Indiana manufacturers adopting smart technologies might benefit from a $4.1 million fund proposed by Next Level Manufacturing Institute and the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership.

The grants would help pay for 3D printing, cybersecurity and other technologies, the Indianapolis Business Journal reported on May 29. The grants are designed to make it easier for manufacturers to digitize operations.

In May, Indiana Economic Development Corp. prepared a contract that would direct $4.1 million from the state’s 21st Century Research and Technology Fund to Next Level Manufacturing LLC, which runs the institute, the Business Journal reported.

Under the proposed contract, Next Level Manufacturing would distribute the money over two years with matching grants of up to $200,000 for manufacturers, the Business Journal reported.

Indiana Economic Development Corp told the publication it wasn’t ready to comment on the grant program and Next Level Manufacturing President Chad Pittman was not available for comment.

“The recent COVID-19 Virus is showing how vulnerable our supply chains and manufacturing presence have become in the U.S.,” the contract said, the Business Journal reported. "These two factors are combining to create a unique threat and opportunity to the entire manufacturing sector.”