1. Organizations must be a NEMC Hub member.
2. Organizations must have 100 or fewer employees.
   1. Organizations with 50 or fewer employees are eligible to receive a grant subsidy of 75% of the cost of utilizing the service or license provider. The award total is not to exceed $200,000, with a maximum of $100,000 for manufacturing services and a maximum of $100,000 for operations services.
   2. Organizations with 51-100 employees are eligible to receive a grant subsidy of 50% of the cost of utilizing the service or license provider. The award total is not to exceed $200,000, with a maximum of $100,000 for manufacturing services and a maximum of $100,000 for operations services.
3. Organizations who have received prior PROPEL manufacturing services and/or operations grant(s) will be considered for funding under this NOFO subject to approved use of prior funds. Preference will be given to applicants who have not received prior PROPEL grants.

Preference will be given to proposing organizations and providers headquartered in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Jersey and New York.  Work must be conducted by a professionally run service provider that can produce invoices, with a preference for providers in the NEMC Hub network. 

Manufacturing Development: Grants may be used to fund third-party service providers for the following:  

• Prototype Fabrication services  
• Prototype Packaging services  
• Prototype Testing and Analysis services  

Operations Development: Grants may be used to fund third-party service providers for the following:

• Patent services: e.g., drafting and filing of patents  
• EDA software fees: e.g., software licenses  
• Cybersecurity provider services: e.g., assessments, software licenses, etc.  
• Employee training service providers

Note: Reimbursement for IP technology licenses paid to a third-party (e.g., fees paid to universities for licenses under their patents) is not allowed. 

Grant funded expenses must be incurred after the applicant’s proposal submission date and within 15 months from that date. Eligible services that have been invoiced or paid for and completed prior to the applicant’s proposal submission date are not eligible for reimbursement with PROPEL grant funds. Applicants may, at their own risk, choose to pay for eligible services after the applicant’s proposal submission date; applicants, however, assume risk of all costs if they are not selected for an award. If a deposit on a service is a commitment to purchase, deposits made prior to the applicant's proposal submission date are not eligible for reimbursement.  

Startup projects are required to align with one or more of the NEMC Hub’s six technology areas: 5G/6G, AI Hardware, Commercial Leap Ahead, Electromagnetic Warfare, Secure Edge and/or Quantum Technology.  

Applicants must demonstrate that they are advancing the goals of the NEMC Hub and lab-to-fab technology transition. 

The application process will proceed according to the following schedule. The target dates are subject to change. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to check NEMC's website frequently for schedule updates.

NOFO Timeline: 

*See definition and detail on rolling submission schedule below.

Rolling Application Submission Schedule: 

Applications may be submitted to MassTech on a rolling basis, meaning applications can be submitted at any time while the solicitation is open. While applications will be reviewed throughout the year, quarterly submission deadlines have been set to ensure timely consideration and flexibility. Quarterly submission windows for 2025 are listed below, windows can be adjusted or added, and applicants are encouraged to check the table for updates. All applications received by 11:59 p.m. on the submission deadline will move into review. Early submissions do not get preference; all applications received by a window's deadline are reviewed together after that date.

Timing example: If an application is submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET on a submission deadline, it will be reviewed after that date. As soon as one window closes, the next one opens, ready for new applications.     

Please review the NOFO for instructions. Applications can be submitted here.

Download Budget Template

Questions regarding this NOFO must be submitted by electronic mail to proposals@masstech.org with the following Subject Line: “Questions – NOFO No. 2025-NEMC-03.“ Initial questions must be received by 5:00 p.m. EST Thursday, June 12, 2025 to be included in the Q&A File posted on or before Tuesday, June 17, 2025 to the MassTech website. Questions can be submitted on a rolling basis while the NOFO remains open. New questions and answers will be incorporated into the Q&A document on the MassTech website as needed on a rolling basis.