FuzeHub awards grants to Cornell University, Alfred University

ALBANY, N.Y. — FuzeHub has awarded Cornell University a $35,000 grant for its work with Ionica Sciences, a manufacturing firm that’s headquartered on the Cornell campus.

It also awarded Alfred University separate $50,000 grants for its work with two manufacturing firms.

The grants are among a total of $417,165 awarded to nine companies through the Jeff Lawrence Innovation Fund, FuzeHub said in a Tuesday news release.

The awards seek to facilitate research, development, and operational improvements in the organization’s second announcement of grants this year.

FuzeHub, an Albany–based nonprofit, says it provides small to medium-sized manufacturing companies in New York with “guided access to an extensive network of industry experts, programs and assets to solve business-growth challenges.”

“The Jeff Lawrence Innovation Fund manufacturing-grant proposals continue to reflect the spirit of advancement, from all aspects of the technology ecosystem” Julianne Clouthier, industry engagement manager for FuzeHub, said. “FuzeHub continues to see many applications from public and private universities as well as manufacturing extension partnership centers, or MEP centers, but we are also seeing more interest from local economic-development organizations which in turn has yielded a remarkable diversity in the grant proposals. From 3D printing for wearables to collaborative robots (cobots), and advanced medical testing for Lyme Disease and management of dry eye disease, these grant awardees are demonstrating that there is no shortage of innovation in New York,” she added.

Cornell / Ionica Sciences grant

Ionica Sciences, which is headquartered at Cornell University, has developed a “high sensitivity, precision” platform for the detection of infectious diseases in human-serum samples, per the release. The first test under development is the IonLyme test, a “high sensitivity” assay for Lyme disease in humans. Lyme disease, a tick-borne disease, is the “fastest growing,” vector-borne infectious disease in the U.S.

To address the need for a better Lyme disease diagnosis, Ionica Sciences has combined two existing technologies — DNA aptamers and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) — to create a “novel direct test” for Lyme disease. In collaboration with FuzeHub, Ionica will use the $35,000 grant to purchase a 96-well Raman spectrometer to help transition the IonLyme test from the research laboratory to a clinical reference lab for future sale of the assay to physicians.

Alfred University grants

Alfred University and FlexTraPower, Inc., which does business as Bonbouton, are partnering to advance the manufacturing of conductive fibers for functional textiles.

In addition, Alfred University and Lithoz America, LLC. have teamed up on an additive manufacturing (AM) project of all solid-state fuel cells and batteries using yttrium-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and lithium super ionic conductor (LISICON) for fuel cell and battery applications, respectively.

Lithoz is an Austrian firm that specializes in the development and production of materials and additive manufacturing systems for the 3D printing of bone replacement material and high-performance ceramics, per its website. Lithoz America LLC operates in Troy, near Albany.

Jeff Lawrence Fund

FuzeHub awarded the funding from the Jeff Lawrence Innovation Fund.

Lawrence, who died in 2015, was a top executive at the Albany–based Center for Economic Growth, the manufacturing extension partnership (MEP) center for the Capital Region, and a supporter of New York manufacturing and entrepreneurial communities.

The manufacturing-innovation fund, which was established with $1 million annually for five years, supports activities designed to “spur technology development and commercialization” across New York state.

FuzeHub is administering the fund as part of its role as the Empire State Development (ESD)-designated statewide MEP center. As part of the fund, FuzeHub offers manufacturing-innovation grants. The awards are available to New York nonprofit organizations, including higher-education institutions, proposing “innovative” projects involving small and mid-sized manufacturers or early-stage companies, FuzeHub said.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com