The Engine

Supports researchers and early stage startups by offering non-monetary incubation, laboratory facilities, and educational programming.

The Engine is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit incubator and accelerator for early-stage Tough Tech companies — startups developing transformational science and engineering to address major global challenges. Founded by MIT in 2016 and formally converted to nonprofit status in 2025, it provides 227,000 sq ft of fully managed wet labs, engineering spaces, and offices in Cambridge, MA to approximately 150 resident companies across 15+ industries including biotech, climate tech, advanced manufacturing, and quantum computing.

The Engine operates two free educational programs for researchers and faculty — Blueprint (an 8-week virtual/in-person accelerator for graduate students, postdocs, and research scientists) and Whiteboard (a one-day in-person seminar for faculty and PIs). Neither program provides monetary awards; both are in-kind educational support with no equity taken and no IP transferred. The Engine does not disburse grants. Its sister organization Engine Ventures (spun out as an independent VC firm in 2023, $1.1B AUM) makes equity investments but is a separate legal entity and does not offer grants.