The Healey-Driscoll administration, of Massachusetts, has awarded $10,280,407 in grants to 13 companies to support sustainable alternatives to traditional manufacturing through the Massachusetts Manufacturing Innovation Initiative (M2I2), a program through MassTech Collaborative’s (MassTech) Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CAM) that bridges the gap between innovation and commercialization by providing capital grants and supporting pioneering projects in emerging industries.
The Administration announced the grants during an event with Secretary of Economic Development Yvonne Hao and MassTech at Clean Crop Technologies in Holyoke, which is receiving a $1.2 million M2I2 grant to validate its innovative technology that removes contaminants from crops using less energy.
This round of grants will support companies in key industries such as climate tech, bioindustrial manufacturing, and recyclable materials, and create an estimated 230 jobs.
Governor Maura Healey says: “Massachusetts is home to the world’s leading innovation economy thanks to our trailblazing manufacturing companies, cutting-edge universities and top talent.
“We are committed to investing in the pioneering R&D and infrastructure necessary to help our state maintain its status as a place where groundbreaking ideas translate to real-world solutions through programs like M2I2.
“We are pleased this round of grants will help fund sustainable innovations in the manufacturing industry.”
Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll says: “Investing in manufacturing fuels job creation and economic growth in Massachusetts.
“Through these Manufacturing Innovation Initiative grants, we are supporting companies that are advancing sustainable manufacturing solutions and driving Massachusetts’ nation-leading innovation economy forward.”
Yvonne Hao, Secretary of Economic Development and MassTech Board Chair, says: “Massachusetts has long been a leader in advanced manufacturing and we’re proud these grants will help projects that will make our state more competitive on a global scale.
“By investing in resources that build manufacturing capacity here in Massachusetts, we can retain workers, create new jobs, and spark innovation to solve some of our nation’s most difficult challenges.”
Christine Nolan, Center for Advanced Manufacturing Director, says: “These 13 companies have demonstrated immense potential to scale manufacturing in Massachusetts.
“The Massachusetts Manufacturing Innovation Initiative (M2I2) program helps to ensure that companies that will use these funds to build out pilot scale production capacity, and invest in their communities and employees.
“Manufacturing continues to be an industry that drives the Massachusetts economy and provides good paying, sustainable jobs for people with and without college degrees.”
Grant recipients
AM Batteries (Billerica)
AM Batteries will use $2,272,500 to build a pilot scale production line of its novel solvent-free, dry electrode manufacturing technology that replaces the use of toxic solvents. AM Batteries will collaborate with Worcester Polytechnic Institute on battery material research.
The company expects to add 16 new jobs from this investment in 2024, and up to 60 jobs in 2025. This project is aligned with the Manufacturing USA Institute America Makes.
Biometry (Boston)
Biometry will use $626,000 to build a manufacturing line for the production of its single-use, disposable gas sensor that measures airway inflammation in asthma patients to detect asthma attacks days in advance.
Biometry will work with the Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MassMEP) to identify workforce needs and collaborate on training programs. Biometry plans to add four jobs this year with this grant, and up to 50 new manufacturing jobs in the future.
This project is aligned with the Manufacturing USA Institute Clean Energy Smart Manufacturing Innovation Institute (CESMII).
CapyBara Energy (Groveland)
CapyBara will use $1,171,000 to build an advanced manufacturing facility for the automated production of its aqueous supercapacitors, which use waste carbon materials to create efficient, safer, affordable and sustainable energy storage systems.
CapyBara will collaborate with The Powering Forward Program and Climbable to conduct microgrid projects that improve energy access and affordability. CapyBara plans to add 50 new jobs with this grant, and this project is aligned with the Manufacturing USA Institute Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing.
Circe Bioscience (Waltham)
Circe will use $1,500,000 to build out its pilot scale bioindustrial manufacturing facility for its carbon-negative fermentation process for producing triglycerides and other compounds. Circe will collaborate with Activate Boston and Homeworld Collective to support each organization’s innovator communities.
Circe plans to add 15 new jobs in the first year and another 15 jobs in the second year. This project is aligned with the Manufacturing USA Institute BioMADE.
Clean Crop Technologies (Holyoke)
Clean Crop will use $1,200,000 to accelerate the validation of its “Clean Current” technology, which uses electricity to generate cold plasma to remove contaminants from crops while consuming only a fraction of the energy of traditional methods.
Clean Crop will partner with both Springfield Technical Community College and Holyoke Community College to position students for careers in the electrochemical manufacturing industry. Clean Crop expects to add 50 new jobs because of this grant investment.
This project is aligned with two Manufacturing USA Institutes: Rapid Advancement in Process Intensification Deployment Institute and CESMII.
Irradiant (Cambridge)
Irradiant will use $750,000 to build its first nanofabrication manufacturing facility to scale production of next-generation photonic devices using its novel nanofabrication method to precisely fabricate patterns of many types of materials in any geometry.
Irradiant will collaborate with Activate Boston to support its innovator community. Irradiant expects to add 22 jobs with this grant investment. This project is aligned with the Manufacturing USA Institute AIM Photonics.
Mantel Capture (Cambridge)
Mantel will use $450,000 to prototype an electric powered molten borate carbon capture system that can sustain high temperatures while remaining in the liquid phase.
Mantel will collaborate with MassMEP to support the broader ecosystem, including providing manufacturers with roadmaps to reduce their carbon footprint and creating reskill training programs focused on carbon capture technologies.
Mantel plans to add one full-time and two part-time jobs with this grant investment. This project is aligned with the Manufacturing USA Institute RAPID.
Multiscale Systems (Worcester)
Multiscale Systems will use $1,111,690 to build out a new manufacturing facility in Worcester to accelerate production of its novel Alloy Composite Materials, known for its lightweight and strong properties, using Multiscale’s wire-fed hybrid manufacturing technology.
Multiscale will partner with Quinsigamond Community College to create a registered apprenticeship program and will also engage with The Venture Forum’s entrepreneurship network as part of this project. Multiscale plans to add up to 10 new jobs with this grant investment.
This project is aligned with three Manufacturing USA Institutes: America Makes, The Cybersecurity Manufacturing Innovation Institute and Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing Institute.
SolaBlock (Pittsfield)
SolaBlock will use $204,835 to construct automated and modularized systems to build its Solar Masonry Units, which embed solar photovoltaics directly into a standard cement block.
SolaBlock will partner with the Berkshire Innovation Center (BIC) to make the test chamber available to other members of the BIC. SolaBlock plans to add 17 new jobs with this grant investment. This project is aligned with the Manufacturing USA Institute CESMII.
UMass Amherst (Amherst)
UMass Amherst will use $265,000 to advance a cold-spray manufacturing technology that can support cost-effective repairs corroded steel bridges.
The project is estimated to create one to five jobs and the team will also make the equipment available to other groups at UMass Amherst. This project is aligned with the Manufacturing USA Institute America Makes.
UMass Lowell (Lowell)
UMass Lowell will use $171,751 to advance manufacturing techniques for sustainable production and recycling of multilayer plastic films with outstanding properties for challenging applications. This project is aligned with the REMADE Manufacturing USA Institute.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) (Worcester)
WPI will use $331,592 to develop a versatile and scalable process for converting mixed plastic waste streams and films into valuable aromatic chemicals. This project is aligned with the Manufacturing USA Institute REMADE.
Z-Polymers (Lowell)
Z-Polymers will use $226,039 to scale-up production of products using its proprietary liquid crystal polymer Tullomer, which is stronger than steel yet lighter, recyclable, highly inert, non-flammable and non-permeable.
Z-Polymers will collaborate with Manufacturing USA Institute AFFOA to develop a scalable weaving process for fine monofilaments, and with UMass Lowell on circuit boards printed on Tullomer film.
Z-Polymers plans to add four new jobs in the first year of this project and six more in the second year with this grant investment. This project is aligned with the Manufacturing USA Institute AFFOA.
