WHIN has received a $1M 2023 Build to Scale Grant from The U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA). The 2023 Build to Scale Program, totaling $53 million, is administered by the EDA’s Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OIE). The grants foster technology-based ecosystems to advance the growth of connected, innovation-centric economies that accelerate technology and enable commercialization to increase regional and global competitiveness. There were more than 220 applicants with only 60 organizations selected for funding.

The funding will enable WHIN to scale its Innovation as a Service (IaaS) program. IaaS introduces Internet of Things (IoT) technology to address needs such as preventative maintenance, reduced downtime, safety, reduced waste, asset tracking, and energy and other input management for manufacturing.

“We are grateful for the generous support from the EDA, ” says Johnny Park, CEO of WHIN. “This grant will help us to greatly expand services to manufacturers in the WHIN region as we accelerate the impact of IoT in their operations.”

With help from the grant, WHIN will give companies a manpower and expertise boost. Working side-by-side with plant personnel, WHIN’s team helps to identify pain points and implement IoT solutions from a portfolio of technologies that WHIN has vetted for quality and effectiveness. IaaS flattens the technology learning curve with real results so that manufacturers gain the vision, skill and experience to continue to the next level of digitalization.

IaaS services funded by the grant can be requested by any manufacturer in the ten-county WHIN region.