Developers of next-generation medical devices and aerospace materials join high-profile food and footwear brands on a list of companies with fresh government funds to modernize their manufacturing. 43 businesses across the state, from the central population centers to its rural west and east, won a total of $5 million through the Maryland Manufacturing 4.0 program. Launched in 2022 and overseen by the state’s Department of Commerce , the program provides 5-to-6-figure awards to small or mid-sized companies with manufacturing at their core. The program draws its name from the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the concept which posits that automation, artificial intelligence and other contemporary innovations will drive the future economy while encompassing traditional industries like manufacturing. “As technology continues to evolve, it is necessary that our state programs and business community do the same,” said Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, who advocated boosting the program’s funding to $6 million in his FY2026 budget. “Supporting Maryland’s manufacturing industry with programs like Maryland Manufacturing 4.0 will help numerous businesses remain competitive, create new job opportunities, and increase innovation across the Mid-Atlantic.” This round’s recipients include Sara’s Soup, the company behind the Soupergirl products that mother-daughter founders Marilyn and Sara Polon showcased on ABC’s “Shark Tank” in 2018; Baltimore-based advanced manufacturing tentpole Early Charm ; popular ice cream company Taharka Bros.; and spacecraft creator Quantum Space.
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