The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) today announced infrastructure grantees for the Advanced Industries Accelerator Grant Program. A total of $1,120,000 of Collaborative Infrastructure Grants were approved by the Colorado Economic Development Commission.
Advanced Industry Infrastructure Funding Grants provide State funding to collaborative projects that will have a broad, industry-wide impact across one or more of Colorado’s Advanced Industries. Eligible projects must demonstrate solutions that provide workforce training, deliver shared working space or equipment, or advance industry mentorship for Colorado companies.
Collaborative Infrastructure Funding Grants applications are reviewed by committees comprised of business, technical and financial experts, as well as an industry-specific review. Final recommendations are reviewed and determined with approval from the Colorado Economic Development Commission.
The Advanced Industries Accelerator Programs were created in 2013 to promote growth and sustainability in Colorado’s advanced industries by driving innovation, accelerating commercialization, encouraging public-private partnerships, increasing access to early stage capital and creating a strong infrastructure that increases the state’s capacity to be globally competitive. AIA encompasses three distinct grant programs: Proof of Concept, Early Stage Capital and Retention, and Commercialization Infrastructure.
The grantees
$500,000 – Colorado Longitudinal Study (COLS) – Aurora- COLS is an early stage non-profit start-up that will create a critical resource for the bioscience industry. We are utilizing and developing cutting edge technologies to create the world’s most comprehensive, in-depth, longitudinal repository of biological specimens and accompanying personal health information. Biobanks have supported research innovation and economic development in other states and countries, but there is no such resource in Colorado. The COLS biobank is more advanced in scope and design than any other biobank.
$470,000 – Rockies Venture Club- Denver - This Advanced Industry Collaborative Infrastructure grant request supports RVC to create new angel investing communities throughout the state, using well-established principles and practices of angel group formation and management, in order to mobilize accredited investors to invest in Advanced Industries companies.
$150,000 – University of Colorado Denver- Anschutz Medical Campus- Gates Biomanufacturing Facility- Aurora – This grant will be the next major step in translating TIL (Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes) technology into the clinic in Colorado as well as accelerate the growth and establishment of GBF as an experienced cGMP manufacturing Center of Excellence supporting Colorado’s biotechnology infrastructure. Specifically, the grant's impact will allow the Gates Biomanufacturing Facility to hire at least one new staff member that will be trained and skilled in cell therapy manufacturing. This hire and the development of our current staff will build upon the foundation of a new, highly skilled workforce here in Colorado, readying this region for economic development associated with the emergence of cell therapy commercialization while attracting this global business to Colorado.
$400,000 – National Renewable Energy Lab – Automated Wind Turbine Blade Finishing – This project will design and prototype an automation system for wind turbine blades in the finishing operations of the blade production steps. This project will leverage the capabilities and facilities established through the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The IACMI Wind Technology Area (TA) will design and deploy a robotic automated wind turbine blade finishing system at the NREL/IACMI Composites Manufacturing Education and Technology (CoMET) facility.
$200,000 – Colorado State University- Fort Collins- This Colorado project team which includes Ability Composites, Vartega Carbon Fiber Recycling, and NREL will investigate and develop 3D printed molds that would function in the composites industry. This project will utilize the robotic system at CSU that was obtained in conjunction with the AMIDE Alliance that was funded in the last Collaborative Infrastructure Cycle last June. This project will also leverage the relationship with the Institute for Advanced Composite Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI).