FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Susan Bardack/Buzz Media Solutions
Phone: (518) 867-7940
[email protected]
Patty Rechberger/FuzeHub
[email protected]
FuzeHub Announces Second Round of 2022 Grant Awards to Support Innovations in Manufacturing throughout New York State
FuzeHub’s Manufacturing Grants program awards $450,000 in grants to facilitate research and development, technical advancements, and process improvements for New York State manufacturers.
(Albany, NY – July 05, 2022) – FuzeHub, a not-for-profit organization providing small to medium-sized manufacturers with guided access to an extensive network of industry experts, programs, and resources to solve business growth challenges, recently awarded nine collaborative projects through its Jeff Lawrence Innovation Fund.
The Innovation Fund, consisting of more than $1 million annually, supports a set of activities designed to spur technology development and commercialization across New York State.
As part of the Fund, FuzeHub offers Manufacturing Grants to New York State not-for-profit organizations, including higher education institutions, that propose innovative projects in partnership with New York State small to medium-sized manufacturers. Project categories cover the 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 Innovation Fund is used to provide assistance to early-stage companies through FuzeHub’s annual Commercialization Competition, which will take place this fall.
The Innovation Fund is made possible through funding from Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR). New for 2022, FuzeHub received additional funding from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), supporting additional awards benefiting start-up companies.
“The strength of the applications was impressive, and the projects that were awarded have the potential to create a significant number of high-paying jobs”, said Matt Watson, Empire State Development Senior Vice-President, and NYSTAR Executive Director. “The advancement of manufacturing drives economic growth, and we are always looking for ways to support the state’s ten economic development regions. In this round of grants, almost every single region is represented – and that’s proof that expertise exists statewide.”
“Stronger domestic production supports a more resilient economy,” added Elena Garuc, executive director at FuzeHub. “During this round of Manufacturing Grants, many of the projects that were selected involved advanced materials. As awardees work to solve technical challenges, they’re also supporting the onshoring of production, which is crucial for supply chain resiliency, especially in these post-pandemic times.”
“For the first time since the start of the pandemic, we had a second round of Manufacturing Grants,” said Patty Rechberger, innovation fund manager.
“With the added EDA funds, FuzeHub was able to award a record 19 projects this year. Some of this year’s awardees are new to the Fund while others have been awarded previously, and I look forward to working with them all. There is an exciting mix of technologies, and I can’t wait to see how this funding will help.”
FuzeHub is pleased to announce the grantees:
(Southern Tier/Capital Region)
Cornell University, College of Engineering/ Lithoz America & Dimensional Energy | $50,000
Additive Manufacturing of Durable Ceramics for Clean Energy Applications
Researchers at Cornell University are partnering with ceramic 3D printing company Lithoz America and energy startup Dimensional Energy (DE) to develop new advanced printable ceramics that are better able to withstand the challenging operating environments of clean energy reactors. This work targets specialized thermocatalytic reactors, which can create more environmentally responsible fuels and chemicals by improving the efficiency of traditional production processes and reducing their carbon footprint.
(Southern Tier)
Koffman Southern Tier Incubator/ KLAW Industries LLC | $49,900
Recycled Glass Cement Replacement
For the past 40 years, New York’s recycled glass has been sent to our landfills due to high contamination and the lack of an end market. KLAW Industries has developed a process to use this waste glass as a raw material to create Pantheon™, a cement replacement for concrete, to decarbonize the construction industry. Pantheon™ makes concrete stronger, lower cost, and drastically reduces the carbon impact, launching New York towards its Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) and Low Embodied Carbon Concrete Leadership Act (LECCLA) goals. Working with the Koffman Southern Tier Incubator, and its Southern Tier Clean Energy Incubator program, the proposed project will scale KLAW Industries’ logistics system to pick up waste glass from Potential Environmental Justice Areas (PEJA) around New York and deploy Pantheon™ into the Southern Tier concrete market with partners at Barney & Dickenson Inc.
(Long Island)
Brookhaven National Laboratory/Magnet Launch, LLC | $50,000
Space Launch Assist by maglev in vacuum
Magnet Launch, LLC exists to reduce the cost and environmental impact of space launches by an order of magnitude each. To realize those goals, a launch assist system is proposed. This system will consist of a ground-based track, built on the side of a tall mountain. Inside the track will be a vacuum, and launch vehicles will be accelerated to a significant fraction of orbital speed by superconducting magnetic levitation. With this project, Magnet Launch and Brookhaven National Laboratory will work together to prove the feasibility of the launch assist concept, and create a system architecture to satisfy stakeholder requirements.
(Central New York)
CNY Biotech Accelerator, SUNY Upstate Medical University/ CathBuddy Inc. | $50,000
Aurie Reusable Catheter System Development
The Aurie Reusable Catheter System helps 600,000 intermittent catheter users in the US automatically clean, disinfect, and lubricate their catheters between uses with the help of tap water and pre-packaged cleaning supplies. The completed system will help improve access to high-quality catheters that help reduce potentially life-threatening infections by 30% relative to the standard, single-use intermittent catheters that are the standard of care today.
CathBuddy, Inc. is a client within the state-certified business incubator, CNY Biotech Accelerator (CNYBAC), and Upstate Medical University. CNYBAC provides targeted resources and networking assistance to its clients. This collaborative project will enable CathBuddy, Inc. to identify NYS-based contract manufacturers (CM) for the Aurie Reusable system, a novel portable catheter disinfection device to increase reprocessor prototype readiness.
(Mid-Hudson/ Capital Region)
Hudson Valley Textile Project, Inc./ Battenkill Valley Fibers Inc. | $50,000
Developing commercial-scale wool scouring capacity: Phase II – drying line set-up
HVTP will partner with Battenkill Fibers to complete phase II of a wool scouring operation through the addition of innovative Low-Temperature Radio Frequency loose fiber drying to the washing line currently in development. Commercial-scale scouring is needed in order for the Hudson Valley’s farm-to-fabric supply chain to expand to meet the growing demand for locally-sourced materials. Shipments of materials from overseas have become unreliable and there is considerable fluctuation in quality. Several short-term jobs will be created installing equipment and renovating space. Once in place, the scouring facility is expected to create three new permanent first shift jobs; and two jobs on second shift as demand increases. Additionally, the operation will result in considerable processing cost savings to the agricultural sector; and reduce environmental impacts through lower flows of wastewater and reduced fuel consumption by the RF dryer compared to traditional hot air equipment.
(Mid-Hudson/ Long Island)
Manufacturing & Technology Enterprise Center (MTEC)/Kegr LLC | $50,000
Kegr Expanded Design and Manufacturing
Kegr LLC is partnering with the Manufacturing & Technology Enterprise Center (MTEC) to manufacture an app-connected electronic keg tap for consumer use. The Kegr device is an electronic smart tap that improves upon a standard hand pump without requiring CO2. Although developed for the keg industry, the technology can be adopted by many other monitoring applications looking for simple and sustainable solutions.
(Southern Tier/ New York City)
Binghamton University, IEEC/Kepco, Inc. | $50,000
SMT Production Line
Implement a surface mount technology (SMT) assembly line to modernize Kepco’s DC power supplies to replace obsolete through-hole electronic components and take advantage of more modern components only available in SMT. The SMT line will use lean manufacturing techniques to improve responsiveness to customer requirements in a low volume / high mix manufacturing environment. The improvement in product density will enable the expansion of Kepco’s product line to include AC power supplies and recuperative electronic loads. The SMT line will facilitate the on-shoring of manufacturing to the United States and the expansion of manufacturing jobs at Kepco’s Flushing, NY factory.
(Western New York)
University at Buffalo, Department of Chemistry/Copprium Inc. | $50,000
Manufacturing Scale-up of Printable Copper Inks for Flexible Electronics
Copprium Inc. has partnered with Prof. Shenqiang Ren, UB’s Dept. of Chemistry, to commercialize a family of conductive copper inks for applications in printable flexible electronics. The new patent-pending copper inks solve many of the problems with current conductive inks in the industry at a significant cost advantage. Leveraging the strong UB entrepreneurial ecosystem, this project enables Copprium to launch its new ink products in 2022 into applications using screen printing, direct writing, aerosol jetting, and related printing technologies. The UB inks are printable, flexible, solderable, capable of low-to-high temperature sintering, compatible with traditional equipment, and importantly, are corrosion and oxidation resistant as well as shelf-stable and shippable at ambient temperatures. Copprium expects to gain a significant competitive advantage globally, open new markets, increase sales revenue and grow its operations in Buffalo by creating high-quality technical jobs.
(Finger Lakes)
University of Rochester, OB/GYN Department/EndoGlow | $50,000
GreenEgg Packaging
EndoGlow manufactures surgical instruments that fluoresce under near-infrared imaging. The funds will be used for packaging design and testing and allow EndoGlow to release its first product.
The application period for the Commercialization Competition is set to open on July 19, and FuzeHub will be accepting applications until August 17. Finalists will pitch live at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center on October 25 & 26.
For more information about the Jeff Lawrence Innovation Fund, visit www.fuzehub.com/innovation-fund/ or contact Patty Rechberger, innovation fund manager at [email protected].
About FuzeHub
FuzeHub is a not-for-profit organization that connects New York’s small to medium-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 www.fuzehub.com.
About Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR)
Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology, and Innovation (NYSTAR) mission is to advance technology innovation and commercialization in New York State. NYSTAR’s programs are designed to enable new and existing businesses to become more competitive through the use of innovative technologies and emphasize the importance of working with industry to leverage the state’s technology strengths. Through funded programs that support world-class technology research at colleges and universities, NYSTAR works to promote a robust network of industry-university partnerships throughout the state. It administers the New York Manufacturing Extension Partnership, which provides direct technology assistance to small-to-medium-sized manufacturers. For more information on NYSTAR programs, visit www.esd.ny.gov/doing-business-ny/innovation-development-support.
About U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA)
The U.S. Economic Development Administration’s investment policy is designed to establish a foundation for sustainable job growth and the building of durable regional economies throughout the United States. This foundation builds upon two key economic drivers – innovation and regional collaboration. Innovation is key to global competitiveness, new and better jobs, a resilient economy, and the attainment of national economic goals. Regional collaboration is essential for economic recovery because regions are the centers of competition in the new global economy and those that work together to leverage resources and use their strengths to overcome weaknesses will fare better than those that do not. EDA encourages its partners around the country to develop initiatives that advance new ideas and creative approaches to address rapidly evolving economic conditions. For more information on EDA, visit www.eda.gov/.
###