ARM Institute plans $3M in grants for robotics and manufacturing

Big financial gains in Pittsburgh over the last few weeks will help build a strong robotics future and the workforce to support it.  

A local institute is inviting organizations to submit project ideas to improve robotics in manufacturing, with millions in funding available for the best proposals. Plus, a multi-million dollar contract between a local robotics company and the nation’s largest independent power operator is set to modernize US power plants.

Meanwhile, a $250,000 grant to local workforce development organizations will create a free opportunity for Pittsburgh youth to transition into the tech workforce. 

Read on for more on these investments, plus other money moves shaping Pittsburgh’s future. 

Apply for grants toward improving robotics in manufacturing 

The Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute, an organization dedicated to shaping the trajectory of national manufacturing, has announced plans to award approximately $3 million to multiple projects aimed at enhancing manufacturing automation. 

The ARM institute is calling for project submissions in four special topic areas, with a deadline of April 9.  

The four special topic areas focus on improving robotics in manufacturing through: 

• Advancements in multi-model sensing. This project would use various types of sensors to help robots better understand their environment. Instead of solely relying on cameras, robots would gather data using sound, touch or internal measurements, like force or temperature. 
• Making robots more agile and adaptable. Right now, robots are mostly used for repetitive tasks that don’t change much. This project would explore ways to quickly reprogram robots, so they would be able to switch between different jobs quickly, much like a human worker can. 
• Enabling effective collaboration between robots and humans. This project would help develop better systems for real-time communication and coordination between robots and people to improve productivity and safety in manufacturing environments. 
• Enhancing robot movement. This project would create systems that allow robots to adapt their movement paths in real time to account for changes in the environment. 

Organizations must become ARM Institute members to submit a proposal. Projects will support the Department of Defense and US manufacturing at large. The ARM Institute’s call for projects aims to promote collaboration and innovation that will push ideas forward that otherwise would suffer from a lack of funding or engineering roadblocks.

$250K grant to help local students develop tech skills

Workforce development organizations Partner4Work and the Three Rivers Workforce Development Board recently received a $250,000 grant from the commonwealth to launch a tech training program for local, underserved youth. 

The Cybersecure Pittsburgh program will partner with Urban Pathways Charter School, Phase 4 Learning Center and the Boys and Girls Club to offer high school juniors and seniors free training in IT networking, system administration and cybersecurity. 

“We need every young person to thrive in order to meet the workforce demands of our region,” Christopher Watts, president and CEO of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania, told Technical.ly. “This program empowers teens to develop skills and explore careers in high-demand and high-paying industries, so they can prepare to earn family-sustaining wages and contribute to the tech ecosystem that is so important to our region’s future.”

Students will have the opportunity to earn the Cisco Certified Support Technician and Google Cybersecurity certifications upon completion. Students will also be prepared for entry-level roles such as IT support specialist or junior cybersecurity analyst, according to Carl Wesley, chief program and innovation officer for Partner4Work. 

The grant comes from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, which awarded nearly $2.4 million to organizations across the commonwealth to expand pre-apprenticeships, classroom training and job shadowing initiatives. 

“Pittsburgh’s tech sector is booming, but if we want that growth to be sustainable, we have to invest in the people who will drive it forward,” said Rob Cherry, CEO of Partner4Work. “This program isn’t just about training, it’s about making sure our young people have a clear path to careers that will shape the future of this industry.” 

Local robotics startup secures $100M contract with NAES 

Gecko Robotics, a North Shore-based robotics startup specializing in industrial infrastructure inspections, announced in February a $100 million contract with NAES, America’s largest independent power operator. 

The contract aims to modernize US power plants by utilizing Gecko’s various robots, drones and sensors to collect data from power facilities. That data will then be analyzed by the company’s AI-powered software, Cantilever, to help predict potential infrastructure problems and maintenance needs of the facilities. By using this predictive technology, power plants hope to prevent unexpected breakdowns and reduce costly emergency repairs.

The new effort follows President Donald Trump’s declaration of a national energy emergency on January 20. The power demand for data centers that support AI tools is projected to grow 160% by 2030, according to research from Goldman Sachs. 

“The demand for energy is going to grow substantially over the next five to ten years,” said Mark Dobler, President and CEO of NAES, in a February press release. “Every kilowatt counts.”

The multi-year agreement between Gecko and NAES could grow beyond $250 million if demand for power plant modernization increases or if the energy crisis in America persists, according to the release. 

More money moves: 

• Predictive Oncology, a Lawrenceville-based drug developer, received an undisclosed round of financing from biotechnology firm Renovaro Biosciences Inc. ahead of a planned merger between the two companies.  
• Wexford-based biopharmaceutical company Coeptis launched COEP Ventre Group, an investment arm focused on funding tech startups in AI, robotic process automation and AI agents. This follows a $5.7 million raise in its final Series A round in February. 
• Duolingo announced it had 9.5 million paid subscribers in Q4 of 2024, contributing to $209.6 million in revenue for the quarter. It was a 43% increase from the paid users it had the year before. Some of that revenue is going to Duolingo’s Early Learners First social impact program, which has pledged to invest $1 million annually in early learning and childcare in the Pittsburgh region.
• Pittsburgh’s tech ecosystem saw 182 VC deals in 2024, a 33% increase from the previous year, securing $999 million in venture capital, mainly for life sciences and AI companies, according to a report from Innovation Works and Ernst and Young LLP. 
• AlphaLab, the Innovation Works accelerator program, has selected 15 startups for its 2025 cohort. Each company will receive $100,000 in investment. Most of the chosen companies this year focus on healthtech or AI. 
• The Duquesne New Venture Challenge has named five finalists, including 2025 RealLIST Startups honorable mention Clean Plate Innovation and awardee the Reclamation Factory. The finalists will compete for a $40,000 prize later this month. 
• Local railroad tech company Wabtec Corp. announced it will acquire a global train mechanism maker, Dellner Couplers, for $960 million in cash. 
• Pearl Street Technologies, a Carnegie Mellon University spinout focused on clean energy software automation projects, was recently acquired by Texas-based energy-focused SaaS company Enverus for an undisclosed amount.