Biosketch
The Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MassTech) is a quasi-public economic development agency focused on strengthening the competitiveness of the state’s tech and innovation economy by driving strategic investments, programs and partnerships that position Massachusetts to lead in the global digital economy.
The agency builds successful collaborations across industry, academia and government. It supports the commonwealth’s tech sector with a strategic focus on talent, ecosystems and the innovation infrastructure.
Over the years, UMass Lowell has collaborated with MassTech on numerous important endeavors that are serving as catalysts for innovation and economic growth. From its support of the Massachusetts Alliance for Space Technology & Sciences to the creation of the Fabric Discovery Center; from its backing of cutting-edge work in cybersecurity and printed and flexible electronics to helping to bridge the digital divide by expanding access to broadband service — MassTech has been a critical collaborator.
The impact of our work together is widespread. It has given students hands-on experiences that prepare them to tackle the most pressing challenges in today’s world, and it has set the stage for revolutionary research and development that is improving lives in Massachusetts and beyond.
Accepting the award on behalf of MassTech is its CEO, Carolyn A. Kirk, who has led the agency since 2019.
Under her leadership, MassTech has spearheaded investments statewide and regionally across several critical industries, including advanced manufacturing, bluetech/marinetech, cybersecurity, digital health, fintech, robotics and quantum computing.
In 2023, Kirk steered the agency through a highly competitive process that secured $19.7 million to establish the Northeast Microelectronics Hub, a regional Department of Defense Microelectronics Commons Hub. In 2024, Gov. Healey signed the Mass Leads Act, which entrusted Kirk and MassTech with $100 million to establish the Massachusetts AI Hub.
Before joining MassTech, Kirk served as mayor of the city of Gloucester for seven years. She then served as the deputy secretary of the state’s Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development.
Prior to her career in public service, Kirk worked in the private sector as a management consultant, with clients that included many of the top 20 U.S. banks and Fortune 500 companies. She is a graduate of Boston College.