Grant Opportunities Spark Innovation in Injury Reduction
The Research to Solutions (R2S) grant and MSD Solutions Pilot grant debuted in 2023. Since then, the MSD Solutions Lab has brought back these pioneering grant programs year after year to uncover promising new safety solutions to prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders, or MSDs. The MSD Solutions Lab awarded $300,000 to the newly selected 2025-2026 R2S and Pilot grant recipients, bringing the total investment in MSD prevention to nearly $850,000 over three years.
Research to Solutions Grant (R2S)
The Research to Solutions Grant awards up to $50,000 per approved research project and typically funds four grants each year. It invites academic institutions, businesses and industries to innovate new solutions for MSDs, focusing on occupational injury risk reduction that can be seamlessly integrated across a range of sectors and workplaces. For the 2025-2026 grant cycle, NSC called upon applicants to support one or more key research areas:
● Emerging technologies for risk assessment and mitigation
● Ergonomic interventions for legacy MSD high-risk jobs or tasks
● MSD management systems
● Assessment tools for non-physical risk factors
● Total worker wellbeing
2025-2026 R2S Grant Recipients
● University of Waterloo, a second-time grant recipient, is using innovative MSD risk assessment tools to better leverage data from emerging technologies
● Auburn University is testing a new plant-layout organizational tool for MSD control and mitigation
● Texas Tech University is assessing 3D printed head and neck rests for reduced discomfort during overhead work
● George Mason University is developing smartphone computer vision technology for real-time movement assessment to prevent MSDs in emergency responders
MSD Solutions Pilot Grant
MSD Solutions Pilot grant awards up to $20,000 per approved project and typically funds five grants per year.
This grant provides MSD Pledge members the opportunity to choose from leading technology providers who participate as finalists in the MSD Solutions Lab Safety Innovation Challenge to trial emerging solutions in real-life applications.
2025-2026 Pilot Grant Recipients
● dormakaba is partnering with DORN to train employees in MSD risk reduction best practices to improve overall wellness
● Cargill is working with MākuSafe to explore how technology can be used to create risk profiles and provide early hazard identification
● Panduit is teaming with Stroma Vision to help reduce upper extremity MSD risks in cable management and electrical connectivity manufacturing operations
● Northwell is collaborating with Hapo to validate the benefits of a “surgeon exoskeleton” in reducing upper limb strain during long, complex surgical procedures
● US Foods is using IntelliSafe Analytics to identify lifting stress incidents at manufacturing facilities and delivery sites
Learn From Past Projects
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