Innovation, IoT Integration Grants Available for Smaller Manufacturers

The Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development is accepting applications for three manufacturing grant programs ranging from $20,000 to $100,000.

The three matching grant programs, administered by the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology through the state’s Manufacturing Innovation Fund, target innovation and technology integration among smaller manufacturers.

Additive Manufacturing

Manufacturing companies, allied service providers, and other organizations that support additive manufacturing and employ between five and 300 employees are eligible to apply for the Additive Manufacturing Adoption Program.

The AMAP, designed to infuse additive manufacturing technologies into production processes, will award six matching grants of $100,000 each on a competitive basis.

Integration of the following additive technologies are among those that will be considered for funding:

• Directed energy deposition machines
• Hybrid CNC additive manufacturing systems
• Power bed fusion machines
• Binder jet 3D metal printers
• Industrial grade and large scale polymer printers

Innovation Vouchers

The Manufacturing Innovation Fund Voucher Program provides access to capital to manufacturers obtain new equipment and expertise to drive efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness.

Manufacturing companies and allied service providers that employ between three and 100 employees are eligible to apply for vouchers of up to $49,000.

Voucher projects must have a value of at least $10,000 and participating companies must match voucher awards at 1:1 to 3:1, depending on the amount of prior awards received and scope.

Voucher funds can be used for:

• Assistance with new machinery acquisition
• Technical experts in universities, educational institutions, nonprofits, or other organizations to solve engineering, marketing and other challenges, i.e. workforce development, supply chain network development, technology insertion, research and development
• Market analysis
• Business development
• Financial transition and market growth planning
• Testing or research to support proof of principle
• Prototype development
• Process improvements
• Commercialization and innovation services
• Specialized equipment for automation
• Tooling development and manufacture
• Other such costs that the advisory board and/or DECD deems eligible

IoT Integration

The IoT Integration Voucher Program helps supply chain companies with the adoption and integration of internet of things solutions.

Manufacturing companies and allied service providers that employ between three and 100 employees can apply for matching grants up to $20,000 for hardware, sensors, platforms, and related third-party integration services.

The following activities are eligible uses of grant funding:

• Predictive maintenance
• Collaborative robotics
• Sensor integration into industrial tools and shop floor machinery
• Industrial smart glasses integration
• Industrial wearable technology integration
• Industrial track and trace technology integration
• Sensor driven assembly and repair instructions
• Sensor driven transmission of real-time information from factory floor to customers or suppliers
• Centrally connecting and monitoring real-time production data of multiple facilities
• Data analytics software
• Data visualization software
• Other such costs that the advisory board and/or DECD deems eligible