Connecticut SMEs needed a scalable assessment tool to benchmark digitalisation and access state transformation funding.
ConnStep deployed SIRI across 40+ manufacturers, enabling data-driven policy and grant prioritisation.
ConnStep is Connecticut’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership centre, supporting small and medium manufacturers across the state with operational improvement and technology adoption programmes.
The Challenge
With limited programme resources and dozens of manufacturers seeking support, ConnStep needed a way to prioritise funding allocations objectively. Without a consistent assessment framework, funding decisions would be based on self-reported data or informal assessments.
Deploying SIRI at Scale
ConnStep worked with INCIT to train a cohort of certified SIRI assessors, enabling scalable deployment across the Connecticut manufacturing base. Over 18 months, SIRI assessments were conducted across 40+ manufacturers.
Policy and Funding Impact
The resulting dataset provided Connecticut with its first objective picture of digital readiness across the manufacturing sector — by industry, company size, and region. This enabled targeted support programmes and more accountable funding decisions.