FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Susan Bardack – 518.867.7940 |[email protected]
Empire State Development Supported Grants will award $650,000 to facilitate research and development, technical advancements, and process improvements for New York State manufacturers.
(Albany, NY) – 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, is excited to announce the 10 collaborative project award recipients of grants through the Jeff Lawrence Innovation Fund. This year, FuzeHub received a record-breaking 59 applications.
The Innovation Fund, consisting of more than $1 million annually, serves as a pathway to technology transfer, adoption and implementation of new manufacturing processes, and the creation of enhanced products and services. It is made possible through funding and support from Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR).
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 a New York State manufacturing or technology company. 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 acquisitions, manufacturing scale-up, and other projects to advance manufacturing capabilities.
“Fresh ideas are the engine driving the economy forward,” said Ben Verschueren, executive director of Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR). “This year’s awardees represent the creativity, technical expertise, and collaboration that continue to put New York State at the forefront of innovation. Empire State Development is proud to support their projects as they take the next step toward production, and we look forward to celebrating those future successes.”
In addition, the Innovation Fund’s annual Commercialization Competition funds early-stage manufacturing and technology companies seeking to further develop their prototype. This enables them to pursue additional investment and customers as well as strengthen their “go-to-market” strategies, as they move from new product/production method to marketplace.
The 2026 Commercialization Competition is currently accepting applications, and the deadline to apply is August 10 at 11:59PM EST. Finalists will pitch live at the 2026 New York State Innovation Summit, hosted by FuzeHub, which showcases the companies and researchers at the forefront of emerging technologies and new advancements in production capabilities.
“FuzeHub’s mission is to strengthen New York’s manufacturing base by supporting the technologies and products that move entire industries forward,” said Patty Rechberger, innovation fund manager at FuzeHub. “This cohort represents exactly the kind of practical, high-impact innovation we look for – solutions that will make a real difference for businesses, workers, and the communities they anchor. Watching these projects grow from ideas into industry impact is the most rewarding part of this work.”
Watch the video announcement here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZYgKoR3XWE
FuzeHub is pleased to announce the grantees. Each awardee will receive $65,000:
Center for Economic Growth / Air Cleaning Blowers (Capital Region)
Air Clean Blowers Spiral Design Innovation
Most industrial air cleaning systems rely on filter media that clog over time, consume more energy, and create waste that must be handled and disposed of – sometimes containing hazardous materials. These systems can be costly to maintain and become less effective as they age.
Air Cleaning Blowers is developing a newly patented technology that cleans air without using filter elements at all. Instead, it uses a spiral design that separates dust, particles, and even liquid droplets from the air through motion, delivering clean air while avoiding the buildup and disposal issues associated with traditional systems.
With support from the Capital District Manufacturing Extension Partnership and the Rochester Institute of Technology, this project will validate and refine the design to bring it to market.
The result will be a more energy‑efficient, lower‑waste solution that improves air quality in workplaces such as manufacturing facilities, laboratories, and healthcare environments. By reducing energy use and eliminating disposable filters, the technology has the potential to lower costs, improve safety, and support more sustainable industrial practices across New York State and beyond.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Center for Architectural Science and Ecology (RPI CASE) / Cottrell Paper Company (Capital Region)
Prototyping and Manufacturing of Sustainable House and Building Wrap
The Cottrell Paper Company, Inc., a 100-year-old NY-based specialty paper mill and the only manufacturer of hemp paper in the Americas, is looking to expand into building materials. A joint 12-month project between Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Cottrell aims to develop Hemp Wrap, i.e. a durable hemp paper treated with chemically modified plant oils (e.g., from spent coffee grounds), as a direct replacement for synthetic house wraps for customers seeking a greener alternative. All commercially available house wraps, which constitute a nearly $4B market in the U.S. alone, are made from petroleum-derived plastics and have to be landfilled at the end of life. HempWrap performance will be compared with the industry leading product, DuPont’s Tyvek, for water resistance, breathability, tear strength and durability, UV resistance, recyclability/compostable, and carbon footprint.
TDO / Hidden Level (Central New York)
Next-Generation Modular Production Architecture for High-Rate Sensor Manufacturing
Drones are becoming more common, more capable, and harder to track, creating new safety and security challenges for airports, public events, military sites, and critical infrastructure. Hidden Level, a growing Central New York technology manufacturer, builds sensor systems that help customers understand low-altitude airspace by detecting the radio signals drones use without sending out signals or interfering with other systems. Demand for this technology is growing quickly, but Hidden Level’s production process was built for lower volumes. Sensor systems valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars are still assembled using legacy carts and fixtures that require repeated two-person handling, take up valuable floor space, and have sometimes forced work-in-process units onto foam on the production floor just to keep work moving. Through this project, Hidden Level and TDO will identify, select, and integrate safer modular manufacturing systems, ergonomic handling tools, work tracking, and better staging of parts and equipment. The project will help Hidden Level scale from 3–8 sensor systems per week to 30, deploy critical airspace awareness technology faster, and support up to 46 high-quality manufacturing jobs as production grows in Central New York.
The Arc Chemung-Schuyler / Glen Copack (Southern Tier)
Food packaging promotes independence for persons with cognitive disabilities.
The Arc Chemung-Schuyler, an organization dedicated to supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities with dignity and empowerment at its core, is pioneering a new assistive technology initiative to promote independent living. By pairing smart ovens with an innovative meal packaging design, the organization’s team will transform how meals are prepared and delivered across residential settings.
The system uses barcode-reading technology to match pre-programmed oven functions, simplifying meal preparation for both residents and staff. This streamlined approach is designed to expand access to nutritious meals while enhancing quality of life for individuals across The Arc’s residential programs.
Once fully implemented, the project is expected to reduce the staff time required for meal preparation, improve safety and efficiency, strengthen user independence, and lower overall service costs, reflecting The Arc Chemung-Schuyler’s ongoing commitment to innovative, person-centered care.
Cornell University, Praxis Center for Venture Development / IVSonance Biomedical (Southern Tier)
SOUND™: Manufacturing of a Deployable Acoustic Device for IVF Automation
One in six couples worldwide will require fertility treatment, yet in the United States, more than 75% of patients who need IVF never receive it. IVF clinics are struggling to meet demand, and the tools they rely on have not changed significantly in decades. Nearly every step in the IVF laboratory is still performed by hand, making the process slow, inconsistent, and difficult to scale.
IVSonance Biomedical, a Cornell University spinout based in Ithaca, NY, is changing that. The company has developed SOUND™, the world’s first device to use sound waves to automate a critical IVF procedure, gently and consistently, giving IVF labs the tools they need to always perform at their best. This allows clinics to see more patients and give more families a real chance at parenthood. Together with Cornell University’s Praxis Center for Venture Development, and supported by the FuzeHub Manufacturing Grant, IVSonance is manufacturing the first clinic-ready versions of SOUND™, bringing this technology one step closer to having a real impact in the clinic and bringing more families together.
Cornell University, Center for Life Science Ventures / Persista Bio (Southern Tier)
Manufacturing of Nanofiber Capsules for Cell Therapy
Emerging cell therapies for chronic conditions need to be designed to protect and support the therapeutic cells. Currently, cell transplants for type 1 diabetes (T1D) require taking immunosuppressive drugs for life, which means only ~5% of the US’s two million (2M) T1D patients are eligible for this high-risk treatment. Persista Bio is developing a fully implantable membrane encapsulation system to hold and support therapeutic cells to provide curative treatments without immunosuppression. The system includes in situ oxygen supply to give energy to the cells. This will enable a broad T1D patient population to have a cell therapy to replace the missing function of the pancreas with a convenient, fully-implanted system. The system is implanted under the skin and is designed to be about the size of a credit card. This will enable patients to live life like they don’t have diabetes. Cell therapies will improve both day-to-day quality of life as well as enable a healthy lifespan. In this grant, Persista Bio is adding the capability to manufacture custom cell capsules for cell therapy partners to explore a range of cell therapy treatments for conditions including metabolic diseases, hormone and enzyme replacement, chronic pain, and inflammatory conditions.
RF SUNY CNY Biotech Accelerator/ Ergami Endoscopy (Central New York / New York City)
Low-cost robotic colonoscope insertion device to improve procedure productivity
Colon cancer causes over 50,000 deaths each year in the US (12% of total cancer deaths). It is increasingly showing up in younger people, and is now the deadliest cancer in young people under the age of 50. Colonoscopy is the most effective procedure for diagnosis and treatment of colon cancer, and there are over 20 million colonoscopies each year in the US alone. However, looping during colonoscope insertion causes significant challenges in colonoscopy including mucosal stretching and patient pain, endoscopy related injuries in endoscopists and nurses, and prolonged and variable insertion time. Ergami Endoscopy is developing a low cost robotic colonoscope insertion solution to improve procedure productivity; reduce patient pain and need for sedation; and reduce endoscopy-related injuries in endoscopists and nurses.
Custom Collaborative / Uncaged Innovations
Scaling Color and Finish Innovation for Plant-Based Leather
The fashion industry is under growing pressure to transition away from animal leather, but brands and designers struggle to find sustainable alternatives that look, feel, and perform like the real thing. Uncaged Innovations has developed a plant-based leather made from grains and is working toward commercial scaling by solving one critical challenge: achieving the range of colors and surface finishes that brands actually want.
Through a partnership with New York-based tanneries and Custom Collaborative, Uncaged is running pilot production and finishing trials to develop at least three commercially viable finishes, including metallics, that meet rigorous durability standards. Custom Collaborative, a workforce development organization that trains low-income women to build careers in fashion, will tap its talent network to construct prototype garments and accessories using the new material, while documenting fabrication techniques to help future designers work with it confidently.
The result is a scalable, animal-free leather with proven finishes, real-world product validation, and a growing network of designers equipped to bring it to market.
RF SUNY on behalf of University at Buffalo, Business and Entrepreneur Partnerships / Ampullae (Western New York)
Printed Sensor Integration for Force-Sensing Catheters: A Prototype Development Program
Fewer than 3% of stroke patients worldwide receive timely endovascular treatment — not because the procedures don’t work, but because patients are too far from centers that can perform them. Endovascular robotics is beginning to close this gap, enabling remote intervention across hundreds of miles. But a critical barrier remains: operators cannot feel vessel interaction or detect early signs of injury, limiting safe remote use.
Ampullae’s work is led by Founder and CSO, Rick Ducharme. Supported by the UBCAT program and incubated at The Rookery Labs on Buffalo’s Northland Campus, Ampullae has developed the only guidewires with patented force sensing that translate device-tissue interaction directly to the clinician. The company is now extending this platform to catheters used in brain clot removal and other endovascular procedures via a thin printed sensing layer that augments existing devices without requiring full redesign thus lowering adoption friction for device partners.
Ampullae is collaborating with Joanneum Research to refine a reproducible sensor fabrication process and onshore production to Buffalo, leveraging the region’s precision thin-film manufacturing heritage for a higher-value, regulated medical device manufacturing pathway.
Research Foundation of the City University of New York on behalf of the Advanced Science Research Center (CUNY ASRC) / Astrabeam (New York City / Mid-Hudson)
Advanced Multi-modal Sensor Fusion for Heavy Machinery Functional Safety
Small and medium-sized construction firms often lack the advanced safety tech found in large-scale operation fleets, leaving operators to rely on mirrors and cameras that fail in dust, rain, and low light. To solve this, Astrabeam has partnered with the CUNY ASRC Sensor CAT to develop a cost-effective, all-weather safety system. By fusing millimeter-wave radar with AI-driven vision, the project delivers a “bolt-on” 360-degree shield for existing machinery. This collaboration prioritizes New York workers, manufacturing life-saving technology locally to ensure every operator goes home safe.
The 2026 Commercialization Competition finalists will pitch live at the Buffalo Convention Center on October 27 & 28 during the NYS Innovation Summit. Those interested in attending this event can get more information at https://nysinnovationsummit.com/.
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].
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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 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
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.
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