Centers for Advanced Technology

Empire State Development is requesting proposals for designation of Centers for Advanced Technology under RFP 26-6181, with proposals due October 16, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time and written questions due September 14, 2026. This opportunity is reserved for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses (SDVOBs) with a 6.00 percent goal; a 30.00 percent total Minority/Women Business Enterprise (MWBE) contracting goal also applies (15 percent minority-owned, 15 percent women-owned).

Eligible applicants are universities, university-affiliated research institutes, or consortia thereof that maintain at least one on-site doctoral program in research fields related to the proposal's technology focus and can demonstrate ability to meet matching-funds requirements. Applicants must select from four designated Technology Foci: Artificial Intelligence and data-driven healthcare; Medical manufacturing; Space technologies and aerospace engineering; or Waste-to-value and circular manufacturing technologies. Each designated Center must establish an Industrial Advisory Board comprising representatives from companies operating within the proposal's technology focus.

The award recipient will receive up to $903,954 in annual Empire State Development support over a ten-year designation period, subject to satisfactory annual performance evaluations and state fund availability. New Centers will receive up to $500,000 in ramp-up funding during the first contract year. Matching-funds requirements escalate over the ten years, beginning at 100 percent in years one through five, with at least 50 percent of required matching funds coming from New York State company cash (credited at 2:1 ratio for small New York State companies). Matching-fund categories include cash, contractor support (salaries and fringe benefits for faculty and dedicated staff spending at least 25 percent time on activities), and donated equipment. Indirect costs are limited to 15 percent of salaries plus fringe benefits charged to state funds.

Proposals must not exceed 15 pages, include executive summary, organizational chart, biographical sketches of key personnel, and up to ten completed Project Summary Templates documenting committed projects with letters of attestation from industry partners. The contract commences July 1, 2027.