FORGE collaborated with the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT) to host emerging hardtech companies, manufacturers and industry leaders for a tour and networking event at CCAT’s Advanced Technology Center. The morning brought together founders and manufacturing partners from across the region for an inside look at the technologies, expertise, and partnerships helping companies evaluate,…
Artificial intelligence in robotics can seem too good to be true. Can that software really write that code, identify those objects, or control those movements? Will what works perfectly in the demo stay reliable in real-world conditions at the worksite or in a consumer’s home? Behind every robotics breakthrough lies a complex set of engineering…
Jun. 10, 2026 – A new building, demos of exciting physical products, and a discussion of some of the most important decisions innovators must make on the journey from prototype to scale – what could be more inspiring? This year, we brought the FORGE Spring Startup Showcase to 10 Prospect, a new life-sciences-focused building from…
Insperity is a FORGE Iron Partner. Since 1986, Insperity’s mission has been to help businesses succeed so communities prosper. Offering a suite of the most comprehensive, scalable HR solutions available in the marketplace, Insperity remains defined by an unrivaled breadth and depth of services and level of care. Through an optimal blend of premium HR…
Read on to commemorate 10 years of FORGE, celebrate big local manufacturing and innovation wins, and learn more about what’s coming next. It’s been an honor to serve the regional hardtech innovation ecosystem for a decade. Together, we truly have shown that if you can invent it here, you should be empowered to make it here.
Jan. 22, 2026 – On the ground floor, an expert team manufactured radiography systems. Upstairs in KUBTEC’s plant-filled, sunny offices, manufacturers, suppliers, investors, innovators and ecosystem partners gathered under a screen displaying a quote from NVIDIA founder Jensen Huang: “Our will to survive exceeds everybody’s will to kill us.” This crowd came to celebrate innovative…
Nov. 6, 2025 – Fall is one of our favorite seasons at FORGE because it means it’s time for another annual Fall Startup Showcase. This year, as always, we got to show off the most amazing physical products made by regional startups and innovative companies. More than 150 innovators, local suppliers and manufacturers, investors, and…
On April 17th, FORGE brought together state leaders, industry, and educators for a factory tour at Advance Welding in Springfield, Massachusetts to spotlight regional innovation and workforce development in advanced manufacturing. The event also highlighted a strong partnership between Advance Welding and Western New England University (WNE), a collaboration equipping students with hands-on experience in…
Apr. 8, 2025 – A custom Cybertruck and a Volkswagen Buzz sit on the lawn out front. Shelves of innovative products line the entry hallway. It’s easy to tell interesting things are happening at product development company Gyre9’s Southbury, CT facility, even before you set foot on the factory floor. Gyre9 took us behind the…
by Paige Romanick, Strategic Projects Associate Supply chains are a significant source of CO2 emissions for consumer companies, comprising over 80 percent of their total greenhouse gas emissions (Bove & Swartz, 2016). By partnering with local manufacturers, companies can reduce these emissions while gaining significant operational benefits. The impact of CO2 emissions Carbon dioxide, or…
