Massachusetts has established a new initiative to develop state-of-the-art national security solutions and bolster its defense leadership.
The Massachusetts Strategic Hub for Innovation, Exchange and Leadership in Defense (SHIELD) will be supported by a $47 million investment in military innovation, microelectronics and chips manufacturing, job creation and enhanced supply chain resilience.
The creation of SHIELD was announced alongside additional correlating initiatives in an Executive Order to solidify Massachusetts’ position as a leader in the defense and manufacturing sectors. These include directing state agencies to identify new methods for increasing support for defense sector initiatives and establishing the SHIELD Working Group.
Each executive department office will be required to return with a report detailing potential opportunities to grow defense sector organizations six months after the Executive Order’s issuance. During that time, the agencies will review initiatives including:
- Grant programs.
- Tax incentives.
- STEM education.
- Workforce development.
- Higher education.
- Energy and environment.
- Veterans’ services.
- Military family support.
- New programs or policies to accomplish these goals.
The SHIELD Working Group will advise the governor and lieutenant governor on ways to advance Massachusetts’ defense innovation and research. Responsibilities for the working group entail:
- Identifying operational, technological, policy, ecosystem and strategic hurdles facing military installation and defense sector participants and creating an action agenda to resolve these challenges.
- Promoting research and development projects and partnerships that advance emerging technologies vital for the economy and national security.
- Strengthening public-private partnerships (P3) between military institutions, private industry and academic research centers to enhance opportunity access for small and medium businesses, pioneer innovation and bolster the integrity of essential domestic supply chains.
- Supporting initiatives that improve STEM education, workforce training and talent retention in defense-related fields.
- Identifying and pursuing funding opportunities to advance research, prototyping, development, technology commercialization, adoption and deployment of technologies for the defense sector.
Additional efforts spurred by the state government’s renewed focus on defense include the Executive Office for Economic Development’s (EOED) creation of a defense industry sector focus within its Business Front Door Navigator team to connect companies with state resources and growth opportunities. The administration will also collaborate with defense sector organizations to convene future engagements centered on national security and economic growth.
As part of Massachusetts’ Massachusetts defense innovation efforts to prioritize advanced manufacturing, $25 million has been dedicated in partnership with the city of Lowell to help build the Integrated Microelectronics Production and Advanced Chip Technology (IMPACT) Center. The P3 venture builds on the Lowell Innovation Network Corridor, empowering economic growth, revenue generation, education, workforce development and the innovation ecosystem.
Another $11.4 million was announced to fuel development initiatives for innovative solutions to protect military servicepeople in partnership with local military installations. The funds will be used to provide innovation grants through a competitive incubator system.
The final funding opportunity announced by Gov. Healey includes a $10.2 million distribution to nine organizations to support the state’s microelectronics ecosystem. Provided through the Supporting Chip Advancement from Lab to Enterprise (SCALE) Capital Program, recipients will use the funds to develop cutting-edge technologies designed to bridge innovation and capability gaps, enhance workforce development and support the technology implementation pipeline.
Photo by Jayden Burdick from Pexels
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