Category: 3. Business

TRENTON, N.J. (January 8, 2026) – The New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation, and Technology (CSIT) today announced that it has awarded approximately $1.3 million in grants to 17 startups through the fourth round of its Clean Tech Research & Development Seed Grant Program. The awards will help young companies accelerate development of their technologies and transform their discoveries from the research stage into commercially viable products and services. Since 2020, CSIT has approved 150 awards totaling $13 million to New Jersey companies working in the clean tech sector.

“Funding New Jersey startups through grant programs like the Clean Tech Research & Development Seed Grant helps build a stronger economy for the future,” said CSIT Executive Director Judith Sheft. “Cultivating companies within our state during their formative years helps them establish roots in New Jersey and position them for future financial growth, sustainability, and economic mobility for years to come.”

The Clean Tech Research & Development Seed Grant Program, which was jointly developed by CSIT and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), provides grants of up to $75,000 for R&D activities to very early-stage, New Jersey-based clean technology companies that will help them advance their development on products and services to a point where they can more readily appeal to outside investors and, in some cases, begin to generate revenue. 13 awardees (72%) have five or fewer employees, and 10 awardees (58%) are certified as either minority- or women-owned.

“New Jersey’s startups are among the very best in the nation and truly place the State at the forefront of innovation,” said CSIT Chair and BioNJ Founding President and CEO Debbie Hart. “The Clean Tech Research & Development Seed Grant Program reinforces the State’s commitment to its small businesses and nurtures advancements across a range of innovation areas aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We have seen early-stage companies leverage CSIT funding 15X in follow-on funding and accelerate their development trajectory.”

“Governor Murphy has invested robust resources to create a strong innovation ecosystem, making New Jersey a top state in the nation to grow and scale a startup,” said NJEDA Acting Chief Executive Officer Mary Maples. “CSIT’s Clean Tech Research & Development Seed Grant program helps entrepreneurs secure funding for vitally important research and new technologies that create new high-paying jobs, grow our economy, and solidify New Jersey’s reputation as a leader in equitable, diverse, and transformative innovation.”

The funding for the Clean Tech Seed Grant Program, which is being provided through the New Jersey Board of Public Utility’s (NJBPU) Clean Energy Program, will advance innovation that will help the state achieve clean energy goals as outlined in New Jersey’s Energy Master Plan. The plan, created in 2019 and updated in 2024, puts New Jersey on a path toward 100 percent clean energy by 2035.

“New Jersey’s legacy as a hub of innovation and entrepreneurial excellence continues to thrive through initiatives like the Clean Tech Seed Grant Program,” said NJBPU President Christine Guhl-Sadovy. “Our collaboration with NJEDA and CSIT reflects a strategic, cross-agency commitment to fostering transformative technologies that strengthen our clean energy ecosystem and drive sustainable economic growth across the state.”

The companies awarded funding work in a range of technology areas including fusion, innovative solar technology, microgrids, fuel cells, and advanced materials and recycling.

A list of all awardees can be found below:

• Canyon Magnet Energy Inc. – $75,000 (Newark)
• CarbonDots, LLC – $75,000 (Lawrence Township)
• Cecilia Energy, Inc – $75,000 (Newark)
• Cero NJ LLC – $75,000 (Edgewater)
• Coherent Photonics LLC – $75,000 (Plainsboro Township)
• CURBON LLC – $ $74,480 (Princeton)
• EV Buddy Inc. – $75,000 (Edison)
• Fundamental Carbon Co – $75,000 (Piscataway)
• Metal Light Inc. – $ 74,370 (Newark)
• NanoSepex Inc. – $75,000 (Bridgewater)
• Noble Geofurnace – $75,000 (Keyport)
• Novtech – $75,000 (Bridgewater)
• PFASolve Inc. – $75,000 (Jersey City)
• Queens Carbon, Inc. – $74,999 (Montville)
• SingletO2 Therapeutics LLC – $75,000 (Summit)
• Skyraptor LLC – $74,014 (Moorestown)
• Zaic Design LLC – $75,000 (Princeton)

About CSIT
In August 2018, Governor Murphy signed legislation re-establishing the former New Jersey Commission on Science and Technology as the CSIT. Comprised of representatives from the public and private sectors, as well as academia, the Commission is tasked with leading the way in promoting the state as a home for academic and technological research, development, and commercialization.

About the NJEDA

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) serves as the State’s principal agency for driving economic growth. The NJEDA is committed to making New Jersey a national model for inclusive and sustainable economic development by focusing on key strategies to help build strong and dynamic communities, create good jobs for New Jersey residents, and provide pathways to a stronger and fairer economy. Through partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders, the NJEDA creates and implements initiatives to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life in the State and strengthen New Jersey’s long-term economic competitiveness.

To learn more about state resources available to New Jersey entrepreneurs and early-stage companies, visit https://www.njeda.gov and follow @NewJerseyEDA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

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New partnership supports ICAO’s ‘No Country Left Behind’ strategic goal, fostering knowledge-sharing and digital innovation 

ICAO and Amadeus have formalized a Memorandum of Understanding in support of ICAO’s No Country Left Behind strategic goal. The partnership seeks to enhance the capacity of States to adopt advanced digital technologies that improve the efficiency, safety and sustainability of international air transport systems. 

The collaboration will help ICAO Member States advance in their digital transformation journeys and more rapidly realize the social and economic benefits that air transport brings. 

Under the terms of the agreement, Amadeus will contribute its technical expertise, share knowledge, and support initiatives to foster innovation in aviation and travel, in alignment with ICAO policies, strategies, plans, standards, and specifications. 

Amadeus will support this effort by leveraging its experience in travel technology, digital identity, biometrics, and data management — areas that are increasingly vital to the modernization of air transport systems.
 

8 January 2026

January 8, 2026 | Austin, Texas
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Appointment

Governor Greg Abbott appointed Amanda Crawford as the Commissioner of Insurance for a term set to expire on February 1, 2027.

Amanda Crawford of Round Rock is the executive director of the Department of Information Resources and the State of Texas’ Chief Information Officer. She previously served as deputy attorney general for administration and general counsel at the Office of the Attorney General of Texas. She is a member of the State Bar of Texas and a past president of the National Association of State Chief Information Officers. Crawford received a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from The University of Texas at Austin and a Juris Doctor from the University of Houston Law Center.

Today, Fannie Mae announced its 2026 Connecticut Avenue Securities® (CAS) Issuance Calendar as part of its efforts to ensure transparency in the market. We currently expect total CAS volume of around $4 billion across 5–7 transactions. Fannie Mae has the option to issue, or forgo issuance of, one or more CAS deals during each window.

For questions, please contact the Fannie Mae Investor Help Line at 1-800-232-6643, Option 3 or by e-mail.

Market Notice 

The Bank set out the schedule for sales in Q1 2026 of gilts held in the APF for monetary policy purposes in the 19 December 2025 Market Notice. Following the announcement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer that the Spring forecast will be held on Tuesday 3 March 2026, and the subsequent update to the gilt operations calendar by the UK Debt Management Office (DMO), the Bank has rescheduled the following auctions:

• The short maturity auction previously scheduled for 16 March will now be held on 23 February
• The medium maturity auction previously scheduled for 9 March will now be held on 16 March

The schedule for Q1 is otherwise unchanged, as set out in Table 1 below. 

As set out in the exchange of letters between the Governor and the Chancellor in February 2022, the Bank liaises closely with the DMO to ensure that our operations minimise interference with the DMO’s own issuance programme.  

Other than as amended in this Market Notice, the detailed operational parameters and participation requirements set out previously will apply to these gilt sales.

As set out in the 19 December 2025 Market Notice, the Bank will continue to monitor the impact of its gilt sales programme on market conditions, and reserves the right to amend its schedule, including the gilts to be sold and the size of its auctions, or any other aspect of its approach at its sole discretion. 

The Bank expects to announce the sales schedule for Q2 2026 at 4.30pm on 20 March 2026.

Table 1: APF gilt sales auction calendar – January to March 2026

The table below indicates the number of auctions that the Bank expects to hold in each of the following quarters over the next nine months. The number and size of auctions needed to meet the MPC’s target in future quarters may change, depending on the movement in gilt prices and the realised distribution of sales throughout the year, and therefore the numbers below should be understood as strictly indicative. 

Table 2: Indicative number of auctions for future quarters

Upcoming Washoe County Board of Commissioners Meeting will be January 13, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. See location details and meeting agenda here.

For more information about the Washoe County Board of Commissioners please visit this page.

Public Comment

Washoe County residents can now comment on agenda items electronically through eComment (https://washoe-nv.granicusideas.com/#) and/or offer public comment in-person on an agenda item, or at the beginning and end of the Commission meeting. Both eComments and in-person public comment will process as public record.

Although not required by the Open Meeting Law, in order to accommodate persons residing in populated areas substantially outside the vicinity of commission chambers, additional public comment may be given by remote technology system on agenda items concerning Districts 1, 5, or “All Commission Districts” (as specified in the subject line of the respective agenda item as “Virtual Public Comment Eligible”) from the following locations: Incline Village Library: 845 Alder Ave, Incline Village, NV 89451 and/or Gerlach Community Center: 510 Cottonwood St, Gerlach, NV 89412.

Kettering University has been awarded a $20,000 Community Impact Grant from General Motors to support robotics center programming that expands hands-on STEAM education opportunities for students in Flint and Genesee County.

The funding will support hands-on training for students and mentors involved in the university’s eight robotics teams, as well as participants in the 2026 Intro to Computer-Aided Fabrication course. Programming will include experiential learning with robotics and aerial drone technologies, providing students with direct opportunities to design, operate, and test advanced systems used in modern industries.

The grant also supports drone-focused activities that reflect growing real-world applications, including industrial inspection, logistics, and remote data collection, fields where automation and risk reduction are increasingly critical.

“Kettering’s robotics and drone programs are built around applied learning. Our students don’t just study technology, they use it,” said Kim Shumaker, Director of Kettering’s Robotics Outreach & Robotics Center. “Grants like these help ensure more students can access meaningful, hands-on STEAM experiences that connect directly to future careers.”

The award is part of a broader $300,000 Community Impact Grant investment distributed to nine Genesee County nonprofit organizations. Through the program, General Motors is supporting youth education and community-focused groups, including the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Flint, Factory Two, and the Flint Children’s Museum, to advance STEAM education and road safety initiatives across the region.

“Local nonprofits can do their best work when they have support from local businesses, and we’re thrilled to contribute to their amazing and tireless efforts,” said Theo Lavergne, General Motors Flint Assembly plant executive director, in a statement issued by the company. 

GM’s Community Impact Grants are selected in collaboration with local General Motors and United Auto Workers leaders and are designed to strengthen educational access, workforce development, and community well-being across the Flint area.

Beyond the grant funding, General Motors reports that its Flint-area employees contributed nearly $225,000 in personal donations and more than 10,500 volunteer hours to local causes in 2025 through GM Cares.

“I love this program because it helps bring our communities together,” Lavergne said, “It supports growth and learning, and allows our team members to see the direct impact that their hands, minds, and hearts have in the areas where we live and work.”