NEMC PROPEL Program

NEMC PROPEL Round 4

Funds microelectronics prototype development in the northeastern United States through staged support.

The Northeast Microelectronics Coalition (NEMC) PROPEL program — an acronym for Powering Regional Opportunities for Prototyping Microelectronics — provides 12-month contracts of up to $200,000 to startups and small companies accelerating the transition of microelectronics technology from laboratory to fabrication. PROPEL has distributed more than $4.7 million across 10 states since its launch. Round 4 carries the same award ceiling and subsidy structure as prior rounds: companies with 50 or fewer employees receive 75% cost coverage, while companies with 51–100 employees receive 50% coverage. Eligible expenditures include prototype fabrication, packaging, testing, analysis services, patent services, EDA software licenses for up to 12 months, cybersecurity services, and employee training.

Projects must address one or more of NEMC's strategic technology focus areas: 5G/6G, AI hardware, commercial leap-ahead, electromagnetic warfare, secure edge, or quantum technology. Eligibility is restricted to for-profit companies with 100 or fewer employees that hold current NEMC Hub membership — membership must be secured before submitting a proposal. Geographic preference, though not a hard restriction, favors companies in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Jersey, and New York. Prior PROPEL recipients may reapply, but first-time applicants receive preference. Draper Laboratories provides preferred ASIC design and packaging services to awardees.

Round 4 applications are due June 30, 2026 via online form plus a required budget template, submitted to proposals@masstech.org. NEMC evaluates proposals against strategic fit, technical readiness, and the company's ability to leverage the subsidy toward a near-term fabrication milestone. Companies should join the NEMC Hub first, confirm technology-area alignment, and prepare a detailed 12-month prototyping budget that reflects the applicable cost-share tier.