Genius NY finalists begin prepping for October pitch event

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The seventh round of the Genius NY business-accelerator program at the Tech Garden in Syracuse has five finalists looking ahead to the final pitch event in October. Genius NY stands for Growing ENtrepreneurs & Innovators in UpState New York. The teams are from New York City, Maryland, Michigan, the United Kingdom, and […]

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The seventh round of the Genius NY business-accelerator program at the Tech Garden in Syracuse has five finalists looking ahead to the final pitch event in October.

Genius NY stands for Growing ENtrepreneurs & Innovators in UpState New York.

The teams are from New York City, Maryland, Michigan, the United Kingdom, and Florida, Empire State Development (ESD) announced.

The program is described as the “largest business accelerator for the UAS industry in the world.” An uncrewed-aircraft system (UAS) includes a drone and equipment used to control its flight. A drone is also referred to in the industry as an unmanned aerial vehicle, or UAV.

The five finalists are the following startups.

• Voltela is from the Brooklyn borough of New York City and provides connectivity assurance for commercial drones. “Remote pilots must rely on reliable Command and Control connections. The mobile network was not built for aerial connectivity and changing the infrastructure is not viable. Voltela’s patented software operates with off-the-shelf modems enabling prioritized connections with guaranteed low latency via any mobile network. Voltela’s superior connectivity performance achieves aviation-grade reliability levels and is the foundation for building the Aerial Virtual Network Operator,” as described in an ESD news release.

• Aloft from Silver Spring, Maryland is an FAA-approved UAS service supplier (USS) for LAANC (low altitude authorization and notification capability), “powering the vast majority of recreational and commercial airspace authorizations … Through state-of-the-art technologies and sophisticated data services, Aloft aims to enhance the safety and efficiency of drone operations, facilitating their integration into the National Airspace System,” ESD said.

• Blueflite from Detroit, Michigan is a company designing and manufacturing a logistics drone platform to solve the “modern-day challenges in the logistics industry. Blueflite’s drones offer faster and greener deliveries at a lower cost compared to conventional transport. The unique and patent pending tiltrotor design features vectored thrust giving it unrivaled maneuverability and the ability to operate under challenging conditions. The digital element of the platform allows for integration into an all-automated supply chain for high-speed deliveries at scale,” ESD stated.

• Greenjets from Milton Keynes, United Kingdom is building next generation electric propulsion systems for advanced air mobility. Its “ducted fan propulsion technology is the quietest, safest and most efficient of its class. The Greenjets team has over 300 years of deep domain knowledge carried over from Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems & Formula 1. Learnings from these experiences are reflected in a unique design & manufacturing methodology, which allows production of propulsion systems at an unrivaled pace, the release contended.

• Votix of Weston, Florida is an “American Enterprise Drone Orchestration and Automation platform and the first universal (hardware-agnostic) drone operating system for commercial operations at scale. “VOTIX integrates the entire drone ecosystem, ensuring high-quality results, and safe and robust operations, guaranteeing compliance with regulators and stakeholders, creating synergies within the industry’s ecosystem, reducing process time and generating superior intelligence. VOTIX supports VLOS/EVLOS while enabling BVLOS operations, autonomous flights, real-time cloud video streaming and AI, precision landing, drone-in-a-box integration and much more,” per the ESD description.

Starting July 12, the five selected companies were scheduled to move into downtown Syracuse where they will begin to refine work on their business cases, which they’ll present at the pitch finals event on Oct. 4.

The five finalists were selected from a pool of more than 450 submissions. They will compete for $3 million in direct investment, with one grand prize of up to $1 million and four $500,000 awards.

Supported by the CNY Rising Upstate Revitalization Initiative and administered by CenterState CEO and the Tech Garden in downtown Syracuse, these startup, uncrewed-systems industry companies will participate in a yearlong program.

“The GENIUS NY accelerator has helped to establish Central New York as a hub for uncrewed aerial systems by attracting the next generation of innovative entrepreneurs,” said Empire State Development president, CEO, and commissioner Hope Knight. “New York State’s ongoing UAS investment will ensure that continued industry leadership, bringing top-quality jobs and growth to the region and beyond.”

Genius NY participants are required to commit to operating their business in Central New York for at least one year.

Schumer details how Congress can harness AI’s benefits

Manufacturing & Engineering, Subscriber Only, Technology

It was a speech outlining his vision for how Congress can harness the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and protect society from its “potential harms.” U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D–N.Y.) on June 21 spoke on the topic of “SAFE Innovation in the AI Age” at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)

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It was a speech outlining his vision for how Congress can harness the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and protect society from its “potential harms.”

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D–N.Y.) on June 21 spoke on the topic of “SAFE Innovation in the AI Age” at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C., his office said.

The Senate leader was joined by Manish Bhatia, executive VP of Boise, Idaho–based Micron Technology Inc., which is building a semiconductor campus in Clay, and Jonathan Adashek, chief communications officer and senior VP of IBM.

Schumer said that as AI transforms the world around us, leading manufacturers and innovators of semiconductor chips like Micron and IBM “will be at the center,” and the increased demand for their products will help “boost business” for the companies in the years ahead.

Portion of Schumer’s remarks

In his address, Schumer outlined a two-part proposal to move the nation forward on AI: one part on framework, one part on process.

“First, Congress needs a framework for action…what should our framework be? What issues within AI should we look at to prepare legislation?” Schumer pondered.

After months of talks with more than 100 AI developers, executives, scientists, researchers, workforce experts, and advocates, Schumer shared his proposed blueprint for action.

He calls it the SAFE Innovation Framework for AI policy.

“The SAFE Innovation Framework. I call it that because Innovation must be our north star. The U.S. has always been a leader in innovating on the greatest technologies that shape the modern world,” the senator said.

He went on to say, “But if people think AI innovation is not done safely, if there are not adequate guardrails in place, it will stifle or even halt innovation altogether. So it is SAFE innovation that we must seek.”

Second, Congress will also need to invent a new process to develop the right policies to implement the framework.

“AI moves so quickly and changes at a near exponential speed, and there’s such little legislative history on this issue, so a new process is called for. The traditional approach of Committee hearings play an essential role, but on their own won’t suffice. We will need help from creators, innovators, and experts in the field,” Schumer noted. “That is why later this year, I will invite the top AI experts to come to Congress and convene a series of first-ever AI Insight Forums, for a new and unique approach to developing AI legislation.”

Hodge rejoins MACNY as director of Partners For Education & Business

Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Health Care, Manufacturing & Engineering, People on the Move, Subscriber Only

DeWITT, N.Y. — MACNY, The Manufacturers Association, recently welcomed Taylor Hodge back to the team as director of Partners for Education & Business, Inc. Stepping down from her role as director, Tanya M. Eastman will remain with MACNY as senior advisor for STEM workforce initiatives, the association said in a June 26 release. Hodge was

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MACNY appoints Pipes as chief growth & development officer

Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Manufacturing & Engineering, New York News, People on the Move, Subscriber Only

DeWITT, N.Y. — MACNY, The Manufacturers Association, recently welcomed Kyle Pipes to the organization as its chief growth & development officer. He started in his position on July 1. Pipes brings MACNY experience in helping develop organizational culture. He is especially skilled at assisting organizations through assessment and development of relational habits, leadership, healthy systems,

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Oswego Health promotes two in Info Services & Technology Department

Health Care, Subscriber Only, Technology

A clinical analyst III manager offers support to all 1,300 employees at Oswego Health. From day-to-day technological demands to troubleshooting clinical requests, to process and workflow efficiencies, both Windey and Bacon play a key role in the organization’s equipment integration and updates, Oswego Health said in a June 20 release. In addition, they work side-by-side

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Windey, a registered nurse, started at Oswego Health in 2000 as a nurse aide in the Medical Surgical Unit at Oswego Hospital. For the past 23 years, she has held various positions as a registered nurse, including clinical trainer for the health-care system, before understanding her passion was in information services & technology. That came when Windey was asked to advise on the adoption of a new clinical technology that would assist with patient care. In 2011, Windey transitioned to the IS&T department as an IS&T clinical analyst II. In 2013, she was promoted to clinical analyst III and now, clinical analyst III manager.

Bacon started working at Oswego Health in 2005, originally in the Pharmacy Department at Oswego Hospital as a technician. In 2011, she was also tasked with assisting the IS&T department with a new clinical platform and quickly realized how both careers could overlap. Bacon was then promoted to pharmacy IT technician before transitioning fully to the department in 2013 as an IS&T clinical analyst II, then a clinical analyst III in 2017, before earning her new title as clinical analyst III manager.

“It gives me immense pleasure to announce the promotion of Brooke and Jennifer to Managers in our Applications Department. They have both been an integral part of the IS&T Clinical Applications Team for more than a decade and have been instrumental in building and deploying the applications that we have today. We are all so proud of their accomplishments and are eager to see their continued growth in the organization,” Barry Ryle, Oswego Health’s VP of information systems & chief information officer, said in the release.

Visit Binghamton receives award for website

Nonprofits, Regional News, Small Business, Sports, Entertainment & Tourism, Subscriber Only, Technology

BINGHAMTON, N,Y. — Visit Binghamton, the tourism organization promoting the attractions and experiences of Broome County, announced it has received the 2023 Award of Excellence in the travel and tourism category by The Communicator Awards. The awards celebrate creative excellence among marketing and communications professionals. Visit Binghamton said it was honored for its website, which

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MVCC names director of Airframe & Powerplant program

Manufacturing & Engineering, Regional News, Subscriber Only, Technology

UTICA, N.Y. — Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC) has announced that Walter Constantini, previously director of Aviation Programs, has transitioned to the role of director of the Airframe & Powerplant program. In his new role, he will be responsible for planning, leadership, and administration of the Airframe & Powerplant program and other Federal Aviation Administration

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Lockheed Martin’s suburban Syracuse plant awarded more than $13M Navy contract modification

Manufacturing & Engineering, Subscriber Only, Technology

SALINA — The Lockheed Martin Rotary and Missions Systems plant in Salina has recently won a nearly $13.4 million firm-fixed-price modification to a previously awarded U.S. Navy contract. The pact is for provisioned spare parts in support of the full-rate production of Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program AN/SLQ-32(V)6 and AN/SLQ-32C(V)6 systems, according to a July

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Menlo Microsystems to begin Ithaca–area operations in 2024

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Manufacturing & Engineering, Regional News, Subscriber Only, Technology

LANSING — Menlo Microsystems, Inc. (Menlo Micro) says it has finalized an asset purchase in Tompkins County, which will house the company’s first domestic- microelectronics fabrication (fab) facility, which it dubs the Ideal Fab. Menlo Micro will invest $50 million in the Ideal Fab over the next three years, creating more than 100 high tech

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Menlo Micro will invest $50 million in the Ideal Fab over the next three years, creating more than 100 high tech jobs at the site within the next five years, per its July 11 announcement.

Built out of a “decade-long effort” at General Electric’s global research center in Niskayuna, Menlo Micro’s research and development (R&D) arm is located at the Albany NanoTech Complex, the Irvine, California–based company noted.

In its online news release, Menlo Micro describes itself as the company “responsible for reinventing the electronic switch with its Ideal Switch technology.”

Menlo Micro expects U.S.–based manufacturing to begin in 2024 with the new Lansing fab that will produce thousands of wafers per month when fully operational. The company has university partnerships with the SUNY Polytechnic Institute and the University at Albany, with hopes to expand its research and workforce-development partnerships to Cornell University and other universities across upstate New York with the launch of the new Ideal Fab.

To support the construction of Menlo Micro’s new fab, Empire State Development will provide $6.5 million in performance-based Excelsior Jobs tax credits in exchange for 122 new jobs in Lansing. As with all Excelsior Jobs projects, Menlo Micro will receive the credits after demonstrating that it has met its job and investment commitments, New York State says.

The company will locate its fab in the Cornell Business and Technology Park, per a Facebook post from Ithaca Area Economic Development.

“This is a tremendous investment in the Ithaca area and a testament to the local, state, and federal partners that worked together to bring Menlo Micro’s fab to our community., with a special thanks to Senator Schumer for ensuring passage of the CHIPS and Science Act, and to encourage Menlo Micro to site in New York State,” Heather McDaniel, president of Ithaca Area Economic Development, said in a statement. “They will benefit from our dedicated and highly educated workforce, and we stand ready to support them in their efforts to create quality employment opportunities.”

CHIPS and Science Act effect

Both U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D–N.Y.) and Gov. Kathy Hochul say the Menlo Micro announcement follows “their long advocacy to make New York a global microelectronics manufacturing hub and Schumer’s personal call to Menlo Micro CEO Russ Garcia last year.”

“Today’s announcement represents the first step toward significantly increasing the domestic-production capacity of our Ideal Switch to help secure critical infrastructure and further strengthen America’s technology stronghold,” Garcia said. “We want to thank Senate Majority Leader Schumer for his leadership on the CHIPS and Science Act, which is directly supportive of and aligned with our plan to onshore our manufacturing capabilities. We look forward to continuing to work with Sen. Schumer, Gov. Hochul, Sen. Gillibrand, Rep. Molinaro and the entire New York delegation as we begin ushering in the next generation of electrification, delivering unprecedented cost and energy savings to essential U.S. industries. We believe this fab modernization project is in 100% alignment with the presidential directive on bringing semiconductor manufacturing back to the United States.”

Schumer and Hochul said that the retrofitting of Menlo Micro’s new Ideal Fab has already begun in the village of Lansing.

“With this agreement to bring Menlo Microsystems to Tompkins County, we are once again declaring New York State as Chips Country,” Hochul said. “Menlo Micro’s groundbreaking chip technology powers the tools and electronics that New Yorkers rely on every day, and thanks to a remarkable partnership between local, state, and federal officials, their New York production facility will create more than 100 high-tech jobs and unlock millions of dollars in investment to support the entire region. I am excited to welcome Menlo to New York’s chip-making ecosystem as we continue our work to attract the innovative, 21st century businesses that will provide good-paying jobs, grow our advanced manufacturing sector, and move our economy forward.”

Menlo Micro says it has pioneered next-generation switch technology, which includes “hyper-efficient” switches that have broad base application, including aerospace, energy, communications, critical infrastructure, and more.

The switches are also a vital component of the microelectronics industry, supporting the growth of the domestic semiconductor industry “that is being driven by Schumer’s CHIPS and Science Act,” per Schumer’s office.

Michaels named STEM GEAR UP program assistant at MVCC

Health Care, Manufacturing & Engineering, Regional News, Subscriber Only, Technology

UTICA, N.Y. — Daniel Michaels has recently transitioned to the grant-funded position of STEM GEAR UP program assistant in the Student Affairs Division at Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC). Michaels will provide instruction to GEAR UP students in support of the grant’s STEM priority and improve GEAR UP students’ academic performance through the delivery of

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