BOSTON, Mass. – The Northeast Microelectronics Coalition (NEMC) today announced the launch of its third Powering Regional Opportunities for Prototyping Microelectronics (PROPEL) funding initiative. Following the success of its first two PROPEL programs, this new opportunity offers up to $4 million in grant funding to support manufacturing and operations activities at cutting-edge microelectronics companies. The effort will further NEMC’s mission to scale lab-to-fab transitions across the Northeast.
The PROPEL Program supports startups and small businesses with grant funding for critical development activities including device fabrication and packaging, electronic design automation (EDA) software utilization and securing patents. This initiative directly supports NEMC’s work to build a thriving microelectronics ecosystem, bridging the gap between proof-of-concept devices and production readiness.
“We are excited to offer this follow-on opportunity to our members, supporting innovators advancing bold ideas with potential for significant industry impact,” said NEMC Hub Director Mark Halfman. “We are incredibly proud of the progress already demonstrated by our current PROPEL awardees, and we look forward to building on that success toward sustainable lab-to-fab enablement.”
The PROPEL Program has a rolling application process. The initial application window opens today and will close on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. Information regarding subsequent application windows can be found on the program website. Applications may be submitted via this link.
To learn more, interested applicants can register for an informational webinar on Tuesday, June 10 at 11:00 a.m. EST.
About the NEMC Hub
The Northeast Microelectronics Coalition (NEMC) Hub is a network of 250+ organizations including commercial and defense companies, leading academic institutions, federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs), and startups concentrated in eight Northeast states. The NEMC Hub is a division of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative and was established in 2023 under the Microelectronics Commons program, executed through the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division (NSWC Crane) and the National Security Technology Accelerator (NSTXL). The Hub fosters a vibrant, well-connected ecosystem to provide sustainable lab-to-fab enablement, boost education and workforce development, and spur new jobs.
Learn more at nemicroelectronics.org.
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