Industry 4.0 Technology Implementation Grant

Industry 4.0 Technology Implementation Grant

Funds Michigan small manufacturers adopting smart production technologies through shared-cost support.

The Industry 4.0 Technology Implementation Grant is a reimbursement-based program administered through a consortium of six regional nonprofit delivery partners — including Automation Alley — on behalf of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). The program provides Michigan small manufacturers with grants covering 50% of qualifying technology implementation costs, up to a maximum of $25,000 per company. The $3 million total program pool was approved by the Michigan Strategic Fund in April 2022. Through September 2022, 72 companies had received grants, with an average award of approximately $23,469 — indicating that the typical applicant approaches the program ceiling. Technology domains in scope include additive manufacturing, artificial intelligence, robotics and automation, Big Data analytics, cloud computing, cybersecurity, Industrial IoT, modeling and simulation, and connected worker platforms.

Eligibility requires the applicant to be a for-profit manufacturer in NAICS codes 31–33 with an operating facility in Michigan and to qualify as a small business under SBA size standards. Two prerequisites must be satisfied before submitting: free Essential Member enrollment with Automation Alley, and either completion of an Industry 4.0 Technology Assessment through the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center (MMTC) or documentation of an existing technology strategy. The 50% match requirement means each applicant must also fund half the technology cost from its own resources; the program is not a full subsidy.

Applications are reviewed by the regional delivery partner that serves the applicant's county; Automation Alley covers the southeastern Michigan region while five other nonprofits cover the rest of the state. The reimbursement model requires the manufacturer to purchase and deploy the qualifying technology first, then submit documentation to claim the 50% match. Manufacturers who have already completed the MMTC assessment and identified a specific automation or AI technology investment are positioned to move quickly once a cycle opens.