Description
The Massachusetts Technology Collaborative is issuing a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the RoboBench program, which aims to increase access to robotics-related infrastructure across the Commonwealth and support the robotics entrepreneurial ecosystem. The program will provide capital grant funding to proposals that either build on existing infrastructure or develop new facilities to increase access to vital resources for commercializing robotic hardware. The goal is to enable the robotics ecosystem to more effectively develop robotic systems for the real world, overcoming early funding hurdles during the commercialization process.
Key aspects of the program include:
• Eligibility: Massachusetts-based non-profit entities or public or private institutions of higher education supporting the commercialization of hardware-based robotic technologies.
• Funding: MassTech expects to make multiple capital grant awards ranging from $250,000 to $2,000,000.
• Application process: A two-stage process, with concept papers due February 19, 2026, and full applications due April 3, 2026, if invited.
• Evaluation criteria: Potential for economic impact, knowledge of the robotics ecosystem, viability of the proposed project, and long-term sustainability of the proposed infrastructure.