“In the current climate, the Jeff Lawrence Innovation Fund Manufacturing Grant awards are a vital resource to the companies that are supported in these projects” Elena Garuc, executive director of FuzeHub, said in a release. “The awards are allowing companies to stimulate the economy and further bolster manufacturing in [New York State].” Jeff Lawrence, who […]
“In the current climate, the Jeff Lawrence Innovation Fund Manufacturing Grant awards are a vital resource to the companies that are supported in these projects” Elena Garuc, executive director of FuzeHub, said in a release. “The awards are allowing companies to stimulate the economy and further bolster manufacturing in [New York State].”
Jeff Lawrence, who died in 2015, was a top executive at the Albany–based Center for Economic Growth, the MEP Center for the Capital Region, and a supporter of New York manufacturing and entrepreneurial communities, according to FuzeHub.
Regional grant recipients
Cornell University Institute of Biotechnology / Inso Biosciences $50,000
Inso Biosciences Inc. is a startup from Cornell University and a client company of Cornell’s Kevin M. McGovern Family Center for Venture Development in the Life Sciences incubator.
Inso is developing a technology platform — originally invented at Cornell University — that can automate sample preparation for subsequent DNA sequencing or optical-mapping analysis.
As “first generation” prototypes, Inso’s proprietary microfluidic systems extracted, purified, and prepared nucleic acids with speed and accuracy far superior to current standard manual methods. The goal of Inso’s FuzeHub project is to fund design and prototyping of “second generation” devices, associated controls and packaging. This would enable scale-up of manufacturing for initial Inso commercial sales to early adopters and “beta” testers.
Binghamton University, Center for Advanced Microelectronics Manufacturing (CAMM) / Aincobio LLC $50,000
In this project, the Center for Advanced Microelectronics Manufacturing (CAMM) at Binghamton University and Aincobio LLC, based in Syracuse, are teaming up to produce new additively printed, conductive-ink microelectronic biosensors capable of quantifying the antibiotic resistance of bacterial pathogens in less than one hour.
Bacterial infections that spread into the bloodstream can be lethal in a few hours, but current lab tests used to determine the most effective antibiotic drug(s) can take two to five days. This time delay contributes to high rates of mortality and morbidity, and often makes bloodstream infections one of the most expensive conditions to treat.
Clarkson University, Shipley Center for Innovation / Reset Water, LLC & Square One Coating Systems, LLC $50,000
This project seeks to accelerate the commercialization of technology developed at Clarkson University to address the growing problem of harmful algal blooms (HABs) in New York state and around the world. HABs have existed for many years, but in recent decades the scope of the problem has increased dramatically as runoff from nutrient-rich fertilizers works its way into freshwater systems, and as global climate change has increased average temperatures around the world, according to the project partners.
Through the FuzeHub funding, startup company Reset Water, LLC will launch a prototype boat outfitted with “HABs Terminator” technology licensed from Clarkson. This technology applies a proprietary electrochemical oxidation process to treat waters affected by HABs, removing both the visible blooms as well as their toxic side effects.
This boat, the second prototype that will be launched by Reset Water in 2021, will be outfitted with components sourced from another New York state manufacturer, Square One Coatings of Oriskany. The project will enable both companies to increase revenue with a new product line, ultimately leading to new manufacturing jobs that help to solve one of New York State’s most pressing environmental challenges, per the release.
Seneca Cayuga Yates Counties Chapter NYSARC, Inc. / Natural Beauty Breast Prosthesis, LLC $50,000
Finger Lakes Textiles is teaming up with with woman-owned, Natural Beauty Breast Prosthesis, LLC, to manufacture an organic, all-natural fiber, external breast form for women who have had mastectomies without reconstruction.
This project will create 10 new jobs over the next three years. Many of these new hires will be individuals with disabilities. The two businesses expect to increase production capacity by 300 percent.