WESTBOROUGH, MASS. — Today, the Center for Advanced Manufacturing at MassTech Collaborative (CAM) launched a new state-funded program to boost cybersecurity at small- and medium-sized manufacturers statewide. The new Manufacturing Cybersecurity Program (MCP) will provide funding of up to $30,000 for capital upgrades to help small businesses fund the purchase of critical cybersecurity infrastructure, including network upgrades, badge readers, cameras, servers, and firewalls. In addition to protecting revenue and intellectual property, the program aims to boost the competitiveness of homegrown manufacturers, as these increased cyber investments will help firms meet cybersecurity standards that are necessary to work on federal projects or other programs for security-focused customers in the private-sector.
- Organizations interested in applying can find full details on the MCP procurement page.
- A virtual information session will be hosted Friday, December 15, 2023, at 11:00 a.m.
- Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until funds are expended.
The new grant program is an offshoot of the CAM’s successful Massachusetts Manufacturing Accelerate Program (MMAP), which provides the funding for this new effort. Similar to the MMAP, manufacturers that apply for the new MCP will partner with a higher education institution, non-profit, or other public or quasi-public entity in Massachusetts to receive a grant, a partnership that will help boost connections in the local manufacturing ecosystem.
“These grants will help our growing manufacturers enhance their cyber infrastructure, which will strengthen the security of their networks and help meet the increasingly stringent requirements of customers, particularly those in high-tech, aerospace, and defense sectors,” said Christine Nolan, Director of the Center for Advanced Manufacturing at MassTech. “This program is a key ingredient in CAM’s mission to foster a manufacturing ecosystem from innovation through production by improving resiliency and strengthening the state’s overall supply chain."
The MCP requires a minimum of 1:1 cost share, either through cash or in-kind contributions from the applicant, third parties, other private investments, or federal grants. Companies must have also completed a third-party cybersecurity assessment within the past twelve months prior to submitting an application.
The state’s investment in cyber infrastructure will also support small and medium manufacturers as they pursue cybersecurity standards such as Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), ISO 27001, or the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ (AICPA) SOC2 standard.
Capital equipment is a critical component of cybersecurity success, along with workforce training to help employees understand and adhere to cybersecurity requirements, and operational improvements such as software upgrades. The MCP will help complete the set of Massachusetts resources for companies to achieve their cybersecurity goals.
Through the larger MMAP program, CAM has invested over $7.7 million to 39 manufacturers statewide, co-investing in small- to medium-sized manufacturers to better prepare their businesses to meet the demands of ‘Industry 4.0,’ the innovation-driven production methods powered by smart technologies such as data analytics, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, automation, and connected technologies to stay competitive.
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About the Mass. Center for Advanced Manufacturing at MassTech
The mission of the Massachusetts Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CAM) is to foster the most complete, collaborative and agile manufacturing ecosystem, to enable business growth from innovation through production. The CAM is a division of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MassTech), a public economic development agency tasked with supporting business formation and growth in the Commonwealth’s tech and innovation sectors. CAM provides a path for manufacturing growth through a connected, accessible ecosystem that supports innovation, workforce development and a business-friendly environment. CAM managed programs include the Massachusetts Manufacturing Innovation Initiative (M2I2), the Massachusetts Manufacturing Accelerate Program (MMAP), the MassBridge manufacturing training program, and the MassMakes portal. Learn more at https://cam.masstech.org/.