Have an idea for a health or safety solution?
With the IdeasThatWork incubator project, the Northeast Center and George Mason University are working together to move ideas from the drawing board to widespread use, that reduce health and safety hazards in agriculture, forestry, and/or fishing (AgFF). We welcome ideas from farmers, loggers, commercial fishermen, researchers, and AgFF industry professionals.
What we offer
A five-year pilot project started in 2022, the Ideas That Work incubator intended to provide two rounds of up to two years of funding ($10,000 per year = $20,000 total) and mentorship/training in development, networking, marketing, distribution, and more to help bring clever technology, programs, or practices that improve safety and/or health for farmers, loggers, or commercial fishermen to the workplace. In each round, we planned to select one project.
We assembled an amazing advisory board of experts (see below) to provide the mentorship and training, and connect funded projects with additional resources and funding opportunities.
Unfortunately, due to federal funding uncertainties, we have paused further progress on this project, including offering a second round of funding.
Round 1 award winner
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.
Meet our Team
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.