MSD Solutions Lab 2026-2027 Pilot Grant

MSD Solutions Pilot Grant 2026-2027 

Scaling Solution Provider-Specific MSD Reduction Strategies  

Introduction 

In June 2021, the National Safety Council (NSC), America’s leading nonprofit safety advocate, and Amazon teamed up to tackle one of the most common workplace injuries: musculoskeletal disorders, or MSDs. Together they formed the MSD Solutions Lab, a first-of-its-kind strategic initiative addressing this critical issue by engaging key stakeholders, conducting research, identifying new technology, innovating solutions and scaling the results — so all workplaces can benefit. As part of this multi-faceted, innovation-focused initiative, the MSD Solutions Lab is pleased to continue the Pilot Grant program for the year 2026-2027. 

The goal of the pilot grant program is to develop solutions for preventing MSDs by matching organizations with innovative technology providers to trial emerging technologies in real-life applications. This year’s grant program involves ten leading solution providers (listed below) featured at the 2025 NSC Safety Congress & Expo. Organizations are invited to submit proposals to partner with any of these providers to reduce MSDs caused by forceful exertions, repetitive motions, or awkward postures across any workplace. 

Grant Overview 

Acknowledging that MSDs remains one of the top causes of work-related disability, the MSD Solutions Lab invites organizations interested in eliminating or reducing MSD risk exposure to apply for the pilot grant. 

The following are the ten semi-finalists from the 2025 NSC Safety Congress & Expo Safety Innovation Challenge.  Organizations interested in applying for the grant will need to select a solutions provider from the ten options below to partner with for the grant. We expect the solution providers to assist the organization in reducing the risk of workplace MSDs through a pilot of their technology. The organization interested in implementing one of the below ten solutions should be either a current MSD Pledge member or interested in taking the MSD Pledge to reduce MSD risk at their workplace. 

Amp Health: http://www.amphealth.com 

• Technology type: software platform with computer vision 
• Amp Health is a platform that combines precision movement evaluation, early MSD risk identification, real-time documentation, and configurable prevention workflows—built specifically for physically demanding industries. 

CerebrumEdge: https://cerebrumedge.com/ 

• Technology type: computer vision 
• An AI-powered ergonomics risk assessment platform that leverages computer vision and machine learning to detect and reduce workplace musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) risks in real time, empowering safer, smarter work environments.  

MākuSafe: https://makusafe.com/ 

• Technology type: wearable sensor 
• Wearable technology and safety data analytics solution gathers data about environmental exposures and ergonomic motions from each individual to understand risk in the workplace.  

MATE: www.mate-ergonomics.com 

• Technology type: digital twins 
• MATE digital twins create virtual replicas of workplaces and/or workers, enabling proactive analysis of postures, movements and potential risks. MATE also offers a new ergonomic risk assessment developed at the KU Leuven University, Belgium.  

MOOVENCY: https://moovency.com/en/ 

• Technology type: computer vision 
• Using artificial intelligence and computer vision, KIMEA detects biomechanical constraints in real time in order to identify and reduce MSD risk. 

PRECURE: http://www.precure.health 

• Technology type: wearable sensor 
• An AI-powered wearable system that combines smart sensors and a user-friendly app to provide real-time feedback to correct high risk movements before injury occurs.  

SafetyVue: http://www.safetyvue.net 

• Technology type: extended reality 
• AI-powered adaptive training engine and immersive VR/AR simulations help to build ergonomic muscle memory and can adjust learning in real-time based on individual performance.  

SpatialCortex: https://www.spatialcortex.co.uk/ 

• Technology type: wearable sensor 
• Wearable sensors combined with AI-driven analytics enable comprehensive full-body risk assessments, identifying awkward postures and harmful movement patterns while providing real-time feedback for injury prevention. 

SentiMetrix Inc.: http://www.sentimetrix.com 

• Technoloy type: computer vision 
• PathML (Posture Analysis Through Machine Learning), an AI-powered video analysis platform, automates the assessment of musculoskeletal health, fatigue, and injury risk using standard video input. 

VinciVR, Inc.: https://www.vinci-vr.com/ 

• Technology type: extended reality 
• Immersive classroom virtual reality training platform utilizes simulations to enable workers to prepare and familiarize themselves with new work environments and potential hazards. 

The MSD Solutions Lab will award up to $100,000 in total funding with an individual maximum award of $20,000, subject to the availability of funds and the merit of the proposal.

The 2026-2027 pilot grant cycle application will open on October 14, 2025. 

Grant Requirements 

Each awarded organization must be either a current MSD Pledge member or become an MSD Pledge member before funds are dispersed for the project; new pledgees must sign the MSD Pledge to be eligible for this grant.
 

The grantee is an organization that wants to pilot a solution, and the solution provider should assist in solving the upper extremity ergonomic hazards at the organization of the pledgee. Preference is given to organizations who have not previously been awarded an MSD Solutions Lab Pilot Grant.

• Note: A solution provider may partner with more than one grantee to address their issues. 

As part of this project, the solution provider should develop specific strategies for risk reduction, training of the grantee staff on the tech solution, trial the solution for at least six months, track injury metrics, and identify and document best practices in collaboration with the pledgee(s). 

Grant recipients are also required to deploy surveys to their employees who are piloting the solution and share the findings of those surveys (anonymously) with the MSD Solutions Lab. Grant recipients can partner with the MSD Solutions Lab to develop the survey, or can use a survey of their own with approval from the MSD Solutions Lab.  
 

The funds will be disbursed directly to the implementing organization. Funding is available for:  

• Shipping and transportation of technology solutions to the place of pledgee and return 
• On-site training needs, including equipment necessary to run the pilot (e.g., physical equipment, software) 
• Travel essential to conduct the proposed project. 

Funds may not be applied to: 

• Employee salaries and/or benefits of both pledgee and solution provider 
• General operating expenses not related to the project 
• Purchase of equipment, hardware or software, or other costs not pertinent to the project 
• Personal expenses 
• Accrued costs not attributable to the grant 

Grant Proposal Guidelines 

Each MSD Pledge member(s) and solution provider grantee team will submit a joint proposal consisting of the following: 

• Project title 
• Names, email addresses and affiliations of solution provider and MSD Pledge member(s) 
• Proposal (one to three pages) that incorporates the following: 
• Specific aims of the pilot project  
• Significance of the manual materials handling problem at the pledgee(s) workplace (e.g., metrics such as lost workdays, injury count, lagging indicators) 
• Project design (e.g., study design, proposed metrics or data collection methods, population tested, implementation measurement procedures) 
• Project execution timeline (e.g., start and completion of major activities, staff training using technology, results reporting). 
• Any other risk reduction strategies that have been implemented, attempted or planned to address upper extremity work-related issues by the MSD Pledge member. 
• Anticipated outcomes, including injury reduction metrics, possible challenges. 
• Budget justification (include itemizing costs, with a justification of each item). 

Grant Deliverables 

The MSD Solutions Lab will collaborate with grantees and solution providers to translate and disseminate the solutions across organizations for broader visibility in the form of case studies. 

The MSD Solutions Lab will engage during the project's lifecycle to:  

• Document progress reports and discuss changes in project scope (if any)  
• List challenges/barriers to using the technology (including any adverse events) 
• Discuss ways to scale the solution provider intervention(s) and implementation of recommendations 
• Develop case studies (e.g., lessons learned, development of risk reduction metrics, return on investment insights).  

The grantee and solution provider must report on project progress to the MSD Solutions Lab team through the delivery of one interim report halfway through the project (template to be provided).  

The grantee and solution provider must also submit a comprehensive report after the grant cycle (i.e., within 30 days of completion) and write a case study highlighting the solution provider technology for further dissemination to a broader audience. Details will be discussed with grantees during the project lifecycle. 

Grant Outcomes 

The expected outcome is that each grant awardee will present their results at the 2027 NSC Safety Congress & Expo or a similar venue. Awardees may alternately or in addition be asked to present results at a future virtual or hybrid event.  

At the NSC events, both grantees and solution providers will have the opportunity to showcase their findings, network with other potential organizations that are interested in utilizing the technology, and have the potential to scale upward and educate the wider audience.  

Timeline 

• Grant Proposal Request Opens: October 14, 2025 
• Grant Proposal Submission Closes: January 15, 2026 
• Grant Recipients Notified: February 16, 2026 

For more information, including pilot grant eligibility and application requirements, please contact msdsolutionslab@nsc.org.