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, recently awarded ten 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 and is made possible through funding and support from Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR) and the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA).
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 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 Innovation Fund is used to provide assistance to early-stage companies through FuzeHub’s annual Commercialization Competition, which takes place in the fall.
“New York State brightest minds are focusing on solving our most urgent needs, so seeing projects that support the state’s goals on the awardee list is very gratifying. Of course, we encourage a broad range of innovation, and this round’s awardees reflect that”, said Dr. Heidi Knoblauch, interim director of NYSTAR. “Entrepreneurship support is a long-term proposition, and the Manufacturing Grants maintain a nice balance between continued awardee support and constantly adding new innovators to the list.
Elena Garuc, executive director at FuzeHub, added: “Prior to every Jeff Lawrence Innovation Fund grant opportunity round, our team revisits our processes in order to better achieve our goal, which is to award the most innovative projects that come to us. You can see the wide span of ideas in this list, and we are eager to take them to market and show New York State’s strength, from advanced materials to clean tech and beyond.”
FuzeHub is pleased to announce the grantees:
The Research Foundation for the State University of New York on behalf of CNY Biotech Accelerator, Upstate Medical University/ CathBuddy, Inc. $50,000 (Central New York)
Aurie Reusable Catheter System High Level Disinfectant Verification & Validation Testing
Hundreds of thousands of individuals in the United States suffer from neurogenic bladder and may use 4-6 intermittent single-use catheters a day for the duration of their lives. The Aurie System will provide patients with a catheter system that is both safe and affordable, through the development of a reusable catheterization system to make catheterization more cost-effective, sustainable, and healthier. The FuzeHub Manufacturing Grant funding will support testing required for their FDA product submission, ultimately leading to theirr ability to enter the Aurie System into the catheter market.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering/ Douglas Outdoors, LLC $50,000 (Capital Region/ Central New York)
A Demonstration of Industry Innovation with Thermoplastic Composite Fishing Rods
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is partnering with Douglas Outdoors, a fishing rod manufacturer in Phoenix, NY, to demonstrate a new, innovative product and associated manufacturing process. Their 12-month project involves prototyping a fishing rod made of thermoplastic composites, a first of its kind in the recreational fishing market, using a novel manufacturing process called Hot Roll Wrapping. The new material and process will (1) improve rod performance and durability and (2) significantly reduce manufacturing time and cost as compared to the current thermoset composite materials used.
The Research Foundation for SUNY, O/B/O SUNY Polytechnic Institute CNSE/ NoMIS Power Corporation $50,000 (Capital Region)
Manufacturing Platform for Medium Voltage SiC Power Modules
NoMIS Power is working to accelerate the clean tech revolution by enabling the adoption of silicon carbide (SiC) devices in the global power management industry; developing an indigenous U.S.-based supply chain for SiC semiconductor technology across energy, industrial, and transportation sectors. Through FuzeHub, NoMIS Power and SUNY Polytechnic Institute are focused on manufacturing improvements that will foster greater market adoption of this energy efficient power switch technology. As a result, NoMIS Power will be able to scale existing operations in New York State and beyond.
Clarkson University, The Center for Advanced Materials Processing (CAMP)/ Mosaic Microsystems, LLC $50,000 (North Country/ Finger Lakes)
Planarization methods for manufacturing glass substrates for packaging advanced semiconductor chips
This project aims to develop a CMP process for manufacturing advanced substrates using thin glass wafers. Current challenges include non-uniform filling and limited availability of suitable CMP slurries for thin glass, resulting in low device yield. To overcome these challenges, the project aims to create a planarization process and integrate a Cu CMP process into Mosaic’s TGVs process. This will enable high yields, uniform TGV filling, and a smooth surface for thin glass wafers, crucial for high-performance semiconductor chip packaging in New York.
NextCorps/ Prolivio, Inc. $50,000 (Finger Lakes)
KHIO migraine cooling headband
KHIO is a portable wellness headband that delivers targeted cold therapy to help reduce the intense pain associated with migraines. The KHIO device brings instant and customizable cooling to the forehead and provides lasting pain relief to migraine sufferers. Prolivio has partnered with NextCorps as they prepare to produce their first 1,000 KHIO production units and start selling direct to migraine patients through their mykhio.com site and on Amazon. Over the next 3 years, Prolivio is projecting to grow to $5.5M in annual revenues with 5 full time employees in Rochester, NY.
University of Rochester, The Institute of Optics/ AlchLight LLC & SunDensity $50,000 (Finger Lakes)
Scalable Laser Nanopatterning for High-Efficiency Solar Absorbers in Photovoltaic and Photothermal Applications
The Guo lab at the University of Rochester will partner with three renewable energy firms, AlchLight, SunDensity, and E2H2Nano, to incorporate scalable laser nanopatterning into the development of high-efficiency renewable energy devices. The proposed laser nanopatterning can drastically speed up nano-manufacturing, enhance solar device efficiency, and increase membrane performance for fuel production. These partnerships highlight the significant potential of laser nanopatterning to drive the renewable energy industry towards a more sustainable and efficient future.
Binghamton University, Northeast Center for Chemical and Energy Storage (NECCES)/ Dynami Battery Corp $50,000 (Southern Tier)
Microstructured Lithium Battery Manufacturing Validation Project
The promise of a 100% electrification of transportation cannot be achieved by chemistry or battery cell architecture innovations alone. A systems approach that includes electrode micro-engineering is needed. Microstructuring, additive manufacturing technology creates faster charging and longer cycle-life battery cells enabling practical an lower costs EVs. These batteries also have very high power output that is capable of powering a plane or VTOL vehicle at take off. Finally, the high cycle-life will enhance the lifetime of products.
Southern Tier High Technology Incubator dba Koffman Southern Tier Incubator/ LiBAMA Power Corporation $50,000 (Southern Tier)
Manufacturing development of advanced 3D anodes for lithium batteries
LiBAMA Power will optimize and scale the production of its patented Advanced Metal Anode technology designed to reduce the size, time required to charge, and cost of today’s Lithium-Ion batteries while improving overall battery safety. LiBAMA Power is headquartered at the Koffman Southern Tier Incubator where it plans to grow operations.
Binghamton University, Integrated Electronics Engineering Center (IEEC)/ Opal Wearables, Inc. $50,000 (Southern Tier/ New York City)
Building Opal – smart ring for personal safety
Safety is a fundamental human right – but unfortunately, not everyone has access to it. 1 in 3 women worldwide have experienced physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime. Personal safety is also an ongoing concern for other groups including the LGBTQ+ community, and racial and religious minorities. Opal and Binghamton IEEC are partnering to develop a thoughtfully designed smart ring that provides discreet safety and protection. The device can silently send requests for help to 911 or emergency contacts with the user’s GPS location and information.
Downstate Technology Center, Inc./ Werewool Inc. $50,000 (New York City)
DTCI/Werewool – Specialized Equipment
The equipment purchased with this award enables Werewool, Inc., a women-founded startup biotechnology company, to develop biodegradable textile fibers through protein engineering, eliminating the water and microplastic pollution of traditional textile manufacturing. Werewool’s technology mimics nature, using proteins to control textile color, stretchability and toughness and has produced prototype bio-fibers with bright pink color and natural fluorescence. With this award, Werewool plans to expand the color palette and add features such as moisture control and UV protection.
The 2023 Commercialization Competition finalists will pitch live at the Saratoga Springs City Center on October 16 & 17 during the NYS Innovation Summit. Those interested in attending this event can register at https://nysinnovationsummit.com/registration/.
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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