Cornell University's Rev hardware accelerators have received a new grant to expand their support for hardware entrepreneurs. The funding will allow Rev to launch a new medical tech track, create a 'protofacturing' accelerator, and provide tailored support to entrepreneurs developing medical devices. The Build to Scale program, in its 10th round, aims to bolster technology entrepreneurship by providing support services and startup capital. Cornell is one of the 60 latest grant recipients and the only awardee in New York state. The expansion of the hardware accelerators will deepen existing partnerships and stimulate the local entrepreneurship ecosystem and economy. Program alumni have raised over $26 million in venture capital, and 40% of participants have engaged in other entrepreneurship programs in upstate New York. The new funding will further position upstate New York as a hub for technology innovation and a destination for hardware entrepreneurs.
In a separate development, Waterville's Dirigo Labs has won Stage One of the SBA Growth Accelerator Fund Competition. They will receive a $50,000 cash prize for their approach to nurturing a collaborative national innovation ecosystem. Dirigo Labs aims to support emerging biotech and sustainability sectors, catalyzing rural revitalization and the post-mill and -manufacturing economy. The $50,000 prize money will allow them to launch their economic initiative and transform downtown Waterville into an innovation hub. Stage Two of the competition offers additional cash prizes for growth accelerator partnerships.
Meanwhile, a groundbreaking ceremony was held in Geneva, New York for the National Grape Improvement Center. The 70,000-square-foot facility, made possible by $69 million in federal funding secured in 2019, will bring together researchers from Cornell University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to address challenges faced by grape growers, such as pests and the changing climate. The center aims to provide cutting-edge research and innovation for the wine industry in New York and the United States. The National Grape Improvement Center will pioneer research in grape genetics, crop sciences, and pests, supporting the growth and sustainability of the wine industry.
The USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) has broken ground on a new $70 million grape research facility at the AgriTech campus in Geneva, New York. The National Grape Improvement Center, one of the largest cold-climate grape research facilities in the world, will focus on developing sustainable solutions for grape production, including disease-resistant and climate-adaptable grape varieties. The facility aims to address challenges faced by grape growers related to climate change, such as invasive pests, diseases, and extreme environmental conditions. Grapes contribute $162 billion annually to the US economy. The research facility will focus on introducing sustainable solutions, disease-resistant and climate-adaptable grape varieties, and innovative management strategies for growers. Construction of the 70,000-square-foot lab is expected to start in fall 2024 and be completed by early 2027.
These grants and initiatives highlight the commitment to innovation, research, and entrepreneurship in upstate New York, positioning the region as a hub for technology, biotech, and wine industry advancements.