Innovation Adoption Program (Innovation Works)

Innovation Adoption Program is a grant from Innovation Works (Regional Development Organization) that funds manufacturing businesses in southwestern Pennsylvania to develop or adopt new processes, products, or technologies with significant business impact. Grants provide up to $25,000 and reimburse 50% of approved eligible expenses up to the contract cap.

Eligible applicants must be manufacturing businesses with a significant Pennsylvania presence located in Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Lawrence, Washington, or Westmoreland counties. Grantees must complete annual impact surveys for five years post-project and submit a final impact report. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis with no fixed deadline.

Innovation Adoption Program | Innovation Works Innovation Adoption Program Innovation Adoption Program Accelerate technology innovation and commercialization within your organization. The Innovation Adoption Program (IAP) provides you with everything you need to stay one step ahead.

The Innovation Adoption Program provides manufacturers in southwestern Pennsylvania with grants of up to $25,000 to develop or adopt a new process, product, or technology that will have a significant and tangible impact on their business.

IAP grants aim to achieve the following impact: Grantees must have a significant Pennsylvania presence and operate a manufacturing business located in Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Lawrence, Washington, or Westmoreland counties. Applicants must identify eligible expenses that exceed twice the reimbursement cap outlined in the contract and be prepared to pay vendors without reimbursement for up to one month.

Grantees must also agree to complete annual impact surveys, including revenue and job creation data, for five years following project completion. If your application is accepted, we will collaborate with you to outline a detailed scope of work, timeline, repayment provisions, and cost estimates. These items will be used to draft a contract that clearly defines expectations and responsibilities for both parties.

The project officially begins once the contract is signed. After the project begins, you must provide proof of eligible expenses incurred. IW will reimburse 50% of each approved expense up to the cap specified in your contract.

A project concludes when the scope is completed, the contract deadline is reached, or the reimbursement cap is met. At the end of the project, you must submit a final report summarizing its impact, followed by annual impact surveys for five years. Templates for both the final report and the IW Impact Survey are available for reference.

have a significant PA presence be a manufacturing business located in one of the following nine counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Lawrence, Washington, or Westmoreland identify eligible expenses in excess of two times the reimbursement cap outlined in the contract be willing and able to pay vendors without receiving reimbursement for up to one month agree to complete impact surveys, which include annual revenue and job creation statistics, annually for five years after the project is completed Frequently Asked Questions : ; How long until we might receive funding?

This depends on the time of year, funding source, and project. It’s safe to assume that the fastest you would be able to receive funding is 6 weeks, but most projects will take about 10-12 weeks between application and receipt of first funds. : ; What is a typical period of performance for an IAP project?

IAP projects can be as short as 1 month, but most last for 9-12 months. In general, the period of performance for an IAP project is limited to 12 months. : ; What is the economic benefit of IAP funds?

Innovation Works’ mission is to boost the economy of southwestern PA. We believe one of the most important ways to do that is to ensure our region’s manufacturing industry is keeping up with the increasingly competitive global landscape. : ; What is the objective of the IAP?

The objective of the IAP is to help manufacturers located in southwestern PA develop cutting-edge technologies that will accelerate their business development and growth, and enable them to gain a competitive advantage in local, national, and global markets.

The IAP is a project-based initiative that will provide a source of funding necessary to address the technology and/or new product development needs of existing manufacturers by connecting them with the necessary prototyping, design, testing, and analytical capabilities.

The desired outcome of this initiative is to make manufacturers in southwestern PA more technologically innovative, productive, and profitable through the creative use of local resources. : ; What is the profile of a typical IAP project? IAP projects generally fall into 1 of 3 different categories: 1) New product development 2) Process improvement 3) New manufacturing processes Innovation is the key to all successful IAP projects.

We want to see how you are pushing your technology envelope. The program is driven by the needs of manufacturing companies.

The scope of an IAP project tends to be tailored to their specific requirements, but in general fall into these areas: mechanical, chemical or electrical product engineering and design rapid prototyping of product designs product validation and testing improved engineering or manufacturing processes industrial analysis and overhaul of existing manufacturing techniques robotic assembly or machining design for new manufacturing processes machine customization for product manufacturing advanced fabrication techniques other projects that improve the competitiveness of existing manufacturers : ; What type of projects are best suited for IAP?

The ideal project is one that utilizes advanced technology to provide a significant potential growth in revenue or meaningful reduction in manufacturing costs for your company. The grant is meant to give you that little bit of incentive to move one of those transformative ideas from the back-burner to the front. Read about one of our recent projects here and check out our full eligibility criteria.

: ; Who can I contact to learn more about the IAP? The Scalable Innovation Program Manager can answer any additional questions and provide supplementary information. Connect with them here .

Ready To Take The Next Step? Apply for an Innovation Adoption Program Grant today to take the first step in modernizing your manufacturing facilities for the next wave of entreprenuers. Two Allegheny Center, Ste.

100 Innovation Works is the Ben Franklin Technology Partner of Southwestern PA and is supported by the Department of Community and Economic Development.