Workforce Safety Innovation Grant
Workforce Safety Innovation Grant supports Ohio nonprofit institutions developing protective equipment and technology to reduce workplace injury and illness and advance innovations toward commercialization.
Funder: Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation
Due Dates: November 16, 2026, 5 p.m. ET (NOIAF and abstract) | January 15, 2027, 5 p.m. ET (Full application)
Funding Amounts: $150,000–$2 million per project over 24 months, depending on track; up to $29 million total
Summary: Supports Ohio nonprofit institutions developing innovative personal protective equipment and technology to improve workplace safety.
Key Information: All tracks require a confirmed, external Ohio industry partner connected to the target workforce.
Description
The Workforce Safety Innovation Center® (WSIC), within the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC), funds research and development of personal protective equipment (PPE) and personal protective technology (PPT). The program supports Ohio-based not-for-profit higher education institutions and research organizations across all science and engineering disciplines. Its goal is to reduce workplace injury and illness while accelerating the transition of innovations from laboratories to the workforce marketplace.
The FY28–29 cycle offers research, proof-of-concept, and prototype tracks. Projects must address Ohio workforce needs and advance innovations toward commercialization. Successful applications must demonstrate high impact potential, effective dissemination, and collaborative partnerships. Broader worker-safety proposals are also accepted for review, including work addressing specific safety needs, preventing disability, and demonstrating commercialization potential.
