Shared Infrastructure for Commercialization Readiness

RoboBench is a new capital grant opportunity supported through the Mass Leads Act to strengthen the state’s robotics ecosystem. This program supports the development of shared robotics-related infrastructure across Massachusetts to enable cross-sector robotics commercialization. The goal is to improve access to the vital resources robotics groups need to commercialize their hardware, such as manufacturing facilities and testing platforms. The Innovation Institute is seeking proposals to develop ubiquitous shared infrastructure with a focus on cross-sector robotics capabilities.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants include Massachusetts-based nonprofit entities or public or private institutions of higher education, supporting the commercialization of hardware-based robotic technologies. To be considered, applicants must demonstrate a genuine intent to support commercialization efforts as well as a genuine collaboration with key industry partners. 

Funding

MassTech expects to make multiple capital grant awards that range from $250,000 to $2,000,000. All expenditures to be funded by the MassTech Collaborative under this program must be accounted for by the recipient in its financial records as a capital expenditure under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

All Respondents must provide a 25% match of the requested funding, which can be in cash or in-kind.

It is expected that funds will be expensed over 12-24 months and used towards capital expenses such as manufacturing equipment, testing equipment and renovating underused spaces.