Tech incubator NextFlex has chosen four ideas to transition to manufacturing stage, out of over 130 submitted to its project calls.

NextFlex is a public-private partnership that uses money from the Department of Defense to partner with dozens of companies to inspire innovation in flexible hybrid electronics (FHE), an emerging field with potential breakthroughs for medical care and other applications.

The process began almost two years ago when NextFlex issued its first call for submission in August 2015, with another one following in May. The four projects represent contracts of nearly $9 million. The winners — University of Massachusetts Amherst, University of Massachusetts Lowell, American Semiconductor Inc. and Binghamton University — will underwrite over half of the costs themselves.

"The amount of creativity and dedication to furthering the commercialization of FHE in these project proposals is exciting, as it shows that we have hit on a technology, application and supply-chain target that resonates with many organizations and has real potential for breathing new life into U.S. manufacturing," Malcolm Thompson, executive director of NextFlex, said.  

Examples of the technology include wearable fitness sensors with wireless connections and pollution sensors and other devices with consumer and military application.