Centers for Advanced Technology (CAT)

The CAT program is designed to spur technology-based applied research and economic growth in New York; encourage applied research collaboration and innovation with industry; promote workforce development; better leverage State funds with investments from the federal government, industry, foundations and not-for-profit economic development organizations; and increase the competitiveness of New York State Companies over the Center's ten-year designation period.

The designee must use ESD funds to enhance its resources in a specific technology Focus (refer to Section I.G. of this RFP) to help New York State companies remain competitive and solve production, applied research and development, and technical problems. To ensure the CAT's resources are invested in areas with the greatest commercial relevance to industry, the CAT must create an Industrial advisory Board that includes representatives from companies operating within the proposal's technology Focus.