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Building a robotics Cluster

BOSTON – Working in partnership with the Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council, MTC’s John Adams Innovation Institute has invested $50,000 through its Regional Priority Grants Program to initiate business planning and to fund other start-up costs for a Robotics Cluster Initiative.  The growth potential within the robotics industry is huge – the Defense Department’s investments in unmanned, remotely controlled technology could exceed $108 billion; NIH is funding new health care applications for the elderly and patient rehabilitation; and consumer applications of household robots have surged, with an estimated worldwide market of $12.3 billion by 2010.    

The goal of the project is to identify resources and initiate activities that will help create conditions to grow the emerging robotics cluster in Massachusetts.  Specific activities include strengthening working relationships among cluster companies and with academic institutions; building leadership within the cluster; creating a sustainable framework and preliminary business plan; and initiating discussions with the Mass Defense Technology Initiative and the Natick Soldier Systems Center about a potential R&D funding vehicle. 

Robotics technology uses software and computing, sensor technology, materials science and biomechanics to create robotic assistants in a variety of specialized applications – from military to consumer to health care.  While early robots have been successful in automating repetitive tasks on assembly lines and in manufacturing plants, the next generation of robots is mobile and able to adapt to unknown or changing conditions. 

Massachusetts is a key player in the defense industry, with over 1000 robots deployed in the military, including the first unmanned ground robots used for disarming roadside bombs (Foster-Miller’s Talon and iRobot’s PackBot), undersea exploring and mapping (Hydroid), and marine mine detection (Bluefin).  The first behavior-based robots were developed at the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab.  Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital was the first in New England to use a surgeon-directed, computer-assisted robot to perform a complete cardiac operation.  At Brandeis University, developers created the very first robot for actually building other robots. 

Massachusetts currently boasts over 150 companies, institutions and research labs in the robotics sector; and employs over 1,500 people in robotics-related industry.  With over $250 million in annual sales of robots and components and over $150 million in government contracts, the robotics industry is becoming a significant economic engine in the region.  If the robotics cluster is successful in creating opportunities for new and existing companies, the industry will attract more thought leaders and resources; retain more science and technology graduates; and stimulate the development of university and secondary-school curriculum in robotics-related fields.    

Broadband Penetration and Use Data

BOSTON – To design a methodology for collecting broadband penetration and use data, the John Adams Innovation Institute has awarded $122,530 to the Communications Futures Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  MIT will work with the Innovation Institute to design, pilot, and refine the data collection methodology.

The purpose of this study is twofold; first, to create a methodology to collect data regarding broad band that is based upon voluntary reporting and could have nation-wide application; and second, to gather data for Massachusetts for eventual use in the annual publication of the Innovation Institute entitled Index of the Massachusetts Innovation Economy.

The current data on broadband availability is largely non-existent.  Broadband is defined by law as an “information service” and thus carries none of the traditional reporting requirements associated with the legacy telephone system.  At present, no state or federal tools exist to enable access to data on broadband availability, price or adoption.    Yet broadband has been identified as crucial to the growth of the Innovation Economy.  This data will, therefore, be valuable to legislators to inform policy and measure progress, various municipalities, educational institutions, and other economic development groups working on broadband penetration in underserved areas. 

massPLASTICS Medical Device Connection

FITCHBURG – The North Central Chamber of Commerce has received an investment of $150,000 to support the plastics industry’s adaptation of their current operations to compete for medical device contracts.  The massPLASTICS Medical Device Connection is an economic development initiative created by the North Central Chamber of Commerce to grow the plastics industry cluster by increasing sales opportunities in the medical device industry. 

If successful, this initiative will increase market share by the plastics cluster in the Massachusetts medical device industry, which comprises the second largest cluster of its kind in the United States.  Historically, the Massachusetts plastics industry has relied primarily upon sales in the consumer products, automotive, and electronics markets.  More than 140 plastics manufacturers employ in excess of 8,000 jobs in the North Central region.  Of these firms, 35-40 companies are actively interested or engaged in adapting their current operations and are capable of competing for medical device contracts. 

It is anticipated that the plastics and medical devices industries in the Commonwealth will benefit from this relationship.  Quality contract manufacturing will increase, new jobs will be created and existing jobs retained by an adaptable and skilled workforce, and companies will invest in plants and equipment that can competitively adapt to biomedical industry requirements and trends. 

The Chamber is also developing or expanding collaborations with education institutions such as Mt. Wachusett Community College, Fitchburg State College, UMass Lowell Plastics Engineering Department, and the UMass Amherst Polymer Science & Engineering Department that specialize in plastics research and development.     

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