Berkshire Innovation Center Inc

THIS EDA INVESTMENT SUPPORTS BERKSHIRE INNOVATION CENTER, INC. WITH LAUNCHING THE BERKSHIRE INNOVATION CENTER (BIC) MANUFACTURING ACADEMY, WHICH WILL BE SUPPORTED BY THE MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY'S INITIATIVE FOR KNOWLEDGE AND INNOVATION IN MANUFACTURING. THE BIC MANUFACTURING ACADEMY WILL FOSTER THE GROWTH OF THE ADVANCED MANUFACTURING SECTOR IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS THROUGH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS THAT WILL HELP CLOSE THE GAP BETWEEN LOCAL SUPPLY CHAIN CAPABILITIES AND THE NEEDS OF LARGER MANUFACTURERS THROUGH ONGOING EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND TECHNOLOGY-BASED SUPPORT. ONCE COMPLETED, THE PROJECT WILL HELP THE REGION RECOVER FROM THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC, BY PROMOTING JOB CREATION AND RETENTION, WHICH WILL BOLSTER ECONOMIC RESILIENCY THROUGHOUT THE REGION.

PURPOSE: THE BERKSHIRE INNOVATION CENTER (BIC) WILL ESTABLISH THE BIC CYBERSECURITY LEARNING AND TESTING FACILITY. THIS REGIONAL INITIATIVE IS DESIGNED TO BOLSTER CYBERSECURITY READINESS AMONG SMALL AND MID-SIZED MANUFACTURERS, PARTICULARLY THOSE WITHIN THE DEFENSE INDUSTRIAL BASE. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: THE PROJECT WILL CONFIGURE EXISTING BIC SPACE AND PROCURE TECHNOLOGY LIKE VISUALIZATION SYSTEMS, NETWORKING EQUIPMENT, COLLABORATIVE WORKSTATIONS, AND SANDBOX INFRASTRUCTURE. OVER A TWO-YEAR PERIOD, THE GRANT WILL FUND FACILITY FIT-OUT, TECHNOLOGY INSTALLATION, WORKFORCE TRAINING, PROJECT COORDINATION, AND REGIONAL ECOSYSTEM ENGAGEMENT. ACTIVITIES WILL BE IMPLEMENTED ACROSS FOUR PHASED TRACKS OVER A TWO-YEAR PROJECT PERIOD. EXPECTED OUTCOMES: THE INITIATIVE EXPECTS TO CREATE A PHYSICAL ENGAGEMENT ENVIRONMENT AND SHARED CYBERSECURITY INFRASTRUCTURE TO HELP MANUFACTURERS EVALUATE RISKS, TEST SECURITY TOOLS, AND IMPLEMENT CRITICAL UPGRADES. IT WILL EXPAND WORKFORCE EXPOSURE TO CYBERSECURITY CAREER PATHWAYS AND STRENGTHEN REGIONAL COLLABORATION CAPACITY BETWEEN INDUSTRY, WORKFORCE, EDUCATIONAL, AND PUBLIC-SECTOR PARTNERS.INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: THE PRIMARY BENEFICIARIES ARE SMALL AND MID-SIZED MANUFACTURERS THROUGHOUT WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AND THE SURROUNDING REGION, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN THE DEFENSE INDUSTRIAL BASE. STUDENTS, WORKFORCE PARTICIPANTS, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAMMING WILL ALSO BENEFIT.SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: THE RECIPIENT DOES NOT INTEND TO SUBAWARD FUNDS.