CASCADE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — The Gerald R. Ford Global Airport close to Grand Rapids will roll out its 3rd spherical of FLITE firms in March, giving startups an opportunity to check their generation in the actual international.
FLITE, or the Ford Launchpad for Leading edge Applied sciences and Entrepreneurship program, allocates investment to airport-based projects, services. This 12 months, $171,000 shall be divided amongst 5 firms: Cyberworks Robotics, Deaf AI, Renu Robotics, Solartonic and UV Angel.
“All through the pandemic, we had numerous firms in need of to check their innovated applied sciences focused round cleansing,” airport COO Alex Peric mentioned. “We in reality noticed the worth in and the have an effect on of giving startups that opportunity of checking out their product in a are living airport surroundings.”
That is the 3rd spherical of the FLITE program, which is a partnership between the airport authority, the Michigan Financial Construction Company, Seamless Ventures, Southwest Airways, Stantec GenerationAV and the West Michigan Aviation Academy.
“After the a hit of completion of 2 rounds of investment, FLITE has confirmed to be a key asset to the Gerald R. Ford Global Airport and the state of Michigan’s native entrepreneurial ecosystem,” mentioned Tory Richardson, president and CEO of the airport authority.
Previous firms and merchandise that proceed to serve the Ford airport come with an independent wheelchair that is helping passengers safely arrive at their gates.
“One of the crucial firms we’re partnering with (this spherical) is Deaf AI,” Peric mentioned. “That corporate is the use of synthetic intelligence to lend a hand other folks who’re onerous of listening to or deaf with American Signal Language.”
Airport and commute officers hope that if a hit, those firms will relocate their headquarters to West Michigan.
“We wish to generate an total financial have an effect on with those firms,” he mentioned.
Packages for spherical 4 of FLITE can also be submitted on-line thru June 30.
