Latest news with #RegionalInnovationEngines
Miami Herald
24-06-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
With Statewide Initiative, FuzeHub Advances Bid to Establish Upstate New York as Next-Generation Microelectronics Manufacturing Hub
Upstate Makes champions glass packaging as part of NSF Regional Innovation Engines proposal, spearheads development of a glass innovation and training hub June 25 event to explore New York's unique capabilities for next-gen, glass-based microelectronics - register here ALBANY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / June 24, 2025 / FuzeHub, a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting New York State manufacturers and technology companies, and a robust coalition of industry, academic and government partners have announced a strategic commitment through their collaborative Upstate Makes initiative to further explore the power of glass as an innovative advanced material to strengthen the U.S. microelectronics industry. This collaborative endeavor-a key element of FuzeHub's proposal for the National Science Foundation's Regional Innovation Engines Competition (NSF Engines)-aims to make Upstate New York a next-generation microelectronics manufacturing hub. Last year, FuzeHub-led Upstate Makes was awarded $1 million through the Regional Innovation Engines Development Awards to cultivate new partnerships and nurture the state's materials innovation ecosystem. Empire State Development's Division of Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR) furthered the impact of the NSF award with a $200,000 matching grant. Over the last year, Upstate Makes has expanded its project partners and gained significant validation from industry and academic leaders across New York State. With Upstate Makes' new strategic commitment and the region's historic strength in glass production, Upstate New York is uniquely equipped to deliver new innovations in glass for microelectronics manufacturing-which will directly contribute to America's manufacturing competitiveness and national defense. "For more than a decade, we've seen glass discussed as a replacement material - and now, with leading-edge design, 6G wireless, and the demands of AI, it's more important than ever to focus on investing in glass packaging in the semiconductor industry," said FuzeHub Executive Director Elena Garuc. "Our region is uniquely positioned to make this vision of a world-renowned next-gen microelectronics manufacturing hub a reality, and we're confident in our decision to focus on glass in our next steps for the Upstate Makes initiative." Last month, FuzeHub submitted its refined and expanded Upstate Makes proposal for the NSF Engines funding program. It was one of just 71 teams across the U.S. that was asked to submit a proposal-which could secure significant federal funding for the Upstate region. Upstate Makes Partner Commitments, Vision for Glass Innovation Hub The Upstate Makes coalition has grown to over 60 partners, ranging from materials science research labs and semiconductor industry leaders to entrepreneurial support centers and workforce development organizations. Spread across five metro areas in Upstate New York, this collection of partners will continue to pursue new innovations to strengthen U.S. microelectronics manufacturing and develop the workforce necessary for jobs in the industry. A list of contributing partners is available at As part of its strategic initiatives, Upstate Makes is spearheading the development of a glass innovation and training hub in Upstate New York. This hub will offer a one-stop solution for industry partners, equipped with high-volume manufacturing (HVM) tools and infrastructure that support collaborative R&D and packaging innovation as well as workforce training. By fostering cross-sector partnerships and providing access to advanced manufacturing capabilities, the center aims to significantly reduce the time and cost of bringing new glass packaging technologies to market. "Upstate New York is truly one of the only regions in the world with the capabilities and resources to achieve the vision outlined in the Upstate Makes proposal," said Nicholas Fahrenkopf, NY CREATES Director and Technical Director of the Northeast Regional Defense Technology Hub (NORDTECH). NORDTECH is an Upstate Makes partner and a designated U.S. Microelectronics Commons hub. "With the potential to leverage federal investment through programs like NSF Engines, Upstate Makes can drive our region's microelectronics industry forward, strengthen American manufacturing, and bolster our national security." Supporting National Security, Manufacturing Competitiveness The Upstate Makes initiative is also advancing efforts to contribute to national defense. For example, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) has multiple critical applications for high-performance chips-ranging from fighter jet control systems to intelligence data analysis-where glass is an ideal solution to minimize power loss and improve semiconductor speed. The expertise in glass and microelectronics from Menlo Micro, Mosaic Microsystems and other industry partners can specifically foster this type of innovation. Further, Griffiss Institute will create experiential learning programs for college and post-doctoral students that provide pathways to obtain security clearances and prepare them to contribute directly to Department of Defense applications. These programs reflect Griffiss Institute's commitment to developing national security talent through nontraditional STEM education and real-world engagement. As a Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) holder with the Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate (AFRL), Griffiss Institute also brings unique access to plan and support the transition of dual-use technologies, such as those in the emerging areas. "Menlo Micro's glass-based device, developed largely in Upstate New York, is addressing key RF, power and defense applications," said Aric Shorey, VP of Glass Technologies and Government Affairs at Menlo Micro. "We are part of the high-performance computing and AI supply chain and addressing several applications important to National Defense. There is significant potential to expand through advanced glass packaging that can be accelerated through initiatives driven by Upstate Makes." "Domestically and sustainably, sourced glass has the potential to become an economic and technological runway for U.S.-based microsystems packaging in both commercial and defense applications," added Jeff Fitzgerald, Technology Development Manager at FAST Labs™ BAE Systems, Inc. June 25 Event: Global Leadership in Next-Gen, Glass-Based Microelectronics Upstate Makes is leading an online event on Wednesday, June 25, to dive deeper into New York State's unique capabilities and the collaborative efforts underway to establish global leadership in next-generation, glass-based microelectronics. To register, visit To learn more about how to get involved, visit About FuzeHub FuzeHub is a not-for-profit organization that connects New York's small to medium-sized manufacturing companies to the resources, programs, and expertise they need for technology commercialization, innovation, and business growth. Through our custom assessment, matching, and referral platform, we help companies navigate New York's robust network of industry experts at Manufacturing Extension Partners centers, universities, economic development organizations, and other providers. FuzeHub is the statewide New York Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program (MEP) center, supported by Empire State Development's Division of Science, Technology & Innovation. For more information on FuzeHub, visit Not Export Controlled per ES-FL-050635-0044 Approved for Public Release, Distribution Unlimited Media Contact John Mackowiakjmackowiak@ SOURCE: FuzeHub
Technical.ly
07-06-2025
- Business
- Technical.ly
Telling rural tech's story: How three ecosystem leaders reshape narratives of innovation
Cities like Boston and San Francisco are the typical places associated with the term tech hubs, but rural communities are doing just as much innovation — without the recognition. At 2025 Builders Conference panel 'Innovation is Everywhere: Storytelling Strategies for Emerging Markets,' three leaders from the National Science Foundation's Regional Innovation Engines and US Economic Development Administration Tech Hubs programs discussed how they tell the stories of their communities to build up their tech ecosystems. Each of the panelists leads a federally backed tech initiative focused on regional strengths: mining in Missouri, agriculture in North Dakota and sensing tech in Montana. These hubs are part of a broader national push to diversify where innovation happens. For regions like North Dakota, the ecosystem simply has a different strategy for innovation, said Hollie Mackey, CEO of the North Dakota iAgriculture Technology Engine. The natural move is to center the communities that have been around for generations, specifically Indigenous communities, and foster cross-cultural understanding. 'Our story has never been polarization. It's never been silos. It's always been cooperation,' Mackey said. 'We can take everything we know about agriculture and the technologies and innovations embedded from time immemorial and apply those to cutting-edge research and technological advances today, to build something much better together.' Montana's story tells itself, said Tim VanReken, who leads the Headwaters Tech Hub in Montana. The nicknames 'Big Sky Country' and 'the Last Best Place' set the scene for what people will find in the state and what the land opportunities are. For innovation, it's a great place to test technologies in a rural setting and to find people who innovate, he said. 'Folks roll up their sleeves and solve problems; they make things work,' VanReken said of his region. 'It's part of that frontier spirit that's been there for generations.' Meanwhile, in southeast Missouri, the challenge isn't just perception — it's historic baggage. Kwame Awuah-Offei, who leads the Critical Minerals and Materials for Advanced Energy Tech Hub, said community opinions of the project are often based on the successes and failures of other mining projects. Because it's associated with new jobs, 'mining over here is not a bad word,' Awuah-Offei said, describing what one resident told him. However, some conversations about mining often involve a 'history of broken promises.' You have to engage locally and be honest about the risks, he added. Different communities within a region all contribute perspectives For Mackey, framing the agtech engine in North Dakota as an 'emerging' ecosystem misses the point. 'We have five, six, seven generations of farmers in our communities who have been innovating long before startups and entrepreneurs and founders were concepts that we celebrate as innovation today,' she said. Her approach begins with tribal and rural voices — not with founders or scientists from elite institutions. That is the starting point for innovation, she said. 'We go to the communities first and say, 'How can we solve real, actual problems you have? How can we do that through cutting-edge research and providing the resources necessary to be successful?'' she said. 'Then we capture that story in a number of ways.' VanReken described how 'old Montana versus new Montana' is a bigger tension in the state than the rural-urban divide, especially in fast-growing cities like Bozeman. Navigating that challenge requires consistent conversations with residents. 'It's being present and letting people know they matter to what you're trying to build,' he said. 'Their perspectives, their problems, their livelihoods, their economic mobility matter to what you're trying to build.' Innovation is tied to place in emerging ecosystems As these tech hubs grow, their stories must evolve — not just for national audiences, but internally, as they balance competing voices and build inclusive narratives. Awuah-Offei pointed out that even within his 14-county tech hub, communities worry about resources being concentrated in university towns like Rolla. Despite this conflict, they all have the same goal. 'They all want the same thing. They all want the rest of the world to see the potential and the opportunity we see in our region,' Awuah-Offei said. 'We're all interested in telling that story so that we all benefit.' What all three leaders agreed on: storytelling in emerging ecosystems is about embedding innovation in place and making the case for local relevance. 'We have to build stories that have an argument, to make it worthwhile, show that we bring something to the table that you don't find elsewhere,' VanReken said. 'We connect our place to what we have to offer.'
