Have an Innovative Health and/or Safety Solution?
The Northeast Center and George Mason University are working together on the IdeasThatWork Incubator supporting individuals with ideas to improve the health and safety in agriculture, forestry, and/or commercial fishing (AgFF). The incubator makes it possible to move ideas that reduce health and safety hazards in these fields from the drawing board into widespread use.
Round Two Funding Applications Open!
We are currently requesting proposals for our second round of funding through the IdeasThatWork Incubator!
We provide up to two years of funding (up to $10,000 per year, $20,000 total) along with mentorship and training in development, networking, marketing, distribution, and more in order to help bring innovations to health and safety measures in AgFF fields.
FAQ
Submission Deadline: September 30, 2025
- Review of Applications: October 1 – November 7, 2025
- Notification of Award: November 10, 2025
- Project Start Date: December 1, 2025
- Project End Date: August 31, 2027
The IdeasThatWork Incubator embodies research-to-practice. Between incubator staff and our amazing advisory board, we have put together a team of experts to provide awardees with mentorship and training. We’ll also help you connect with additional resources and funding opportunities.
A couple things to keep in mind:
- We do not fund training programs in general; however, we will consider funding innovative delivery tools for training programs.
- Funding is contingent on continued federal funding of the incubator.
You must be a United States citizen residing in the United States to apply. There are no other eligibility requirements. We welcome ideas from farmers, loggers, commercial fishermen, researchers, and AgFF industry professionals.
Send a written or video application using the form below. In the application, you will explain your idea by answering the following questions:
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- Tell us your name and how to contact you.
- Tell us about yourself. (200 words max)
- What AgFF safety or health problem are you addressing? (100 words max)
- What is your idea to address this problem? (500 words max)
- Why do you think it will work? (200 words max)
- Have you talked with people who might use your solution? If yes, who did you talk to and what did you learn? (200 words max)
- What help do you think you need from us? (200 words max)
Have Additional Questions?
Take a look at the recording of our informational session from August 12, where we go over the application process. The full video is under 20 minutes. If you have more questions, send us an email and we’ll get back to you shortly.
Submit Your Application
Round One Awardee: Farrell Davis
Farrell Davis, deckhand on the sea scallop fishing vessel Small Stuff and research technologist with the Coonamessett Farm Foundation, is our first awardee. Farrell is interested in developing an ergonomic sea scallop shucking knife. He is working closely with the IdeasThatWork incubator team and advisory board to receive training, financial support, and mentorship to move his idea to practice.
Getting The Word Out
Incubator Awardee Farrell Davis Interviewed on "The Mason Mechanical Engineer"
2/18/2025: Incubator Chair Leigh McCue-Weil interviewed Farrell Davis, the incubator’s first round awardee, on George Mason University’s podcast “The Mason Mechanical Engineer”
Pathway to Innovation in Occupational Health and Safety
1/8/2024 and 1/9/2024: Project Coordinator Liane Hirabayashi presented a poster and a talk about the incubator at the International Fishing Industry Health and Safety Conference in Rome, Italy.
BeSafe International Farm Safety Conference
8/24/2023: Co-Investigator Pam Milkovich presented a talk about the incubator at the BeSafe International Farm Safety Conference in Dublin, Ireland.
NEC r2p Featured on "The Mason Mechanical Engineer"
8/19/2023: Incubator Chair Leigh McCue-Weil interviewed Principal Investigator Julie Sorensen about the incubator on George Mason University’s podcast “The Mason Mechanical Engineer”
Questions?
Contact the IdeasThatWork Incubator Team at IdeasThatWork@bassett.org or call 800-343-7527.