2.1 Strengthen and support our innovation community (three action items)

2.1.1 Establish a consistent pattern of state support for collaborative research and development among universities and businesses, building on the examples of the Holyoke Green High Performance Computing Center and the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center’s cooperative research matching grant program

Contact: Eric Nakajima

CY2013 Progress:

On February 28, Governor Deval Patrick and the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC)  announced more than $9 million in grants for life-sciences-related capital projects in Western Massachusetts, including $3.8 million to support the creation of a Center for Life Sciences at Holyoke Community College (HCC), and $4.54 million that will allow the Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center (MGHPCC) in Holyoke to expand its capacity for life sciences-related research and data analysis.

CY2012 Progress:

  • Massachusetts Green High-Performance Computing Center – Governor Patrick cut the ribbon and officially opened the Massachusetts Green High-Performance Computing Center.  In conjunction with five Massachusetts research universities, and EMC and Cisco, the Computing Center will provide state-of-the-art computational infrastructure that will lead to enhanced data analysis and research.  The MGHPCC is a pillar of the state’s Big Data Initiative and the MGHPCC universities have already successfully competed for over $2 million in federal support for collaborative research.
  • A $50 million matching fund was established for Scientific & Technology Research & Development to establish consistent pattern of state support for collaborative research and development among universities and businesses.
  • Supported multiple federal applications by research collaborations of industry and multiple universities.
  • Established consistent message with multiple partners on collaborative priority.

2.1.2 Under the leadership of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, identify three to five emerging areas of global innovation excellence in the Commonwealth and support public-private collaborations to accelerate the growth of such areas, building on the example of Mass Insight’s Advanced Cyber Security Center initiative

Contact: Pat Larkin

CY2012 Progress:

  • Sectors identified – Big Data, Digital Games, Health IT, Mobile Communications, Robotics and Advanced Manufacturing
  • Governor Patrick and Secretary Bialecki participated in the opening of hack/reduce, a new Cambridge-based Big Data non-profit.  hack/reduce was established in partnership with the Patrick-Murray Administration, a number of local and global firms committed to innovation, and in collaboration with MIT, Harvard and other local universities.  hack/reduce provides the community with access to high-performance computing clusters, petabyte data sets, and training from the best academic and technology leaders in Boston.  Since opening its membership application process last month, hack/reduce has received more than 50 membership applications for contributors and resident hackers from around the world. One of the first Resident Hackers will be sqrrl, a start-up company spun out of the National Security Agency (NSA), which is addressing Big Data security. For more on hack/reduce, read The Boston Globe story.
  • Created the Big Data Consortium.
  • Roundtables conducted with Big Data, Health IT, Mobile Communications and Robotics.

2.1.3 Increase by 20% annually over the next five years state funding of capital, mentoring and advice, including incubator and/or accelerator programs, for early stage entrepreneurs and small businesses, building on the example of MassChallenge

Contact: Eric Nakajima

CY2012 Progress:

  • $250,000 was allocated Massachusetts Technology Collaborative to provide mentoring and advice, including incubator and/or accelerator programs for early stage entrepreneurs and small business.
  • The Massachusetts Technology Development Corporation (MTDC) launched the SBIR Targeted Technologies (START) program; dedicating $3 million over three years to support the development of successful SBIR Phase II recipients accelerate their growth.
  • Winn Development is developing a 43,000 sq. ft. medical device start-up accelerator in the Boott Mills in Lowell, MA to build off the success of the Medical Device Development Center at UMass Lowell.
  • Valley Venture Mentors in Springfield, MA, with support from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, is developing the Pioneer Valley Innovation Challenge to accelerate start-ups in Western Massachusetts.
  • Haverhill Hardware Horizon, an accelerator for manufacturing-related start-ups, is under development in Northeastern MA with assistance from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative.