Polaris MEP opens second round of applications for Manufacturing Innovation Challenge

CHRISTIAN COWAN, director of the Polaris Manufacturing Extension Partnership, said he looks forward to the gains to be made by Rhode Island companies in the next round of the Manufacturing Innovation Challenge. / COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND
CHRISTIAN COWAN, director of the Polaris Manufacturing Extension Partnership, said he looks forward to the gains to be made by Rhode Island companies in the next round of the Manufacturing Innovation Challenge. / COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND

PROVIDENCE – The Polaris Manufacturing Extension Partnership is now accepting applications for the more than $1 million in funding and expert analysis provided by the second round of the Manufacturing Innovation Challenge, which targets Rhode Island defense manufacturers, according to a release sent by the organization Wednesday.
In August, close to $700,000 was awarded to 32 Rhode Island defense manufacturers during the first round of the Manufacturing Innovation Challenge.
Christian Cowan, Polaris MEP center director, said he was excited by the popularity of the first round of funding and looks forward to the gains to be made by Rhode Island companies in the sequential round.
This program was designed as a competitive opportunity for the state’s defense manufacturers to access funding which provides expert, hands-on design and product development. Successful applicants during this round will receive Phase One Strategic Assessment funding, in which a team of experts will spend more than 75 hours evaluating the company’s innovation landscape and advising on business growth.
Cowan said those companies with Phase One funding will receive insight from, “world-class experts from multiple disciplines to grow their companies through industrial design, innovation and education.”
Those companies who complete Phase One will then be eligible for Phase Two Growth Implementation funding, which supports the company in bringing the ideas generated during Phase One to fruition.
The next round of Phase Two Growth Implementation funding will be awarded in early 2017.
Awards are currently available to qualifying Rhode Island manufacturers with a defense focus; the deadline for applications, which can be found online, is Nov. 23 at 12 p.m. Information can be found at www.polarismep.org/challenge. For questions, contact Polaris MEP at 401-270-8896 or email MIC@polarismep.org.

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