functional components. It includes die cutting, a specialized process that uses a custom-made tool called a die to shear, cut, stamp, or shape thin materials. Some converters also offer printing and packaging services to provide customers with single-source solutions.

In Western New York, Tapecon is a leading example. The 100+ year old company makes products that include wearable skin tapes and patches, membrane switches for small electronic devices, and printed chemical indicators that the semiconductor industry uses to track moisture levels in packaging. These indicators can also be used to monitor shipments of perishable items such as food.

Made in New York: Today and Tomorrow

These are just a few of the manufacturing processes – and a few of the New York State companies – that make what we need today. But what’s coming tomorrow? To find out, join us for the New York State Innovation Summit on October 27^th and 28^th at the Buffalo Convention Center. You’ll learn about topics like the quantum revolution, the new space economy, and glass-based microelectronics.

“The Albany, New York-based company operates a 300-millimeter pure-play quantum wafer foundry backed by an additional $1 billion investment from IBM.”

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MCC opens new advanced technology center for high-demand careers

“A new $69.6 million advanced technology center is now complete at Monroe Community College, expanding training opportunities for students pursuing careers in optics, advanced manufacturing and other high-demand fields.”

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NSF advances NSF OPAL toward construction-ready design

“The URochester-led NSF OPAL project awarded initial funding to support the final design phase for a world-leading high-power laser facility.”

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The Buffalo Bills’ New Stadium is American-made

“Built with nearly 100% American steel, the NFL’s newest structure is a testament to the industrial history of Western New York.”

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Driven by strategic state investments, federal momentum from the CHIPS and Science Act, and a rich ecosystem of research institutions, Upstate New York isn’t just manufacturing chips – the “brains” of modern electronics. The region is reinventing how semiconductor innovation moves from the lab to the factory floor.

The Power of a Collaborative Ecosystem

What makes New York State different is its end-to-end innovation pipeline. For example, across the I-90 corridor, Upstate New York houses an unmatched cluster of research facilities, university labs, and commercial fabs – specialized manufacturing facilities where raw silicon wafers are transformed into integrated circuits (ICs).

In New York’s Capital Region, the NY Creates’ Albany Nanotech Complex stands as a global hub for semiconductor research and development (R&D). This 2 million sq. ft. facility brings together industry leaders, academic researchers, and startups all under one roof. Together, they’re pioneering the next generation of chip architecture.

Meanwhile, multi-billion-dollar investments from industry giants like Micron Technology in Clay, GlobalFoundries in Malta, and Wolfspeed in Marcy are cementing the region’s manufacturing scale. These facilities are expected to generate thousands of good-paying jobs while creating opportunities for local suppliers, equipment manufacturers, and service providers.

Strengthening the Local Supply Chain

Building silicon wafers is half the battle. Sustaining a robust semiconductor industry also requires a local supply chain. That’s where small-to-medium-sized manufacturers across New York State can play a vital role. From precision machining and custom tooling to advanced chemical packaging and industrial automation, the semiconductor industry needs top-notch suppliers.

The New York Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NY MEP) works directly with the state’s manufacturers to ensure they’re ready to seize these opportunities. By connecting local businesses with technical expertise, grant funding, and strategic partnerships, NY MEP helps manufacturers to scale their capabilities to meet the rigorous demands of a fast-growing industry.

Investing in Workforce and Future Innovation

Reinventing semiconductor manufacturing also requires a workforce that’s ready for these technologies. SUNY Polytechnic University, Cornell University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC) and others are developing specialized curricula, apprenticeship programs, and cleanroom training modules to build a pipeline of technical talent.

Advancing Glass-Based Microelectronics

Another emerging area supporting the future of semiconductor manufacturing is glass-based microelectronics. Through Upstate Makes, FuzeHub is supporting Glass4Chips, an initiative focused on accelerating U.S. leadership in glass-based microsystems manufacturing and packaging.

Glass4Chips brings together stakeholders across the glass-based microelectronics value chain, including fabrication, assembly, validation, workforce development, and early commercialization. By connecting industry, academia, and ecosystem organizations around shared manufacturing, testing, qualification, and supply-chain needs, the initiative is working to address some of the barriers that can slow the transition of promising technologies from development to commercial production.

As the semiconductor industry continues to advance, technologies such as glass-based substrates have the potential to support the performance, scalability, reliability, and manufacturability required for next-generation microelectronics. Initiatives like Glass4Chips demonstrate how collaboration across the ecosystem can help strengthen domestic capabilities and move emerging technologies closer to real-world deployment.

Looking Ahead

Upstate New York’s transformation into America’s “Silicon Empire” is more than a regional success story. It’s a cornerstone of U.S. economic security and technological leadership. As advanced manufacturing continues to evolve, this combination of world-class R&D, strong supply chain integration, and a dedicated workforce are part of what America needs to succeed.

For more information about New York State’s innovation ecosystem and its commitment to supporting tomorrow’s technologies, join FuzeHub for the New York State Innovation Summit on October 27 and 28, 2026 at the Buffalo Convention Center. Now in its seventh year, this multi-day event features expert speakers, breakout sessions, an exhibit hall, and much more.

Uncaged Innovations’ material is designed to match the durability, performance, and feel of traditional leather but without the environmental cost. This bold undertaking has already attracted attention from global brands and investors, and the company is the recipient of four awards from FuzeHub’s Jeff Lawrence Manufacturing Innovation Fund.

Entrepreneurship and Science

Uncaged Innovations was co-founded by Stephanie Downs and Dr. Xiaokun Wang. Downs is a serial entrepreneur with more than 25 years of experience building companies across marketing, plant-based food, and environmental sustainability. During her consulting work with major brands, she saw firsthand the growing demand for animal-free materials and the lack of scalable, high-performance alternatives.

Dr. Wang conducted biomaterials research at Johns Hopkins University, where she developed corneal implants using biobased components. Dr. Wang’s scientific expertise, combined with Downs’ business leadership, formed the foundation for developing a bio-based material made mainly from grain proteins such as corn, wheat, and soy.

These grains wouldn’t be eaten by people. Instead, they’re the same types of agricultural inputs that are used to feed cattle. By replicating leather’s molecular structure with plant-based ingredients, Uncaged Innovations avoids chemical tanning – an industrial process that turns animal hides into leather by treating them with toxic substances that can pollute water, soil, and air.

Solving Fashion’s Sustainability Problem

The fashion industry is the second most environmentally damaging industry in the world, surpassed only by oil and gas, Freedman explains. Traditional leather plays a significant role in this impact. It’s not just because of chemical tanning either. The cattle whose hides are used to produce leather emit methane, a greenhouse gas, as part of their digestive process.

Many “vegan leather” alternatives exist, but most rely heavily on plastics or petroleum-derived ingredients. These materials may be cruelty-free, but they aren’t environmentally sustainable. Uncaged Innovations is different because its material is bio-based instead of plastic-filled or petroleum-dependent. Its advantages don’t stop there.

This innovative material is durable and meets performance benchmarks for small leather goods and footwear. Manufacturing is readily scalable because it relies upon existing equipment instead of requiring custom-built machinery. Plus, Uncaged Innovations’ material is price-competitive with traditional leather.

Listening to the Voice of the Customer

From day one, the company designed its product to be manufacturable at scale. Early prototypes were just one-inch squares, but every development stage was tied to real-world production requirements. Today, Uncaged Innovations produces rolls more than a meter wide and hundreds of meters long that can be cut into 25 square foot panels for customers.

Scaling production wasn’t easy. Freedman describes the process as “challenges at almost every step,” but she also emphasizes how the team’s responsiveness made the difference. For example, when brands expressed concerns about how early-stage prototypes reacted to humidity, Dr. Wang returned with solutions that eliminated these issues.

Uncaged Innovations’ customer discovery process was especially rigorous. Through an NSF iCorps program, the team conducted more than 100 interviews with brands, end users, and industry stakeholders. This feedback shaped development and accelerated commercialization, transforming a strong idea into a tangible product.

How FuzeHub Grants Accelerated Growth

Uncaged Innovations has received three FuzeHub Manufacturing Grants, each supporting a different stage of the company’s development. Together, the grants have enabled it to reach key technical milestones, conduct pilot runs and testing, iterate based on customer feedback, and quickly move from prototype to production.

The most recent FuzeHub grant focused specifically on bringing the company’s material up to full footwear specifications. This performance category is demanding and requires durability, flexibility, and consistency across climate conditions. As Freedman explains, the success of the project ultimately “led to a footwear brand being able to get a product out on the market with our material”.

From Pilot Scale to Global Launches

Uncaged Innovations has achieved the type of rapid scaleup that many startups struggle with. Many of its competitors needed a decade or more to reach full production, but Uncaged Innovations reached that milestone in less than four years. In addition to footwear, the company has entered various markets through multiple commercial launches with global and boutique brands.

Notable achievements include a public collaboration with Hyundai and investment from Jaguar Land Rover’s investment arm. Uncaged Innovations has also expanded its team to London, Mexico, and Philadelphia. In addition to three FuzeHub grants, the company has received significant non-dilutive funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Empire State Development.

A Growing Team with Global Reach

Uncaged Innovations is proving that sustainability, performance, and scalability can coexist. Its plant-based leather alternative is already making its way into products around the world, and the company is positioned to help major brands meet new sustainability standards. For Freedman, the mission is clear: “We want to help brands do better — and prove that it can be done.”