Overview

FuzeHub, in partnership with Empire State Development’s NYSTAR division, announced the 2026 winners of the Jeff Lawrence Innovation Fund, awarding $650,000 total ($65,000 each) to 10 collaborative projects pairing New York nonprofits or universities with manufacturing/tech companies across the state. This was a record year with 59 applications received. Several winners are directly relevant to the life sciences community, including Cornell University’s partnerships with IVSonance Biomedical (an acoustic automation device for IVF procedures) and Persista Bio (nanofiber capsule manufacturing for cell therapy), RF SUNY CNY Biotech’s work with Ergami Endoscopy (a robotic colonoscope insertion device), and RF SUNY’s project with Ampullae (a force-sensing catheter prototype). The remaining awards span sustainable materials, drone/sensor technology, assistive devices, and industrial safety systems.