Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
October 17, 2025
MassCEC Awards $65K to Boost New Bedford's Ocean Tech Innovation
TLDR
- New Bedford Research & Robotics secured a $65,000 MassCEC grant to acquire CNC equipment, giving ocean tech startups a competitive edge in prototyping and manufacturing.
- The grant funds a CNC machine that enables precise prototyping of underwater robot components, streamlining development and reducing production costs for ocean technology startups.
- This investment trains the next generation of blue economy workers while accelerating sustainable ocean innovation that benefits marine environments and coastal communities.
- A high-precision CNC machine will now help startups create underwater robot prototypes, advancing ocean technology in New Bedford's growing innovation hub.
Impact - Why it Matters
This investment directly impacts regional economic development and workforce training while advancing critical ocean technology that addresses climate change and sustainable energy needs. The funding accelerates prototyping capabilities for underwater robotics and marine innovations, reducing barriers for startups and creating skilled manufacturing jobs in the growing blue economy. As coastal communities face increasing environmental challenges, this support for ocean technology development positions Massachusetts at the forefront of sustainable marine solutions that could benefit coastal economies nationwide while advancing clean energy technologies essential for climate resilience.
Summary
New Bedford Research & Robotics (NBRR) has received a significant $65,000 award from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) as part of the state's ambitious Ocean Innovation Network initiative. This funding announcement was made during MassCEC's Climatetech Corridor Roadshow at NBRR's facility, where Dr. Emily Reichert, CEO of MassCEC, was joined by New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell to highlight the South Coast's growing prominence in clean energy and climate technology. The event underscored New Bedford's "special place" in Massachusetts' blue economy strategy and showcased the city's longstanding contributions to offshore wind innovation and ocean technology development.
The grant will specifically fund the acquisition of a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine, a high-precision manufacturing tool that will dramatically enhance NBRR's capabilities. According to Mark Parsons, Executive Director of New Bedford Research & Robotics, this investment will enable the organization to expand hands-on support for oceantech startups while simultaneously training the next generation of blue economy workers. The CNC technology will allow startups within the NBRR ecosystem to prototype components for underwater robots and other marine innovations on-site, streamlining development processes, reducing production costs, and accelerating innovation for early-stage companies working in the ocean technology space.
This funding represents just one component of a broader $11 million investment through Massachusetts' Ocean Innovation Network, with additional support including $2.13 million awarded to the New Bedford Ocean Cluster (NBOC) for facility expansion and equipment installation at NBRR. The announcement solidifies New Bedford's emergence as a critical hub for ocean innovation, clean energy, and offshore wind development. As highlighted during facility tours following the announcement, NBRR serves as a comprehensive center for researchers, entrepreneurs, and companies focused on ocean-related technologies, providing technical resources, collaborative space, and workforce development programs that collectively strengthen Massachusetts' position as a global leader in sustainable ocean innovation.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by citybiz. Read the original source here, MassCEC Awards $65K to Boost New Bedford's Ocean Tech Innovation
