Speaker DeLeo Announces Innovation Voucher Program

A new state voucher program funded by the Massachusetts legislature gives small and medium-sized businesses (<50 FTEs) access to the University’s leading-edge research facilities at reduced rates. Over thirty core facilities, from 3D printing to x-ray scattering, are available for use with the subsidy program.

Created with a $2 million state investment championed by House Speaker Robert DeLeo, the Innovation Voucher Program began accepting industry applications in late March. The program is administered by MassDevelopment, the state’s economic development and finance authority.

The voucher program had its public kickoff April 6 as DeLeo visited the Institute for Advanced Life Sciences at UMass Amherst, one of the state-of-the-art core facilities offering sophisticated technologies to industry. Joining DeLeo at the event were UMass President Marty Meehan, UMass Amherst Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy and MassDevelopment President and CEO Lauren Liss and representatives of the business community.

Speaker Robert DeLeo