Connecticut
State Resources
Home to some of the country’s oldest education institutions including Yale University founded in 1701, Connecticut is also known for its charming coastal communities and deep-rooted literary tradition with authors such as Mark Twain. The Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) is the Connecticut’s primary agency tasked with enhancing Connecticut’s economic competitiveness.
Advanced Manufacturing Grants
The Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT) is a non-profit organization that offers a variety of funding opportunities for companies developing advanced manufacturing technologies. The Additive Voucher Program provides a matching grant of up to $20,000 for the purchase of Additive Manufacturing Hardware, Software, and related third-party integration services. Sample 3-D printing equipment of interest include Electron Beam Melting (EBM), Stereolithography (SLA), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) and others. Consultation with a CCAT engineer is required before preparing and submitting a funding application.
The purpose of the Innovation Voucher Program is to assist Connecticut supply chain companies with the adoption and integration of IoP solutions. The ultimate goal is to facilitate the implementation of modern digital manufacturing tools using Industrial IoT, Model-Based Definition, Extended Reality, and/or Adaptive Automation. Up to $25,000 can be awarded for digital hardware, sensors, platforms, and related third-party integration services. Interested companies should carefully review the eligibility requirements and download the sample application from the Innovation Voucher site.
The Manufacturing Voucher Program is intended for companies in which more than half of the company’s revenue comes from the sale of goods that it manufactures or from allied services the company provides to manufacturers. The Program provides up to $100,000 for manufacturing equipment or to conduct a project aimed at improving the company’s manufacturing productivity, efficiency and competitiveness. The awards require a cash match where the amount of the required match varies for first time and repeat applicants. Interested parties should download the sample application form from this site.
Connecticut Innovations Investment Program
Initiated in 1989 by the State of Connecticut, Connecticut Innovations has become “the state’s strategic venture capital arm and – leading source of financing and ongoing support for innovative, growing companies.” The organization’s website lists an impressive number of well-endowed funds, including (1) the Connecticut Bioscience Innovation Fund (CBIF), (2) the Future Fund, and (3) the ClimaTech Fund. The organization makes pre-seed investments of up to $150,000; proof of concept investments of between $50-100K and venture-debt ranging from $150,000 to $2 million. Interested parties are encouraged to reach out to their management team.
