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Phase I
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3VO MEDICAL, INC
SBIR Phase I: Feasibility of a Novel Minimally Invasive Labor Augmentation System for Stage I Labor
Contact
3520 MULTIVIEW DR
Los Angeles, CA 90068--1222
NSF Award
2507364 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,452
Start / end date
06/01/2025 – 05/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Henry Ahn
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project is the first medical device intervention for augmenting Stage I active labor. In the US, 3.4 million low-risk childbirths occur in hospitals each year representing the leading cause for admissions, in-hospital bed use, resulting in $50B direct costs. Despite optimal pharmacological administration, one in five (20%) experience significantly prolonged Stage I active labor durations due to ineffective uterine contractions. This results in increased maternal morbidity, health risks to the mother and infant, and is the leading cause of cesarean sections for low-risk delivery in the US. Rates of prolonged labor continue to increase with obesity, sedentary lifestyle and age of mother. This initiative aims to develop the first medical device therapy for use by Obstetricians to directly increase the labor forces while relieving uterine muscle demand during labor to make childbirth safer. This SBIR Phase I project aims to develop a minimally invasive intrauterine labor augmentation system (ILAS) providing direct fluidic mechanical pressure modulation. The trans birth canal system utilizes contemporary Class II medical device catheter-balloon (sac) technology to contain saline which fluidically controls intrauterine pressure synchronized to every labor contraction. In this SBIR Phase I project, the highest risk intrauterine assembly will be developed and mechanically validated through three primary objectives. First, the sac will be further developed for safe prolonged intrauterine use under simulated conditions by refining the biomaterial?s mechanical properties. This will ensure smooth deployment including low coefficient of friction, ease of insertion and withdraw from the uterus, with a suitable external diameter and mechanical handling characteristics. Second, the sac configuration and pleating pattern will be finalized for ensuring a low-profile insertion while maintaining durability and reliability. The system will then be validated through rigorous testing using a mock anatomical test system intrauterine cavity and infant. The results will verify the intrauterine catheter-sac?s ability to deploy properly under simulated use conditions, distribute fluidic pressure evenly to current clinical targets of 50-70mmHg, exhibit durability with a sufficient safety factor. The outcomes are a mechanically validated system using biomaterials suitable for preclinical translation during the next stage of development. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
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A CUBED DESIGN LLC
SBIR Phase I: Novel Mechanism for Refreshable Braille Device with Embedded Curriculum
Contact
2772 SQUAW VALLEY TRL
Aurora, IL 60503--5600
NSF Award
2507831 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
06/01/2025 – 11/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Lindsay Portnoy
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will contribute to the field of refreshable braille technology (RBT) and precision manufacturing. The project addresses the high cost of existing RBT, which limits braille literacy among blind and low-vision individuals, impeding participation in education, employment, and leisure opportunities. The innovation will enhance scientific and technological understanding by addressing durability, portability, and cost concerns in current RBT. Validating the novel braille system is key to de-risk the technology to enable commercial success. Seven million Americans have blindness or severe vision loss, including the target market of blind adults. With the digital braille displays market projected to grow at a 20.5% CAGR value from 2022-2027, there is considerable market opportunity. The commercialization plan involves selling the device to users, agencies, schools and government organizations, as well as selling individual braille cells. The technology provides a competitive advantage by being low cost and having user-replaceable braille cells. By year three of the device launch, 5,000 individuals are expected to be utilizing the device where the product will enhance braille literacy and digital productivity. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project addresses the challenge of creating a cost-effective, reliable, and user-repairable refreshable braille device. Currently, refreshable braille devices are cost-prohibitive to acquire and challenging to repair, leaving users without dynamic interaction with the digital world. The project will implement a precision milled mechanically based system for actuating braille pins utilizing pins at braille code specification. Research objectives include refining of the pin mechanism, adjusting the tolerances and geometry of the scaled-down mechanical system, implementing appropriately sized motors, conducting preliminary cycle testing, and integrating the cells into a 20-cell device. The primary challenges associated with this development will be prototyping within the tight tolerances without binds or jams at an affordable price point that meaningfully reduces barriers to entry to owning a refreshable braille device. Anticipated technical results are a cell of braille operable at braille code specifications, refreshing in less than 500 ms, durable at 500,000 cycles, sized within a braille-code sized bounding box for single-cell modularity, and manufacturable at a cost of less than $20 per cell. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
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ABSCO THERAPEUTICS, INC.
SBIR Phase I: Image-Guided Controlled Release Platform for Intratumoral Immunoadjuvant Delivery
Contact
65 GLEN RD APT H2
Brookline, MA 02445--7753
NSF Award
2507269 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
04/15/2025 – 03/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Henry Ahn
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is in developing an image-guided intratumoral therapy for treating immunotherapy-resistant solid tumors, a $125 billion market. The only FDA-approved intratumoral therapy costs $65,000?100,000 per patient and is insurance-reimbursed, demonstrating market viability. Pharmaceutical companies developing immune-oncology drugs are actively seeking strategic partnerships to improve drug delivery, as intravenous and oral formulations face toxicity and efficacy challenges. Intratumoral delivery is an attractive alternative, but current approaches suffer from rapid drug leakage (>70% lost within hours) and require frequent, impractical repeat dosing. Beyond its clinical benefits, this project has significant commercial potential, offering pharmaceutical companies an innovative drug delivery platform that could expand their oncology pipeline, improve therapeutic efficacy, and increase drug life cycle. The societal impact includes enhancing treatment options for patients with limited alternatives, reducing systemic toxicity, and potentially improving long-term survival rates. Early discussions with pharmaceutical executives and clinical trial physicians highlight stage IV colorectal cancer with liver or lung metastases as a high-priority clinical need. Additional interest exists in pancreatic, lung, and triple-negative breast cancers, expanding the potential market. This project aims to make intratumoral immunotherapy a viable alternative for cancer patients. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to improve current biologic therapies for solid tumors as they face poor on-target delivery, rapid systemic diffusion, and dose-limiting toxicities due to uncontrolled off-target effects. Systemic administration further exacerbates toxicity and efficacy limitations, restricting broader clinical adoption. This project develops an image-guided intratumoral delivery system that solidifies upon injection, ensuring localized retention and sustained therapeutic release. Unlike freely administered biologics, this approach prevents rapid leakage, aligns with clinical dosing schedules, and minimizes systemic toxicity. Our research focuses on biomaterial strategies to enhance stability, localization, and controlled release of biologics within tumors. While we have successfully developed a hydrophobic small molecule delivery system, biologic-based therapies require innovative hybrid formulations that protect, localize, and sustain release. The anticipated outcomes include improved intratumoral retention, reduced toxicity, and enhanced therapeutic efficacy, ensuring biologics remain active at the tumor site for extended durations. This novel approach optimizes tumor targeting, improves safety, and enables more effective localized immunotherapies, addressing a critical need in oncology. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
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ACADEMIC WEB PAGES, INC.
SBIR Phase I: Integrating MentorAI into a student success platform
Contact
1048E LONG BEACH BLVD
Beach Haven, NJ 08008--5625
NSF Award
2450833 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$286,418
Start / end date
01/01/2025 – 12/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Lindsay Portnoy
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this SBIR Phase I project addresses the critical need for scalable, personalized student support in higher education. The project will develop an artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted mentoring platform that enhances peer mentoring programs through data-informed, evidence-based guidance. This innovation comes at a crucial time, as student distress rates have doubled over the past decade, and institutions struggle to meet growing demands for mental health and academic support. The technology will particularly benefit underrepresented students, who often face barriers accessing traditional support services. By combining AI capabilities with human peer mentors, this innovation will make technical advances in how to leverage AI tools within the context of human interactions. This will enable institutions to affordably scale high-quality, site-specific support services that improve student retention and success, advancing the health and wellbeing, academic achievement, and economic prosperity of marginalized students. The commercial potential is significant, with the mentoring software market projected to reach $1.3 billion by 2027. The platform's unique integration of data-driven insights with affordably scaled peer mentoring creates a competitive advantage in this growing market. The business model focuses initially on higher education institutions, with potential expansion into nonprofit, government, and professional development sectors. This product enhancement will offer unique features that address growing demands for personalized, evidence-based support. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will develop and validate an innovative integration of large language models with retrieval-augmented generation technology to enhance peer mentoring effectiveness. The research addresses technical challenges in secure data integration, model fine-tuning, and scalable system architecture. The project will implement advanced encryption methods and differential privacy techniques to protect sensitive student information while enabling real-time, personalized support. The system architecture employs a modular, multi-tenant design that allows customization for specific institutional contexts while maintaining response times below 500 milliseconds. The research methodology includes developing secure protocols for data integration, implementing bias detection algorithms, and creating a comprehensive ethical framework for a "trustworthy knowledge-in-the-loop" approach using Retrieval-Augmented Generation technology to ensure accurate and evidence-based responses. Technical objectives include achieving 90% accuracy in contextually relevant responses and 85% user satisfaction ratings. The anticipated results include a fully operational prototype demonstrating secure integration of multiple data sources, personalized recommendation generation, and scalable performance under peak usage conditions This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
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ACROSS AI, INC
SBIR Phase I: Revolutionizing Enterprise Processes with Automated Logical Reasoning Across Unstructured Data
Contact
149 NEW MONTGOMERY ST FL 4
San Francisco, CA 94105--3740
NSF Award
2507879 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
07/01/2025 – 06/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Lindsay Portnoy
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to transform enterprise knowledge work by improving how businesses analyze and act on unstructured data. Many industries such as technology, finance, and healthcare, rely on knowledge workers to extract insights from vast amounts of unstructured information, including documents, emails, and reports. However, existing AI solutions often produce unreliable or inconsistent results, limiting their effectiveness in high-stakes environments. This project introduces a hybrid approach that combines structured algorithmic workflows with advanced AI models, ensuring complex multi-step tasks are completed with high accuracy, transparency, and explainability. Initially targeting enterprise sales, where data-driven insights fuel revenue growth, this innovation will assist in researching customers, uncovering new opportunities, and streamlining deal-making processes. The technology provides a durable competitive advantage by providing enterprise level automations with high reliability and transparency, allowing businesses to trust and integrate AI in their processes. As a key enabler of commercial success, it positions the company as a leader in enterprise AI. By year three, this technology is projected to impact over one million knowledge workers and drive measurable gains in productivity and revenue generation. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to develop a novel AI framework that integrates algorithm design (logical reasoning) with machine learning models to enhance the analysis of unstructured data. Unlike conventional AI approaches that rely solely on large language models (LLMs), this framework structures AI workflows as step-by-step processes, selectively incorporating models like LLMs where appropriate to ensure transparency, consistency, and accuracy. The research will investigate key questions, including: Can a structured, logic driven AI system outperform end-to-end LLM-based methods in precision and recall? How can AI workflows be designed to enhance user trust and explainability in high-stakes decision-making? What interaction models best support knowledge workers in integrating AI-driven insights into their workflows? The system applies domain-specific logic to critical enterprise tasks such as identifying customer pain points and drafting contracts, ensuring more coherent and traceable AI-driven decision-making. The project will evaluate the framework?s effectiveness by measuring its performance against state-of-the-art AI systems in real-world business tasks. By demonstrating improvements in reliability, usability, and user adoption, this research will lay the foundation for scalable AI-driven automation in knowledge-intensive industries. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
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AERIS WATER TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
SBIR Phase I: Water from Air: An Adsorption-Based Atmospheric Water Harvester
Contact
1180 W PEACHTREE ST NW STE 1910
Atlanta, GA 30309--3407
NSF Award
2451639 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,996
Start / end date
03/01/2025 – 02/28/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Rajesh Mehta
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project lies in advancing atmospheric water extraction (AWE) materials and devices for potable water production and humidity management. Access to clean water is dwindling due to climate-induced droughts and growing populations. Currently, about 800 million people lack access to safe water, highlighting the need for complementary technologies like AWE alongside desalination. Addressing water scarcity requires a broad range of solutions, and AWE offers promising potential. AWE technologies also apply to humidity control and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) energy reduction, crucial for rising cooling demands driven by growing populations and increasing temperatures. These technologies can efficiently extract water by more than 80-90% compared to traditional air conditioning. This dual-purpose functionality could make AWE a game-changer for domestic, commercial, and industrial systems, drastically lowering energy input for humidity management. By developing innovative materials and devices, this project aims to alleviate water stress and significantly cut energy consumption in HVAC and humidity control applications. Its impact extends beyond water production, addressing critical global challenges like sustainable cooling and energy efficiency while contributing to water and energy security. This SBIR Phase I project aims to develop a functional atmospheric water extraction (AWE) device by addressing four key objectives: device modeling, adsorbent optimization, alternative adsorbent formulations, and testing various form factors for the adsorbent block. The project will create a heat transfer model using standard heat pipe calculators to optimize radiator fin dimensions, spacing, and heating power, ensuring efficient desorption without requiring a vacuum. The target operating temperature for desorption is 60-100°C. The proposed device is designed to produce or remove at least 1?1.5 gallons of water within 12 hours under ambient conditions, with higher water yields in environments with greater humidity. This capability is made possible by an advanced AWE adsorbent, which exhibits superior water capacity across the full range of ambient humidities. This innovation is crucial as existing adsorptive water harvesting systems fail to deliver cost-effective, energy-efficient water production across the wide humidity spectrum of 10?80% relative humidity. By optimizing materials and device configurations, this project will lay the groundwork for a commercially viable AWE system that addresses global water scarcity challenges while offering significant energy efficiency improvements compared to existing technologies. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
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AFFERENCE INC
SBIR Phase I: Neural Haptics for Next-Generation Wearables
Contact
4190 19TH ST
Boulder, CO 80304--0903
NSF Award
2528295 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
07/15/2025 – 06/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Lindsay Portnoy
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase 1 project is to propel novel haptic technology towards commercial use in the spatial computing industry. Tens of millions of Americans use head worn devices but are not as widely adopted as mobile computing devices like cell phones due to poor user experience from a lack of touch. Neural haptics are a novel technique to create the sense of touch using wearables like rings and watches. The Smart Watch and Smart Ring market segments encompass more than $30 billion dollars. Neural haptics leverage decades of research on neural interfaces and how to stimulate the nervous system to trick the brain into feeling things that aren?t there. This background and patent portfolio produces a durable competitive advantage. The business model entails the sale of a custom chipset and software licensing. The Smart Ring market will be reached first followed by the Smart Watch market. The potential broad impact by year three of production of Neural Haptics will widespread adoption of Neural Haptics consumer electronics and therefore lower power, more informative, and more seamless interactions in spatial computing environments. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase 1 project promotes novel neuroscience techniques like peripheral nerve stimulation to create artificial sensations. Neural haptics uses well-established techniques for neuromodulation from the fields of rehabilitation and neuroscience but deploys those techniques into consumer electronics like smart rings and watches. Neural Haptics provide numerous advantages to traditional mechanical actuators (e.g., vibration from a cell phone) including five times lower power, no moving parts, and best in class latencies. However, Neural Haptics currently have the technical hurdle of relying on high voltages (200V) to create artificial neural activity due to high skin impedances. The goals of the proposed research efforts are focused on studying the way neural haptic design elements can reduce the skin impedance and thereby reduce voltage requirements of the neural haptic technology. The aims of the proposed research include: 1) Characterization of neurostimulation performance across contact shape, contact materials, and skin pressure, 2) Improved neurostimulation performance through optimal neural haptic ring design The anticipated technical results include validation of an optimal neural haptic ring design including contact shape, materials, and skin pressure specifications. These results will enable further miniaturization including the design of a custom application specific integrated chip (ASIC). This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
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AI-NEOTECH LLC
STTR Phase I: Patient-Specific System for Early Detection and Identification of Epileptic Seizures
Contact
11141 MINNEAPOLIS DR
Hollywood, FL 33026--4941
NSF Award
2322346 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$275,000
Start / end date
10/01/2023 – 09/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Erik Pierstorff
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project is to provide epileptic patients, and their caregivers a smart system that can predict seizures before they occur. There are more than 3 million adults and 1 million children in the US, and more than 50 million people worldwide, suffering from epilepsy. Repeated and unpredictable seizures significantly affect the quality of life of people suffering from epilepsy. These seizures remain the leading cause of economic, emotional, and physical injuries for people with epilepsy and their caregivers. Design, development, and integration of artificial intelligence (AI) models with instruments that detect abnormalities in brain waves like electroencephalogram (EEG) for real-time seizure prediction may bring improvements for these patients and their caregivers. This technology is poised to capture a portion of the rapidly growing $6 billion US market of AI healthcare solutions.
This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project supports the development of a novel consumer product that works with caregivers to proactively mitigate the risk of seizure events in people with epilepsy. Current commercial solutions are mostly reactive, and support is available only after a seizure event. The company will fill this gap by developing, testing, integrating, and evaluating machine learning (ML) models - applied to EEG data - for epileptic seizure prediction. The scientific approach will leverage inherently heterogenous and complex edge technologies. Data connectivity with third party vendor EEG caps, microcontrollers, smart phones, and cloud services rely on many different operational technologies and communication standards. This research will overcome these challenges with hardware and software solutions that will integrate these services within an edge device to enable application portability and simplify deployment. Challenges such as inference on limited computational power and energy devices, and its effects on the accuracy/sensitivity of the predictions will be solved using robust cross-validation techniques, extensive testing, and benchmarking using community standards. The technical product of this research will advance caregiver knowledge and increase understanding of epileptic seizures as well as increase patient well-being.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria. -
ALCHEMY COATINGS INC
STTR Phase I: Aluminum Oxide Coatings as Fluorine-Free Hydrophobic Barriers for Paper
Contact
29754 WILLOW CREEK RD APT 235
Eugene, OR 97402--8902
NSF Award
2507286 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,950
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 09/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Vincent Lee
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project focuses on developing an alternative coating to per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances. These chemicals feature strong carbon-fluorine bonds that are extremely persistent in the environment and have recently been shown to be hazardous to human health. These per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds are widely used in industrial and personal use applications, including as water-proof coatings for paper, clothing, and packaging materials, as surfactants, and as flame-retardant and stain-repellent coatings, among many other applications. This project will provide a replacement coating that is inexpensive, non-hazardous, and can be applied to a wide range of surfaces, such as for textiles or paper products, which are the project?s initial market targets. The technological innovation is based on a fluorine-free, earth-abundant mineral coating, using a class of material that is novel for these types of applications. This project will lead to barrier coatings that are durable, highly water and oil repellent, and resistant to scratching and corrosion. The final product will serve as a drop-in replacement substitute for these coatings. Phase 1 will focus on providing necessary data on the durability and industrial feasibility of the technology. This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project focuses on generating a viable chemical coating that can replace current fluorinated coatings. These fluorinated chemicals are used on a wide array of surfaces as anti-corrosion, anti-oxidation, waterproof, or other types of barrier coatings. This project?s proprietary mineral coatings are fluorine-free and prepared from earth-abundant, benign materials. This approach enables coating at ambient temperatures and pressures using a process that is not precedented for use on ?soft? substrates like cotton or paper. This research will start by depositing films using solution processible techniques like spray or dip coating. These films will be investigated for their hydrophobicity by static goniometry and for their homogeneity and chemical compositions using surface analytical techniques such as scanning electron microscopy and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. These films will be investigated for their durability when exposed to environmental factors such as friction or washing, and the precursor?s compatibility with common additives found in competitive coatings will also be studied. It is expected that this project will result in a coating chemical and procedure that can generate functional, durable barrier films on any target substrate as a drop-in replacement for current per- and poly-fluoroalkyl containing products. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
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ALTERNATIVE ENERGY MATERIALS, LLC
SBIR Phase I: Dry Powder Pressing Additive Manufacturing (DPP-AM)
Contact
730 SW STALEY DR
Pullman, WA 99163--2077
NSF Award
2419486 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$274,915
Start / end date
12/01/2024 – 11/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Vincent Lee
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will be the development of a new additive manufacturing technique for ceramic materials. Technical ceramics provide unmatched performance in harsh environment applications found throughout the energy, defense, healthcare, and IT sectors. Applications requiring miniaturization or process intensification would benefit from a novel additive ceramic manufacturing that can form internal microfeatures and combine different materials into functional layers for chemical reactions, imaging, or energy transfer. This proposal will advance from proof-of-concept to a functional prototype of a dry powder pressing additive manufacturing printer. This work will improve our understanding of the fluidization and aerosolization of ultrafine and dense nanopwders that are prone to compaction and static adhesion. The high-resolution from dry powder pressing additive manufacturing will lower monolith fabrication cost an order of magnitude to accelerate the adoption of emerging ceramic technologies. No existing ceramic production technology can combine multiple functional materials in the same layer or produce internal flow features at the proposed sub-mm scale. The technology will be leased or sold to advanced ceramic fabricators to enable further technology developments in the ceramics industry. The manufacturing will first be applied to the energy market, but has the potential to impact defense and health imaging technologies as well.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project seeks to scale the throughput capacity of a dry-powder pressing additive manufacturing technique that can fabricate multifunctional ceramic monoliths with internal flow structures. Five key capabilities distinguish dry-powder pressing additive manufacturing from existing ceramic additive manufacturing methods: i) applicability to materials not amenable to laser sintering, ii) co-deposition of multiple materials with high lateral precision, iii) densification of materials typically incapable of pressureless sintering to full density, iv) a quality control step can reject a layer prior to adhering to prior layers, and v) co-deposition of fugitive material can form internal gas routing that eliminates costly and complex ceramic sealing technology in harsh environment applications. The proposed work will advance the technology by creating a high-throughput printing system to deposit patterned 50 cm2 layers in a single pass, representing a 100x throughput increase. Automation will also address two precision targets; layer deposition below 7.5mg/cm2 and lateral resolution less than 0.5mm. The scope of work will advance the science of dry powder deposition and transfer to refine the processing capability for thinner layers and finer microfeatures while simultaneously engineering a high throughput device representative of pilot-scale manufacturing.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria. -
AMERICAN PRIME SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS LLC
STTR Phase I: Commercial applications of CropMAP (Monitoring, Analysis, and Prediction) for oil seed fields
Contact
201 DAVID L BOREN BLVD RM 124A
Norman, OK 73072--7337
NSF Award
2423424 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$275,000
Start / end date
10/01/2024 – 09/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Elizabeth Mirowski
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project involves the development and evaluation of the Crop Ecosystem Monitoring, Analysis, and Prediction (CropMAP) tool. This project addresses the critical need to support food security profitability by optimizing resource management and decision-making through advanced monitoring and predictive analytics in crop production. The significance of this research lies in its potential to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability across the United States, thereby improving the lives of farmers by increasing yield outputs and reducing losses. Furthermore, the successful commercialization of CropMAP could generate substantial economic benefits, including increased tax revenues and job creation in the agricultural sector. By aligning with NSF?s mission to advance the progress of science, this project contributes to the scientific understanding of agricultural ecosystems and impacts related fields such as environmental science and economics.
This project represents a significant technical innovation in the field of precision agriculture through the development of the CropMAP tool, a high-risk effort with substantial potential for high impact. CropMAP integrates novel algorithms and models with real-time data feeds for enhanced monitoring and predictive analytics of crop conditions. The primary innovation involves the application of machine learning techniques to satellite images and climate data to predict crop yields, water usage, and soil health more accurately than current methods allow and the use of artificial intelligence to make actionable insights timely available to technical and non-technical users. The goals of this project are to validate these models' effectiveness in real-world settings and to establish a scalable framework for its application across various agricultural contexts. The project will employ rigorous methodological approaches, including the use of time-series image analytics and data-driven diagnostic models, to achieve these objectives. Through its focus on innovation and scalability, the project aims to set a new standard in agricultural practices, ultimately facilitating better resource management and sustainability.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria. -
ANVIL DIAGNOSTICS INC.
SBIR Phase I: Ultra-Sensitive and Multiplexed Pathogen Profiling for Neonatal Sepsis Detection
Contact
750 MAIN ST
Cambridge, MA 02139--3544
NSF Award
2451306 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$298,646
Start / end date
01/15/2025 – 09/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Henry Ahn
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project lies in its potential to transform sepsis diagnostics and patient care, particularly for vulnerable newborns. Globally, sepsis is responsible for up to a third of neonatal deaths, with an increased burden in low- and middle- income countries. Current diagnostic methods rely heavily on blood cultures, which require substantial blood volumes, take 24+ hours to yield results, and frequently produce false negatives. The proposed DNA-based technology seeks to comprehensively identify and quantify pathogens in a few hours from small volumes of blood, critical capabilities for low-birthweight and immunocompromised newborns. The clinical impacts could include more targeted antibiotic therapy and guided therapy durations that could translate to thousands of lives saved annually, shortened hospital stays, and reduced readmission rates. This technology's compatibility with existing digital PCR hardware enables a very capital-efficient development path and reduces barriers to adoption in hospitals given the expanding use of digital PCR in clinical diagnostic laboratories. Enabling routine pathogen testing for sepsis in any community hospital represents a major opportunity. The core proposed technologies can build on a growing installed base of compatible hardware, adding new tests in other diverse applications. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to develop a rapid diagnostic test for sepsis-causing pathogens in plasma samples with available digital PCR hardware that can scale to cover all critical pathogens. Pathogen identification tests must be very sensitive, fast, and able to detect a wide range of organisms. Specific innovations are proposed to make the test suitable for neonates with less than 1 mL of blood per test. Currently, digital PCR-based technologies achieve state-of-the-art sensitivity with results in a few hours but are limited in their panel breadth, typically detecting no more than a dozen analytes simultaneously. DNA sequencing can achieve comprehensive detection but is complex, costly for on-demand use, and much slower than PCR. The proposed technology combines advanced primer design with statistical algorithms to achieve critical features by targeting microbial cell-free DNA in plasma. The research objectives include developing an initial 17-target panel for common sepsis-causing pathogens and achieving analytical sensitivity below 5 genome copies/mL with turnaround time under 4 hours. Anticipated results include demonstration of clinically relevant analytical sensitivity and high analytical specificity in plasma samples. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
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APEXQUANTUM, INC.
SBIR Phase I: Optimizing Quantum Circuit Compiler for Quantum Software and Hardware Developers
Contact
5024 DORSEY HALL DR STE 203F
Ellicott City, MD 21042--7869
NSF Award
2527951 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,999
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 06/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Peter Atherton
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is as follows. Quantum computers as an enabling technology are expected to one day reshape the entire industry landscape, ranging from investment portfolio management and drug discovery to solar energy. In this project the company is proposing to develop an optimizing compiler for quantum computers that will help turn this vision into reality by expanding the quantum computer user base and supporting quantum code contributors for important, real-world applications. The proposed compiler technology will significantly lower the barrier to entry, simplifying the use of quantum computers and maximizing their performance across a range of diverse applications. By optimizing quantum code for specific quantum computing hardware, the compiler will enable faster and more accurate quantum computation. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project, if successful, will deliver a software toolchain to map quantum algorithms into leading-edge NISQ (Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum) computing hardware and upcoming fault-tolerant hardware with full technology awareness and effective optimizations. Specifically, quantum computational latency reductions by one or two orders of magnitude for quantum computers with 10 to 10,000 qubits with physical gate infidelity of 0.01 to 0.000001 are targeted. Techniques for verification, testing, and performance evaluation of quantum circuits, and also for debugging failed tests, will be developed as part of the project. Conclusive success metrics will be applied to several types of benchmarks and mappings onto various quantum computers. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
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ARINNA, INC
SBIR Phase I: Power-dense flexible solar panels for high-value markets
Contact
925 WAVERLEY ST APT 306
Palo Alto, CA 94301--2743
NSF Award
2451805 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
06/01/2025 – 05/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Mara Schindelholz
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is the development of a novel power-dense, flexible solar panel technology designed to meet the urgent energy demands of rapidly growing sectors such as aerospace, electric vehicles, the Internet of Things (IoT), and buildings. These high-specific-power solar panels leverage advanced transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) materials, enabling power-per-weight performance up to 10 times higher than current alternatives. The innovation has the potential to unlock transformative applications, from extending the range, lifetime, and capabilities of drones and satellites to powering trillions of smart IoT devices and electrifying vehicles and building surfaces. The immediate target market, including satellites and unmanned aerial vehicles, is estimated at approximately $20 billion, with broader market potential exceeding $140 billion by 2027. The project supports domestic energy independence, job creation, economic growth, and educational advancement in the energy and semiconductor sectors. The intellectual merit of this project lies in advancing a high-efficiency, scalable solar cell technology based on TMDs such as molybdenum disulfide (MoS?), tungsten disulfide (WS?), and tungsten diselenide (WSe?). These materials possess optimal band gaps, high optical absorption, and environmental durability ideal for thin, flexible photovoltaics. While prior research has demonstrated promising individual performance metrics such as high open-circuit voltages and current densities, these have yet to be integrated into a single scalable design. This project aims to synthesize low-defect TMD films in a scalable manner and incorporate them into an optimal solar cell design that achieves power conversion efficiency and specific power high enough to enable pilot testing with potential customers. Technical challenges such as interface engineering and material incompatibilities will be systematically addressed through multi-pathway risk mitigation. The expected outcomes will establish the foundational design and manufacturing pathways for commercial-scale high-specific-power TMD photovoltaics. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
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ARROWHEAD BIO, INC.
STTR Phase I: Transgenic and Cisgenic Targeted Insertion in Corn
Contact
975 N WARSON RD
Saint Louis, MO 63132--2918
NSF Award
2506069 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
06/01/2025 – 05/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Erik Pierstorff
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project is the reduced cost and time required to generate improved corn plants for agricultural use. When corn plants are challenged in an agricultural field (from a new pest for example), it currently takes 16 years and $115M to generate improved lines that meet the challenge. This project aims to reduce this time and cost to quickly generate improved corn lines that meet new agricultural challenges. Commercial potential exists to speed the product pipeline through the integration of the technology in this proposal into existing product development pipelines, as well as establishing an independent rapid production pipeline. Corn is the most profitable row crop in the United States and therefore represents the greatest commercial potential. This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project aims to integrate cutting-edge genome engineering technology into the corn improvement pipeline. Based on both published and proprietary data, this technology was previously established in a model plant and then tested in soybean and other crops. This project specially aims to translate this technology into corn, demonstrating a proof-of-principle and refining the technology?s use in a corn product development pipeline. This proposal will generate the biological machinery needed for custom genome engineering in corn, transform corn plants, and analyze the resulting plants. The anticipated technical result is rapid and targeted genome engineering in corn plants. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
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ARTYC PBC
STTR Phase I: A Novel Magnetocaloric Cooling System for the Cold Chain
Contact
48890 MILMONT DR STE 106D
Fremont, CA 94538--7362
NSF Award
2507794 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
06/01/2025 – 05/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Rajesh Mehta
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project is the development of a more efficient and environmentally friendly cooling system for cold chain logistics. Small parcel shipments of temperature-sensitive goods, such as food, pharmaceuticals, and biologics, currently rely on passive cooling methods, including dry ice, pre-conditioned gel packs, and expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam insulation. These materials are energy-intensive to produce, generate excessive waste, and offer limited temperature control, leading to spoilage and inefficiencies. This project seeks to replace these disposable packaging solutions with a reusable, refrigerant-free, magnetocaloric cooling shipper that provides precise and reliable temperature control without the environmental and safety risks of conventional methods. By enabling lightweight, portable cooling solutions, this technology has the potential to improve supply chain efficiency, reduce food and medical waste, and create a more sustainable approach to temperature-controlled transport. If successful, this innovation could generate high-value manufacturing and engineering jobs while enhancing U.S. leadership in advanced cooling technologies. This project focuses on the development of a high-power-density cooling system that utilizes the magnetocaloric effect, a phenomenon where certain materials heat up or cool down in response to a changing magnetic field. The research aims to overcome long-standing commercialization barriers by developing a compact, energy-efficient cooling system specifically designed for mobile applications. Key technical challenges include designing an advanced active magnetic cooling device that balances high thermal performance with low fluid resistance, integrating a layered magnetic material system to achieve a broad temperature span, and optimizing system controls to maximize efficiency in real-world shipping environments. This project will use experimental testing and computational modeling to refine magnet and regenerator designs, ensuring the system can reliably maintain refrigerated (5°C) and frozen (-20°C) conditions under varying ambient temperatures. By addressing these challenges, this research will lay the foundation for a commercially viable magnetocaloric cooling solution, vastly transforming the way temperature-sensitive goods are transported. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
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ATLANTIC FISH CO LLC
SBIR Phase I: Development of Commercially Viable Cell Lines for Cultivated Fish via Bioengineering
Contact
3740 W ST NW
Washington, DC 20007--1786
NSF Award
2451498 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 09/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Erik Pierstorff
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is a novel means of producing seafood products. The method provides an alternative meat production to wild-caught fisheries of which 90% are at or exceed capacity, with many premium species lacking viable aquaculture models. This novel method of cellular seafood agriculture produces fish meat by growing only the required product such as muscle and fat, using scalable energy sources (e.g. glucose made from corn). The process involves expanding cells in a bioreactor and differentiation, followed by assembly, to produce seafood with no mercury, antibiotics, or microplastics. The initiative aims to supplement domestic seafood production representing one the most widely eaten animal proteins in the world accounting for 17% of all animal protein consumption, while reducing America?s reliance on imports across the $28B domestic seafood market of which 70-85% is imported. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to develop cellular agriculture in a scalable manner to meet cost and quality requirements. The proposed activities will improve the growth rate (cells per time) and maximum density (cells per volume) of specific cell lines in bioreactors. The overall goal is to promote the rapid and efficient proliferation of muscle-forming fish cell lines in suspension culture. This will be accomplished through (Objective 1) transcriptomics and pathway enrichment analysis to identify key genetic targets, (Objective 2), food-safe bioengineering techniques to confirm and modify the expression of these targets and finally (Objective 3) demonstrate efficacy in a pilot production system. This aims to achieve faster growth and higher density than current approaches (allowing desirable traits to spontaneously arise), to greatly improve the unit economics of cellular agriculture. The results from this project will serve as the foundation for future larger efforts to engineer cell lines optimizing growth rate, taste and preparation characteristics at cost and scale for cultivated fish. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
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ATOMOS 3D LLC
SBIR Phase I: Developing Energy-Efficient 3D Memory Using Advanced Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide Transistors for Next-Generation AI Chips
Contact
710 VETERANS MEMORIAL PKWY W APT 34
Lafayette, IN 47909--6962
NSF Award
2528261 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,994
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 09/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Directors
Elizabeth Mirowski
Samir Iqbal
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project lies in addressing the urgent need for energy-efficient hardware to support the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI). As AI applications expand to devices like smartphones, wearables, and autonomous systems, the energy inefficiency of current hardware limits deployment. This project introduces a new type of ultra-dense memory, called 3D Gain-Cell Random Access Memory (GCRAM), built using a novel vertical transistor structure. By enabling computing and memory functions in the same location, this technology reduces energy losses and supports real-time, low-power AI processing. The innovation is projected to significantly exceed the energy efficiency of existing processors. This advancement may enable on-device AI that will improve privacy, responsiveness, and sustainability by reducing reliance on cloud infrastructure. The proposed technology has a clear commercial path through licensing to chip designers and foundries. By year three of production, the company aims to reach AI markets in mobile devices and robotics. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project focuses on developing a new three-transistor (3T) memory cell architecture using vertical indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) transistors fabricated via atomic layer deposition. This Back End of Line (BEOL)-compatible process enables high-density monolithic 3D integration, addressing the memory bottleneck in edge AI chips. The project will demonstrate the feasibility of this novel structure through the fabrication of a stacked IGZO vertical transistor, benchmarking key performance metrics such as mobility, threshold voltage, and subthreshold slope. A device model using simulations will be developed and validated against experimental measurements. A machine learning framework will be implemented to predict device performance based on process and material parameters and optimize fabrication conditions. This physics-informed AI model will identify process-awareness failure modes and suggest optimization strategies, speeding up design iterations and lowering development costs. The proposed work lays the foundation for Phase II efforts in reliability modeling, multi-layer device scaling, and integration with commercial AI systems. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
AUXILIUM HEALTH INC
SBIR Phase I: An Aerogel Wound Dressing Material Platform with Mechanical Fluid Management, Biofilm Prevention, and pH based Infection Detection Properties
Contact
10000 CEDAR AVENUE SUITE GCIC3-113
Cleveland, OH 44195--1114
NSF Award
2421214 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$275,000
Start / end date
03/01/2025 – 02/28/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Ed Chinchoy
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is a novel wound dressing material for improving chronic wound care by mitigating several biological and microbial factors that affect healing. Chronic wounds affect near 50 million patients in developed countries often leading to persistent infections, prolonged inflammation, and increased healthcare costs. Approximately 80% of infections are associated with bacterial biofilms that delay healing and require frequent interventions. Current solutions often rely on reactive infection management and frequent dressing changes. This project proposes a novel wound dressing with optimal porosity to enable oxygen exchange while creating a pathogen barrier, integrated with real-time detection of infection indicated by a rapid color change. The platform offers a potential solution for improving the management of acute wounds, chronic wounds, surgical sites, and burn, with a total estimated $200M annual market. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project seeks to develop and validate an aerogel-based biomaterial combining fluid management, biofilm prevention, and rapid infection detection properties into a single platform. The innovation relies on the integration of a biopolymer aerogel material with a multi-layer design. The primary layer aims to promote tissue regeneration while blocking microbial infiltration, and the secondary layer aims to absorb wound fluid while providing a visual indicator of infection. The proposed technology development will optimize the aerogel?s pore structure for effective biofilm prevention, refine the infection-sensing mechanism for reliable detection in under a minute, and ensure the mechanical durability needed for clinical use. If successful this project will demonstrate preclinical safety and effectiveness, with scalable pilot production methods for a prototype wound dressing material, that reduces infection-related complications, minimizes dressing changes, and improve healing outcomes. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
AVANT GENOMICS, LLC
SBIR Phase I: Streamlining Liquid Biopsy Sample Preparation Through Automated Bisulfite Conversion
Contact
1410 GLENSIDE GRN
Charlottesville, VA 22901--0656
NSF Award
2528087 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 09/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Henry Ahn
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is the development of an automated system that dramatically improves the preparation of blood-based cancer tests, known as liquid biopsies. Liquid biopsy has the potential to detect cancer earlier and for therapeutic monitoring and minimal residual disease testing by analyzing circulating tumor DNA shed by tumors into the bloodstream. However, the current preparation process is lengthy, expensive, and requires highly-skilled labor, limiting its widespread use. This project seeks to overcome these limitations by developing a miniaturized, cost-effective instrument that automates the most time-consuming and error-prone step in the workflow. By reducing labor costs, plastic waste, and sample handling errors, this innovation can make cancer screening faster, more cost-effective, and more accessible, especially for low- and mid-throughput clinics and labs. If successful, this technology will help bring non-invasive cancer testing to more patients, supporting faster diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring, better treatment decisions, and improved health outcomes, while reducing the economic burden of cancer care. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to develop a microfluidic-based system that automates bisulfite conversion, a critical process in preparing tumor DNA for epigenetic analysis. Traditional methods require over 40 manual steps and expose DNA to harsh conditions for extended periods, resulting in significant sample loss and variability. This project will address these limitations by creating a disposable cartridge that enables efficient chemical processing of DNA in a small-volume format, coupled with a benchtop instrument that precisely controls fluid movement and processing. The research will focus on optimizing reaction conditions to maintain high DNA recovery and conversion efficiency while reducing processing time. The anticipated outcome is a functional prototype capable of producing high-quality results comparable to gold-standard manual protocols, but with minimal human intervention. This technical advance will remove a major bottleneck in cancer diagnostics and lay the groundwork for fully automated sample preparation systems in molecular testing. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
Afsartech Inc.
STTR Phase I: Innovative Expandable Dental Sealer
Contact
153 ORIENT WAY
Rutherford, NJ 07070--2115
NSF Award
2321456 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$274,867
Start / end date
10/01/2023 – 09/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Henry Ahn
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project is in developing a novel dental sealer technology for root canal treatments for endodontists and general dentists. The complex and inaccessible nature of the root canal system causes 65% of root canal fillings to fail. Expandable dental sealers used during root canal treatments provide an effective solution by filling the gaps in the canal space by preventing leakage, enabling clinicians to perform the procedure with greater ease and accuracy. This project?s commercial impact includes an addressable market of 22.3 million root canal treatments annually. The proposed innovation supports enhanced patient safety, reduced time at the dentists'/endodontists' office and decreased costs for patients, reduced risk of infection and retreatment, and advanced capabilities of clinicians through training.
This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project will characterize the expansion and other properties of the patented elastomeric polyurethane sealer (EPS). The project will begin by generating a functionalized and optimized formula of the EPS using additive ingredients. The team will perform in vitro testing to evaluate the material?s physicochemical properties. Finally, the study will establish the in vivo histocompatibility of EPS using animal models and check its cytotoxicity, a key hurdle that must be overcome before clinical evaluation and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) registration. These studies will facilitate the development of an entirely new type of dental sealer.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.Amplified Sciences, LLC
SBIR Phase I: Development of a SERS-based diagnostic platform for multiplexing ubiquitous inflammatory markers in cancer.
Contact
1281 WIN HENTSCHEL BLVD
West Lafayette, IN 47906--4331
NSF Award
2348543 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$274,750
Start / end date
03/15/2024 – 10/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Henry Ahn
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project stems from the fact that cancer causes approximately 10 million deaths yearly worldwide, and the economic burden on cancer patients in the United States alone is estimated to be around $21 billion/yr, excluding lost productivity. Over 600,000 people die from cancer in the United States each year, and cancer cases among the younger population are on the rise. Currently, only a handful of cancers, such as breast, colon, cervical, and prostate, have recommended early screening, and sadly, 70% of cancer deaths are caused by cancers without recommended screening. Early detection, coupled with accurate monitoring and surgery in appropriate cases, appears to be the ideal strategy to improve outcomes and quality of life and reduce healthcare costs. The availability of novel diagnostic technology for minimally invasive biomarker analysis using biofluids to accurately predict malignancy potential would greatly benefit patients and clinicians in the early diagnosis and management of deadly cancers. Development of the technology proposed herein would have a broad impact on the cancer diagnostic space in terms of accurate early detection and diagnosis, quality of life, mortality, and healthcare burden.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to develop multi-marker diagnostic assays to bridge a critical gap from biomarker discovery to diagnostic assay translation. This project leverages principles from synthetic chemistry, enzymology, spectroscopy, and engineering, leading to a novel biosensing platform that couples Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) and a protease turnover assay to provide highly accurate methods for biomarker detection. This project will lead to developing next-generation sensors to meet the unique requirements for a multi-molecular protease activity assay from highly viscous, proteinaceous clinical samples and deliver a stackable assay workflow readily accessible to clinical laboratory staff with rapid turnaround. The technological hurdles that will be addressed during Phase I will include: 1) synthetic development of ultrasensitive SERS-active dyes and their conjugates with substrates of proteases associated with high-grade dysplasia in pancreatic cysts and other cancers, and 2) development and optimization of a multiplexed multi-protease turnover assay employing the aforementioned substrates using an automated-SERS detection platform with high-throughput capability for eventual commercialization in a CLIA lab setting. This technology has the potential to be transformative due to its multiplexing capability, high sensitivity and selectivity, cost-effectiveness, and reliable performance in complex biological fluids.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.Atomnaut Inc.
SBIR Phase I: In situ vitrification to unlock routine atomic-scale imaging of biomolecule structure and chemistry in three dimensions
Contact
399 FREMONT ST UNIT 3502
San Francisco, CA 94105--2357
NSF Award
2451653 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
06/01/2025 – 05/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Ben Schrag
Errata
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Abstract
This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project investigates feasibility of a new microscope sample vessel technology to provide the world?s first routine capability for in situ vitrification and imaging (vitrification on the microscope stage). Ex situ vitrification, such as plunge freezing, is a well-known bottleneck to the speed and quality of vitrified sample studies in cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), cryo-X-ray tomography, and atom probe tomography (APT). Compounding the problem, ex situ vitrification equipment is inaccessible to most researchers due to high costs ranging from tens of thousands to millions of dollars. The new sample vessel will be formed in a confined and ready-to-image geometry, avoiding air-water interface damage and eliminating the need for blotting, milling, and cutting. Successful development will make ex situ vitrification obsolete for many applications, enabling a 100-fold reduction in costs and a 20-fold improvement in time-to-data. Combined with APT, the new sample vessel will provide the first routine capability for imaging the structure and chemistry of biomolecules in 3D. A breakthrough that can be used streamline computer-aided drug design (CADD) by providing data that can reduce pharmaceutical development costs by up to half, a savings of up to $1 billion per drug. The intellectual merit of this project resides in the innovative methods and transformative potential of proving a new microscope sample vessel technology that can physically and chemically suppress ice nucleation in order to provide routine in situ vitrification and imaging. Ex situ vitrification, such as plunge freezing, has had major scientific impact, as recognized with the 2017 Nobel Prize. Successful in situ vitrification development will make ex situ vitrification obsolete for many applications. In previous work, combining the new sample vessel with APT permitted collecting world-first three-dimensional atom maps of mononucleosomes. Phosphorous atoms in the backbone of DNA were used to measure the double-helix structure with an average resolution of 3.8 Ångstroms. Broader application of new sample vessel faces two challenges: (1) low filling success, for e.g., 20 days to image mononucleosomes, and (2) an inability to achieve 1.5 Ångstrom resolution, a key target for CADD. This project aims to: (1) achieve 1 day time-to-data by employing front filling, graphene sealing, and functionalizing a superhydrophilic lumen; and (2) attain 1.5 Ångstrom resolution using a laser matching scission energy of the dominant O-H bond. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
BACKSTOP NEURAL, INC
SBIR Phase I: Percutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation Paddle Lead Using Shape Memory Polymer
Contact
17217 WATERVIEW PKWY STE 1.202
Dallas, TX 75252--8004
NSF Award
2451746 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,259
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 06/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Ed Chinchoy
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is a minimally invasive novel spinal cord stimulation (SCS) lead and procedure for use with spinal cord stimulators to treat chronic pain. Chronic back pain is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide affecting over 50 million adults in the US. Implantable SCS systems have been previously demonstrated to mitigate chronic back pain with an estimated $2.1 billion market. The novel approach combines the benefits of the two currently available types of spinal cord leads: cylindrical percutaneous and surgical paddle. Paddle leads offer greater coverage, better energy efficiency, and lower migration risk over cylindrical percutaneous leads but require more invasive surgical procedures to place. This project will develop a flexible multielectrode interface to improve therapeutic coverage and efficiency that enables minimally invasive placement through a needle. If successful, the project will reduce the invasiveness of current lead placement procedures, improve the rate of successful procedures, reduce opioid usage associated with back pain treatment, and reduce the estimated $300 billion in annual healthcare costs associated with chronic back pain in the US. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will develop a novel minimally invasive procedure deploying an implantable Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) lead by utilizing a shape memory polymer (SMP). Current SCS placement procedures require surgical interventions with high rates of chronic morbidity and adverse events. This project develops an 8-channel SMP-based paddle lead that can be molded into a compact configuration for transport and bodily introduction through a tuohy needle, thereby reducing the surgical implications. Once placed, the lead re-expands to provide the benefits of a traditional paddle lead. Finite element computer simulations will determine the best shape to mold the paddle into for transport and successful deployment. Paddle leads will be fabricated using microfabrication processes in accordance with medical device practices, characterized, and tested using benchtop models of the spine. Upon completion the project will demonstrate the feasibility of a novel minimally invasive SCS paddle lead placement procedural system for use with spinal cord stimulators to mitigate chronic back pain. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
BEAMFEED LLC
STTR Phase I: Highly Efficient Photovoltaic Power Converter for Optical Power Beaming
Contact
19 MORRIS AVE
Brooklyn, NY 11205--1095
NSF Award
2451629 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
02/15/2025 – 01/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Directors
Elizabeth Mirowski
Samir Iqbal
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial impacts of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project are in addressing critical bottlenecks in the unmanned aerial vehicle, wireless power transmission, and semiconductor industries. The proposed laser power beaming innovation plays a pivotal role in establishing a power grid for remote provisioning of energy to devices. The proposed work is important for several industry verticals where physical wiring may not be a practical solution for continuous and clean power supply. The electric aircraft market has an immediate need for an alternative charging solution. Battery longevity remains a critical bottleneck in the drone industry, causing disruptions in usage and operational efficiency due to frequent and mandatory recharging procedures. This work targets expansion of battery capabilities through a far-field wireless charging solution which directly addresses the unmet needs of drone manufacturers and operators alike and allows for longer operational periods, greater flexibility in device usage, and increased performance capabilities. This project stands to contribute to the fields of photonics, semiconductor technology, and energy harvesting, providing a novel solution to a longstanding challenge in the electrical aircraft market through the advancement and application of wireless power transfer. The proposed innovation serves to drive innovation in the energy efficiency technologies, which are critical to national energy independence and technological leadership. This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project aims to enhance the overall power conversion efficiency for wireless power transmission systems through the development of a highly efficient photovoltaic power converter. The proposed innovation is built on the concept of a one-way coherent absorber with inverse-designed aperiodic multilayer front- and back-reflectors that enable maximal optical absorption in a thin-film photovoltaic material for broad incident angles. Innovative design configurations and high-quality fabrication through molecular beam epitaxy will be employed to construct the device based on optimized multilayer binary mirrors, thus aiming to reach record-high external quantum efficiency by efficiently trapping monochromatic light for an oblique angular range. The proposed photovoltaic receiver, responsible for absorbing laser fluence and converting it to electrical energy, will realize substantial progress in power conversion efficiency for far-field power transmission. This approach, which integrates advanced optical and electrical characterization methods, promises to deepen the understanding of light-matter interactions at the atomic scale and has the potential to unlock new avenues for high-efficiency, scalable wireless power systems. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
BEESAFE LABS, LLC
SBIR Phase I: Counteracting Social Engineering Attacks with Honeypot LLM Chatbots
Contact
857 MISSOURI ST # 1/4
San Diego, CA 92109--2551
NSF Award
2451800 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 09/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Peter Atherton
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project lies in its potential to significantly reduce the economic and emotional harm caused by social engineering cyber-attacks, which manipulate trust to collectively defraud millions of Americans of tens of billions of dollars each year. The growing asymmetry in the cost of executing such attacks, which are conducted by organized crime and nation-state actors, versus defending against them has created a critical vulnerability that not only threatens individuals, but also technology companies, financial institutions, and the national security of the United States. This project uses defensive artificial intelligence technology to address this imbalance by intercepting, tracing, and aggregating the largest source of information about social engineering attacks as they happen, providing a valuable, real time data stream for the cybersecurity industry, government, and consumer protection initiatives. The successful commercialization of the proposed technology will help shift the cybersecurity paradigm from reactive damage control to proactive prevention, reducing fraud-related expenditures, enhancing consumer confidence, and providing a critical layer of protection against the fastest-growing form of cybercrime. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project addresses the growing threat of social engineering cyber-attacks, which exploit human vulnerabilities rather than technological weaknesses to commit fraud, conduct espionage, and manipulate organizations. Traditional cybersecurity measures struggle to detect and mitigate these attacks due to their conversational and psychological nature, leaving individuals, businesses, and government agencies at risk. The opportunity lies in developing an automated, scalable intelligence-gathering system capable of infiltrating and mapping cybercriminal networks in real time. This project proposes a novel approach using interactive artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot investigators, powered by large language models (LLMs), to engage with social engineering scammers and trace their tactics, techniques, and procedures across platforms. By simulating potential victims, these chatbot investigators will extract structured intelligence from attackers while maintaining consistency over extended time periods. Key research objectives include developing novel natural language processing techniques to create an AI agent that can autonomously engage with social engineering threats and a system capable of deploying chatbot networks across a wide variety of communication surfaces for large-scale threat intelligence. The anticipated results include a robust, scalable system for cyber threat mapping, significantly improving the ability to detect, analyze, and counteract social engineering scams at scale. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
BIOIMAGINIX LLC
SBIR Phase I: Predicting and Diagnosing Alzheimers Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment by MRI Using Variational Autoencoder and Machine Learning Algorithm
Contact
410 MALLARD RUN
Morgantown, WV 26508--7369
NSF Award
2500009 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$303,089
Start / end date
04/15/2025 – 03/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Henry Ahn
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is developing a low-cost diagnostic tool for brain imaging using an artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML)-based algorithm. The goal of the proposal is to develop a technology that can distinguish mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients and Alzheimer's disease (AD) cases using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans. Diagnosing AD at the MCI stage and therapeutic intervention at this stage are the keys to developing effective therapeutics, lifestyle changes, and future planning for patients, caregivers, and stakeholders. Clinical diagnosis of AD is miserably low (~60% specificity and sensitivity). Such an image analysis platform will ensure a sophisticated tool for geriatric primary care and neurologists to detect a predementia patient with a certain chance of being converted to AD shortly. In the broader commercial potential, the user-friendly brain imaging data analysis platform will be transferred to the clinic to assist in the early diagnosis of AD, particularly the MCI stage and prognosis, using MRI images. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to utilize 3-dimensional (3D) Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging (sMRI) brain scans from the patients as input to a specialized artificial intelligence (AI) platform that reduces dimensions and extracts latent features evolved from the affected whole brain by the disease. This AI-Machine Learning (ML) measures changes related to the atrophy of the brain, and relative temporal and region-specific changes correlated with the level of the patient's cognitive function. The algorithm classified Alzheimer?s disease (AD) vs. mild cognitive impairment (MCI) with accuracies of 81.41% and autopsy-confirmed AD vs. MCI at 92.75%. Proof-of-concept has been published in a peer-reviewed journal. There is no definitive diagnostic tool for AD that is cost-effective. In the broader commercial potential of this SBIR Phase I project, Neurologists/Gerontologists will use it for diagnostic and patient stratification. As the anticipated results, the technology would overlay MRI retrieval and provide an additional interpretive and diagnostic aspect to help neurologists provide a more accurate diagnosis of AD, MCI, other non-AD dementia, and normal brain. The resulting product of this study will address the differential diagnosis of AD, a significant unmet need. The algorithm can be extended to diagnosing other neurological diseases, such as autism, depression, traumatic brain injuries, and schizophrenia. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
BIRED IMAGING INC
SBIR Phase I: Efficient Thermal-Spatial Point-Cloud Extraction and Rapid Assessment of Physics-Based AI Algorithm from Infrared Images to Increase Early Detection of Breast Cancer
Contact
44 BRANDYWINE LANE
Rochester, NY 14618--5602
NSF Award
2451205 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
02/01/2025 – 01/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Henry Ahn
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project relates to improving women?s health through early detection of breast cancer. Women above age of 40 years are advised to undergo annual/biannual screening for breast cancer. In the current breast cancer screening paradigm, mammography is supplemented by adjunctive technologies, such as ultrasound imaging, to improve the cancer detection rates. However, shortcomings from imaging dense breast tissue relating to higher patient recall rates for additional screening and lower detection accuracy have impacted confidence in screening. This SBIR Phase I project aims to improve early cancer detection by providing an innovative screening tool that can accurately detect breast cancer, even in dense breasts. The increase in the overall detection rates and improved cancer detection from this screening tool is expected to provide significant short-term and long-term savings in healthcare costs. This technology is cost-effective as it does not require skilled technologists screening patients. It will increase the revenue to hospitals/breast clinics while providing more confidence in cancer screening and saving out of pocket expense to patients. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project addresses a critical societal need for accurate breast cancer detection, especially in women with dense breasts. Malignant tumors generate more heat as compared to healthy tissue due to their increased metabolic activity. It changes the heat signature on the surface of the breast that can be captured by an infrared camera. This concept was utilized to develop a device that can extract the surface temperatures of the using infrared imaging. A physics-based artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm then back-calculates the size and location of a malignant tumor from these surface temperatures. The technology is free from harmful radiations and is contactless. To meet current clinical workflow demands, improvements in imaging and computing times will be pursued through technical research. Further research in data generation from imaging and physics-based AI techniques will be conducted to reduce the imaging and computing times to integrate this technology into clinical settings. An Institutional Review Board approved clinical study will be undertaken to validate the methods developed in this project. The outcome from this project will be a rapid breast cancer screening technology that will meet current clinical demands for early detection of cancer. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
BLUESTEM BIOSCIENCES INC
SBIR Phase I: Improved Proton ATPase for the Anaerobic Biomanufacturing of Organic Acids
Contact
3555 FARNAM STREET, FL 12
Omaha, NE 68131--3311
NSF Award
2342475 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$273,910
Start / end date
10/01/2024 – 09/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Erik Pierstorff
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project includes rural revitalization, greenhouse gas emissions reduction, and domestic supply chain security. To meet the urgent need for more sustainable manufacturing supply chains with reduced greenhouse gas emissions and to remove reliance on foreign supply chains and petroleum, this project will include researching and commercializing the anaerobic bioproduction of commodity chemicals. Acrylates are a primary monomeric component in paints, coatings, plastics, and super-absorbent polymer applications. 3-Hydroxypropionate is a precursor to acrylates and acrylic acid. A bio-based production method must be created to significantly reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of the current petrochemical method for acrylate production. The most prevalent and heavily explored form of biomanufacturing is aerobic fermentation. However, due to their large capital and operating costs, as well as a lack of available aerobic fermentation capacity, aerobic fermentation efforts have largely been unable to scale.
The proposed project seeks to modify yeast microbes to produce chemicals as a byproduct of their growth, just like yeast naturally creates ethanol. Specifically, these chemicals should be made in a way that helps the microbes continue to grow and maintain a balanced energy state. The project is focusing on developing ways to produce commercially valuable organic acids such as 3-hydroxypropionic acid. However, unlike ethanol production, making these acids usually requires using extra energy to push the products out of the microbe cells. A significant goal for the project is to find methods to reduce the amount of energy needed for this process, as efficient energy use is essential for using these methods in settings that don't have oxygen. While previous studies have laid some groundwork, solving the energy-efficient export of these acids is still an unresolved challenge. By utilizing a vast array of documented genetic variations along with advanced computational tools for designing proteins and innovative strategies for selection, a method is proposed to find or develop an enzyme that operates within a cell membrane and can expel more than one particle for each energy molecule it breaks down, a process which is possible within the laws of thermodynamics.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.BRIGHTLIGHT PHOTONICS, INC
STTR Phase I: Wafer-scale, foundry-ready Ti:Sapphire integrated photonic lasers and amplifiers
Contact
4610 RAVENSTHORPE CT
Sugar Land, TX 77479--3520
NSF Award
2432932 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$275,000
Start / end date
02/15/2025 – 10/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Samir Iqbal
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial impacts of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project is in development of compact, portable, and affordable devices for biomedical imaging. The advanced imaging instruments could be used in diverse fields and applications, ranging from neuroscience research to early cancer detection at the point of care. By developing a photonic platform that can produce these devices at scale, this project aims to make these instruments affordable enough to be widely used in physicians? offices, dramatically improving access to critical diagnostic technologies. This project?s technical innovations will be in reducing the cost and complexity of lasers operating in the visible and near-infrared wavelength spectrum, which are vital in emerging fields like quantum computing. Such an advancement in integrated photonics would also result in more compact and cost-efficient atomic optical clocks, which are essential for defense navigation systems. These societally important applications will generate initial revenue to fund the development of low-cost, two-photon microscopes for cancer detection, reducing the timescale necessary for lifesaving decisions while creating a durable competitive advantage within the cancer diagnostics market. This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project aims to transition the Ti:Sapphire-on-insulator (Ti:SaOI) platform from an academic demonstration to a wafer-scale, CMOS-foundry compatible process. This project will enable the scalable production of integrated Ti:Sapphire lasers and amplifiers in the wavelength range of 700 ? 1000 nm, revolutionizing the high-performance visible and near-infrared laser market. Previous proof-of-concept devices had limited performance due to nascent fabrication technology with high propagation losses and were built using chip-scale techniques that could not be scaled for direct commercial viability. This effort lays the foundation for wafer-scale production of this technology, by developing efficient methods of doping sapphire, optimizing plasma etching, and producing a narrow-linewidth laser with the efficiency and power capable of addressing market needs. These advances in the Ti:SaOI platform will then enable the realization of transformative on-chip mode-locked laser technology at scale. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
BULLSEYE BIODEVICES, INC.
STTR Phase I: A Novel Biosensing Device for Rapidly Mapping Volumetric Tumor Margins
Contact
270 10TH ST APT 224
Jersey City, NJ 07302--1333
NSF Award
2451826 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 12/31/2027 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Ed Chinchoy
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project is a novel sensor to better detect tumor margins during surgical interventions for cancer. Cancer remains a substantial global healthcare burden due to high treatment costs, long-term care needs, and reduced quality of life. The limitations of existing sensor technologies include challenges with identifying tumor location or boundaries, often resulting in incomplete tumor removal. Inadequate resections contributes to cancer recurrence, requiring additional surgeries and treatments. This project presents a novel contact based biosensing technology to generate a real-time, three-dimensional map of tumors. By delivering rapid and precise spatial tumor information, the technology aims to enhance tumor removal accuracy, minimize damage to healthy tissue, and reduce cancer recurrence risks. The potential commercial impact is a novel real time diagnostic premium for the $500M robot-assisted interventional cancer market. This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project aims develop an electromechanical probe for use with robotic surgical systems and sensors to sense tumor location and boundaries. The system aims to enable real time measures of tumor-specific biophysical properties including force assssments, deformation measures, and bioimpedance to generate a three-dimensional map to outline tumor location and boundaries. This volumetric information augments or supplements other information to support more precise surgical tumor removal for improving cancer treatment patient outcomes. The proposed activities include the design and development of the prototype system followed by insitu validation. The technical milestones are to 1) optimize the electrode array to enhance tumor margin detection accuracy to within 2mm, 2) correlate measured signals with available datasets to increase the tumor detection depth to at least 30 mm; and 3) optimize the scanning mode to reduce total measurement time for a surgical site. Upon completion, this project aims to demonstrate the initial feasibility of an accurate and rapid volumetric intraoperative tool for assessing tumor margins. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
BURLINGTON BIO, INC.
SBIR Phase I: Whey Protein-Based Microcarrier Platform for Next-Generation Cultivated Meat Production
Contact
50 LAKESIDE AVE
Burlington, VT 05401--5402
NSF Award
2528404 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,997
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 09/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Erik Pierstorff
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project enables commercial-scale cultivated meat production through the first scalable whey protein-based microcarrier platform. This significant technology addresses the fundamental barrier preventing cultivated meat commercialization: the lack of food-grade, scalable cell culture substrates suitable for consumable products that increase production rate. The consumable design eliminates costly cell-harvesting steps required by current technologies, simplifying manufacturing processes. The platform leverages established spray-drying manufacturing infrastructure to enable rapid market entry and regulatory approval pathways. By creating significant commercial opportunities, the microcarrier platform transforms dairy industry waste streams into high-value biotechnology products. Beyond cultivated meat, broader impacts include tissue engineering, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and specialty food ingredients. Success will support national leadership in sustainable food production, and advanced manufacturing sectors. The proposed project addresses the critical need for edible microcarriers in cultivated meat production through development of whey-based materials that leverage underutilized whey protein byproducts. Current food systems are strained by rising demand, creating an urgent need for alternative protein production. Cultivated meat faces commercialization barriers due to expensive, non-edible synthetic microcarriers requiring costly cell separation processes. The opportunities to solve critical problems will be validated via the following research objectives include: (1) enhancing cell proliferation on finely tuned whey-based materials targeting increased cell doubling rates, and (2) designing scalable microcarriers for industrial bioreactors with pilot-scale production capabilities. The approach combines biopolymer conjugation with tunable mechanical properties to create edible substrates that enhance biomass production rates. Key technical risks include potential cell adhesion restraints, cell infiltration limitations, and scale-up challenges affecting cost competitiveness. The overall project goal is to establish new paradigms for protein production while addressing industry pain points. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
CARBIDE RADIO INC
SBIR Phase I: Silicon Carbide Radio Frequency Switches
Contact
6301 LILLIAN WAY
San Jose, CA 95120--1817
NSF Award
2334387 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$275,000
Start / end date
12/01/2023 – 11/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Directors
Elizabeth Mirowski
Samir Iqbal
Errata
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Abstract
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project focuses on wireless communication technolog, specifically the development of a special semiconductor known as silicon carbide (SiC), which has the potential to revolutionize the industry. Unlike traditional semiconductors, SiC can operate at much higher power levels and in harsh environments, making it ideal for wireless communication devices. Currently, the industry predominantly relies on gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductors, which are not only rare but also mostly imported, raising national security concerns. By demonstrating that SiC can match or even surpass the performance of GaN in radio frequency (RF) applications, this project aims to pave the way for a robust SiC RF semiconductor industry within the United States (U.S.). The RF switch market alone is estimated to be worth $2 billion by 2024. A successful SiC RF switch product would not only capture a significant share of this market but also establish the U.S, as a leader in RF semiconductor technology. The project has the potential to create jobs, foster innovation within the domestic semiconductor industry, and enhance national security by reducing reliance on foreign-produced semiconductor materials.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will produce commercially competitive RF switches made from SiC. The RF switches are intended for use in sub-6 GHz cellular infrastructure applications, such as base stations, where high power and ruggedness are difficult to achieve in conventional silicon-based technologies. SiC and, more specifically, SiC metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs), have gained significant market share in the electric vehicle industry. In contrast, SiC MOSFETs are essentially non-existent in the RF industry. The main reasons are poor mobility, resulting in high on-state resistance, and high off-state capacitance. For an RF switch, the product on-state resistance and off-state capacitance are critical specifications, with lower numbers being better. This project develops two semiconductor innovations to reduce these factors while handling high power levels. Research focuses on developing the semiconductor fabrication processes to produce an RF switch integrated circuit product that is competitive with existing high power RF switches, such as those made from GaN having insertion losses less than 0.8 dB up to 6 GHz, isolation of around 20 dB, and handling high peak RF power levels of 50 dBm/100 W.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.CAUSALIT LLC
SBIR Phase I: Two-stage Causal AI modeling for Causally-Aware, Edge-Deployable Healthcare AI
Contact
1020 SW TAYLOR ST STE 550
Portland, OR 97205--2527
NSF Award
2451320 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,929
Start / end date
05/01/2025 – 04/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Alastair Monk
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact /commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is the development of new Artificial Intelligence (AI) models that may be capable of human-like causal understanding and reasoning. These algorithms could be more trustworthy and accurate than existing AI due to the integration of causal understanding, making them useful for applications in healthcare where the reliability of modern AI is problematic. Furthermore, using causal information to construct these Causal AI models will enable the creation of smaller, less computationally intensive versions of AI that can be used on devices such as smartphones and embedded computers in medical devices that can operate without a central server. This will make AI technologies more generally available for use in medical applications, as well as enable AI to be used in applications where a device may need to operate in a stand-alone mode for privacy and/or reliability reasons, such as to avoid transmitting private data to a central AI server or in a field or emergency situation where connecting to a central server is not possible. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is intended to create a methodology in Healthcare for creating and utilizing Artificial Intelligence models that comprehend and utilize formal casual logic (e.g. in the form of Directed Acyclic Graphs and/or Structural Causal Models) to overcome the fundamental limitations of statistically-based AI algorithms such as Large Language Models (LLMs). By using causal information, these AI models will provide reliable, traceable, and human-comprehensible analytics and decision-making that outperforms existing approaches in accuracy and trustworthiness. These improvements may make Casual AI models suitable for use in high-trust healthcare applications. In addition, this project will investigate leveraging causal information to produce smaller edge-deployable causal AI models that can be deployed on devices that need to operate in a stand-alone mode for privacy and/or reliability reasons, such as to avoid transmitting private data to a central AI server or in a field or emergency situation where connecting to a central server is not possible, thus expanding the usability of casual AI to many situations where server-based AI solutions are impractical or impossible to use. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
CELLECHO INC
SBIR Phase I: A Microprocessor for Complex, Multidimensional Cell Reprogramming: Acoustic-Electric Micro-Vortices Technology for Precise, Sequential Delivery of Genetic Molecules
Contact
5270 CALIFORNIA AVE
Irvine, CA 92617--3231
NSF Award
2507783 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
04/15/2025 – 03/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Henry Ahn
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to make cell engineering more accessible, enabling a wider range of users, from students to experienced researchers, to perform complex cellular modifications with ease. Similar to how 3D printing revolutionized manufacturing, this project aims to develop a microchip-based, miniaturized liquid and cell handling technology that makes advanced cell engineering feasible in diverse laboratory settings. By streamlining these processes, the technology has the potential to accelerate discoveries in cell and gene therapy, fields that are rapidly expanding to address conditions such as cancer, autoimmune disorders, and infectious diseases. The ability to perform complex cell engineering with precision is critical for the future of personalized medicine, where custom-engineered cell-based treatments could improve patient outcomes and expand therapeutic options. Beyond healthcare, this innovation will also impact biotechnology, drug development, and regenerative medicine, fostering advancements that benefit both scientific research and clinical applications. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project addresses critical challenges faced by existing technologies in multiplex and complex cell engineering. These challenges include low efficiency in genetically modifying cells, the generation of heterogeneous populations of engineered cells, limited processing throughput, and restricted compatibility with different cell types. The proposed microchip technology leverages sound waves and electric fields to manipulate cells and sequentially deliver customizable combinations of genetic coding molecules. In Phase I, the instrument?s components will be designed and optimized to generate homogeneous populations of engineered cells with high efficiency and throughput. To validate the platform?s versatility, the technology will be tested across a variety of cell types, including cancer cells and primary human T cells, using a broad range of genetic materials such as DNA, messenger RNA (mRNA), and proteins. To further enhance commercial and societal impact, the platform will be used to demonstrate multiplex genome editing of T cells for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell manufacturing, a critical area in cancer immunotherapy research and therapeutic development. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
CICADEA BIOTECH, LLC
STTR Phase I: A Urine Test for Kidney Cancer Detection
Contact
1100 CORPORATE SQUARE DR
Saint Louis, MO 63132--2952
NSF Award
2451001 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
04/15/2025 – 09/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Henry Ahn
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to improve human health by early detection of kidney cancer to increase survival rates for kidney cancer patients. In 2023, kidney cancer impacted 81,800 Americans. Due to a lack of early detection methods for kidney cancer, most kidney tumors are found incidentally during diagnostic imaging for other purposes. The proposed project will be the development of a novel, non-invasive kidney cancer screening test for use prior to imaging, to reduce unnecessary risk from imaging tests, to enable earlier cancer detection, and to serve as a preventive test for high-risk populations (age 50 to 75). A positive diagnosis through the proposed screening test will result in healthcare providers proceeding with confirmatory imaging tests for further analysis. Using this test, malignant tumor cells in the kidneys and urinary tract will be detected in urine specimens, allowing for the initial detection of cancer and monitoring molecular residual disease (MRD). Due to the current lack of an effective biomarker or screening test for kidney cancer, there is significant commercial potential for the proposed test. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I Project seeks to develop a novel screening and surveillance test for kidney cancer from urine. Currently, there are no screening methods for kidney cancer aside from imaging modalities such as a computed tomography (CT) imaging. While non-invasive, use of routine imaging for kidney cancer screening is an impractical and costly approach for the general population. The proposed project will have these objectives: 1) Demonstrate the specificity and accuracy of the biomarker for the detection of renal tumors from kidney cancer patients at early-stage disease without symptoms; 2) Demonstrate the effectiveness and accuracy of the test for detecting residual disease in kidney cancer patients of post-nephrectomy. If the proposed project is successful, the work will pave the way for developing and offering the test as a Laboratory Developed Test (LDT) service through a single validated clinical lab, and later pursuing FDA approval as an in vitro diagnostic device (IVD). This noninvasive test will be easily accepted by a broad range of patients from different cultural backgrounds. As a result, this will help to increase the survival rate of kidney cancer patients who are diagnosed at an early stage without symptoms. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
CIPHERSONIC LABS INC
SBIR Phase I: Bridging Multi-Party Computation and Fully Homomorphic Encryption for Practical Data Security Solutions
Contact
217 THORNDIKE ST APT 209
Cambridge, MA 02141--1505
NSF Award
2528288 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$303,174
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 06/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Peter Atherton
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will result from the development of a novel data security technology that enables organizations to collaboratively analyze data in encrypted form, in turn providing the strongest data privacy and security guarantees. This innovation addresses the growing need for secure data processing in sectors like healthcare, finance, and government, where sensitive information must be protected during computation. The proposed solution combines two powerful cryptographic techniques - Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) and Secure Multi-Party Computation (MPC) - to create a unified protocol that balances computational efficiency with strong privacy guarantees. By reducing the high computational and communication overheads associated with existing methods, the technology makes privacy-preserving computation more accessible and scalable for real-world applications. This advancement has the potential to significantly impact how organizations collaborate and extract insights from sensitive data while complying with data protection regulations. It will also promote public trust in the use of artificial intelligence and data-driven technologies by ensuring that privacy is preserved throughout the computational process. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to develop and evaluate a new cryptographic protocol called McFHE that efficiently combines the strengths of FHE and MPC. The core challenge addressed by this project is the impracticality of current privacy-preserving computation methods when applied to large-scale datasets. The research will focus on designing the McFHE protocol, building foundational operations such as dot products and comparisons, and evaluating its performance in practical applications like privacy-preserving machine learning. A custom software library will be developed to integrate these cryptographic techniques and assess their computational, communication, and memory requirements. The project also includes a real-world use case involving secure training of AI models on medical imaging data. Anticipated results include a working prototype of the McFHE system and performance benchmarks that demonstrate its viability for commercial deployment. This work lays the foundation for broader adoption of privacy-preserving technologies in sensitive and regulated industries. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
CIRCLE CONCRETE TECH, INC.
SBIR Phase I: Plient Engineered Recycled Steel Fibers as Cheaper, Faster, Safer Concrete Reinforcement
Contact
220 W BRANCH RD
Kyle, TX 78640--2649
NSF Award
2451370 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,856
Start / end date
06/01/2025 – 11/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Vincent Lee
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project includes safer construction, reduction in landfilled tires, >10% lower cost, enhanced durability, and up to 2x faster concrete construction. The innovation, an engineered recycled steel fiber product, can replace conventional steel reinforcing bar (rebar) in certain applications, which will enhance understanding of how fiber characteristics impact key engineering properties. Recycled feedstock with inexpensive mechanical processing used to produce the fibers ensures a durable competitive advantage versus rebar, which is produced by costly melting and forming. In addition to lower upfront cost, the recycled steel fiber technology increases concrete toughness and will lower long-term maintenance costs. The business model for commercializing the recycled steel fiber technology involves bulk purchase of recycled feedstock, transport and mechanical processing, and then sale of the processed fibers to local concrete plants or contractors at a markup. Based on extensive customer discovery, the beachhead markets for the technology include concrete flooring and pavements. The technology will be a key factor enabling commercial success of the company, which was formed specifically in response to the technology. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project focuses on eliminating technical barriers inhibiting commercialization of engineered recycled steel fibers for concrete reinforcement. Concrete is traditionally reinforced with steel bars (rebar), which are labor-intensive, costly, and creates dangerous jobsite conditions. The proposed technology addresses each of these limitations, but technical concerns include whether the maximum achievable residual flexural strength of concrete reinforced with the fibers is sufficient for the target applications. Furthermore, the local nature of concrete production requires a robust design tool to determine proper required fiber dosage for a given application based on the concrete composition and properties. This project will elucidate the maximum achievable residual flexural strength and the role of fiber dispersion on limiting the strength and develop a machine-learning tool for determining design fiber dosage. Flexural testing will be performed on a wide range of concrete mixtures and fracture surfaces will be examined for fiber clumping. These test data will be combined with data mining of steel fiber reinforced concrete flexural strength results to train and test the machine-learning based design tool. The results of this project will include understanding of how concrete mixture design and fiber dispersion influences peak residual flexural strength. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
CLEARVIEW OPTICS LLC
STTR Phase I: Beyond Shot Noise - Plasmonic Metasurface Coherent Optical Detection for Room Temperature, Single Photon Detectors
Contact
187 WOODLAND RD
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467--2322
NSF Award
2507603 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,987
Start / end date
06/15/2025 – 11/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Samir Iqbal
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact and commercial potential of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project lie in advancing light detection technology through the development of highly sensitive detectors capable of sensing a single particle of light at room temperature. Unlike existing technologies that require extreme cooling, these detectors offer greater accessibility and efficiency, with applications spanning satellite communication, secure online communication, national security, and healthcare. In satellite-based optical communication, they can enable faster, more secure, and reliable data transmission, while in cybersecurity, they can strengthen quantum encryption to protect against cyber threats. Their use in defense may enhance surveillance and threat detection, and in healthcare, they may improve medical imaging and diagnostics by increasing sensitivity and accuracy. By supporting data privacy, sustainable and energy-efficient solutions, and global security, this technology addresses critical societal needs. With a rapidly growing $1.5 billion market for space communication and an annual growth rate of 16?30%, these detectors have the potential to drive innovation and create widespread economic and technological advancements. This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project will address the need for ultrasensitive optical detectors and ranging systems that provide a critical means for information acquisition and perception of the real world. Coherent optical detection, where a weak sample beam is mixed with a strong reference beam before photoconversion, is currently the most sensitive technique, but is ultimately limited by quantum shot noise resulting from the reference beam. This project aims to demonstrate that fundamentally lower detector noise is possible while retaining coherent mixing and amplification benefits. Using a passive, range-mapping, coherence sensitive plasmonic optical amplifier to mix the weak sample and strong reference beams prior to photoconversion makes the limiting shot noise proportional to the amplified intensity of the weak sample beam instead of the strong reference beam. This fundamental change improves signal-to-noise, and therefore detection sensitivity. This proposal will demonstrate a broadly applicable approach to fundamentally improve optical detection signal-to-noise in coherent detection. It will expand the application envelope for not only ranging detectors, but for all applications where it is possible to access a reference beam. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
CLEAVED DIAGNOSTIC CORPORATION
STTR Phase I: A Novel Iothermal CRISPR-Cas12a Platform for the Detection of Viruses
Contact
1205 SAINT CHARLES AVE APT 303
New Orleans, LA 70130--8401
NSF Award
2528385 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 09/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Henry Ahn
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project is the creation of a reliable, highly sensitive, cost-effective, and easy-to-implement congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) screening that can be run with other newborn screening tests. cCMV affects about 25,000 babies born in the U.S. each year with moderate to severe long-term impairment (hearing loss and delayed neurological development) being diagnosed in almost 25% of infected children with an overall mortality of 0.5%. Efforts to address cCMV are complicated by the fact that 78-92% of cases show no symptoms at birth and despite its prevalence, cCMV is not universally screened largely due to limitations in current diagnostic workflows. Early detection and treatment within the first 72 hours of life greatly reduces lifelong disabilities and healthcare costs by approximately $1.3M per case. By providing a cost-effective, rapid, and scalable diagnostic tool that meets clinical needs, this solution will enable universal newborn screening for cCMV of the 3.6M live births that happen in the U.S. every year. Future extensions will adapt the platform to detect additional pathogens, broadening its public health impact through detecting infectious agents such as SARS-CoV-2, Epstein-Barr Virus, Herpes Simplex Virus type 1, and Human Herpesvirus 6B. This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project aims to develop a one-step molecular diagnostic that employs Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats-associated protein 12a (CRISPR-Cas12a) to identify cCMV directly from newborn dried blood spots. Current CMV Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) based diagnostics suffer from significant limitations, including low sensitivity (~73%), long turnaround times (24?48 hours), and reliance on off-site processing. This project aims to improve CMV diagnostics by offering a cost-effective, highly sensitive (>90%) solution with a rapid turnaround time of 40 minutes-2 hours. This project will streamline the testing workflow through a simplified, single-reaction ?One-Pot? assay compatible with point-of-care settings, achieving results in under 30 minutes at ambient temperature. Additionally, all infrastructure for the assay is already present in clinical settings. Phase I will establish the feasibility of this platform as a universal screening tool for cCMV by addressing two primary areas of technical risk: system performance and workflow suitability. Objectives include to: 1) optimize the diagnostic to improve sensitivity and specificity to commercially sufficient levels and 2) simplify workflow by creating a single-reaction assay. This aims to prove the value of the platform as a whole and support expansion into other infectious agent detection spaces. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
COHERENT PHOTONICS, LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
SBIR Phase I: Metasurface Optical Waveguides for Compact and Scalable Optical Systems
Contact
6 SYCAMORE DR
Plainsboro, NJ 08536--1938
NSF Award
2506374 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
04/01/2025 – 12/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Samir Iqbal
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial impacts of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is in replacing conventional optical systems, like lenses, mirrors, or their combinations, that need to be individually produced, assembled, aligned, and placed within a housing or enclosure. Such optical systems are used in smart phones, consumer wearables devices, biometric identification, medical diagnostics, autonomous navigation, robotics, remote sensing, etc. This project will develop novel optical devices that will overcome the limitations of traditional optical systems with respect to weight, size, scalability, and cost. The system will be composed of tiny features that interact with light on a sub-wavelength scale. Development of the novel optical devices will directly benefit U.S. consumers. The innovation is expected to transform a variety of optical and photonic systems into lighter, more affordable, and more compact solutions that can be produced in large volumes. This Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase I project develops innovative metasurface optical waveguiding devices (MOWGs) that control light on a subwavelength level and will provide significant practical benefits over a variety of conventional optical systems. Conventional optical systems contain assemblies of optical components, such as refractive lenses, mirrors, or their combinations, that need to be individually fabricated, assembled, aligned, and placed within a housing or enclosure. That results in relatively bulky and heavy optical assemblies that have limited potential for cost reduction and scalability. Metasurfaces represent a new class of optical surface that control optical fields on the sub-wavelength level. Novel metasurface topologies that can be applied to optical waveguides will be explored. This SBIR Phase I project is intended to overcome the limitations of traditional optical systems with respect to weight, size, scalability, and cost by employing metasurface assemblies containing waveguiding structures. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
COOLAIMATE, INC
SBIR Phase I: Silicon photonics tunable laser for analyzing energy content of natural gas
Contact
250 W MONTANA ST
Pasadena, CA 91103--1435
NSF Award
2527578 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,913
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 03/31/2027 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Samir Iqbal
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact and commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to develop photonic chips?tiny devices that use light, instead of electricity, to perform sensing and measurement tasks. At the core of the project is a widely tunable laser, which means a laser whose color (or frequency) of light can be adjusted over a broad range. This flexibility allows it to detect different substances or measure distances with high precision. By using cost-effective manufacturing techniques from the microelectronics industry, the project aims to produce these lasers at scale. The first major application is in measuring the energy content of natural gas, which will support a more efficient and reliable energy infrastructure. The technology is positioned to enter a natural gas analysis market expected to grow from $700 million in 2025 to over $1 billion by 2030, with projected laser sales reaching $10 million annually by the third year of production. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) project aims to develop and validate hybrid silicon photonic tunable lasers, demonstrating key performance metrics such as light-current characteristics, spectral output, and the ability to measure methane concentration with 0.01% accuracy using tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy. Since the 1960s, the energy content of natural gas?expressed in British thermal units (Btu) per cubic foot?has typically been measured using natural gas chromatographs (NGCs), which require ongoing maintenance and consumables, adding to operational costs. While distributed feedback (DFB) laser-based analyzers have effectively measured light impurities like water and hydrogen sulfide, they fall short in capturing the broad spectral features of heavier hydrocarbons. The widely tunable hybrid silicon photonic laser developed in this project overcomes this limitation, capable of resolving both the sharp rovibrational peaks of methane and the broad absorption features of heavy hydrocarbons. Combined with the scalability and cost-efficiency of silicon photonics manufacturing, this laser enables a new generation of optical Btu analyzers with significant competitive advantages for natural gas analysis. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
CORE BIOTHERAPEUTICS INC
SBIR Phase I: Determination of the Mechanisms Driving Diseases at the Molecular Network Level to Develop Disruptive Drug Candidates
Contact
31 SALVATORE
Ladera Ranch, CA 92694--1425
NSF Award
2451628 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$303,864
Start / end date
04/01/2025 – 03/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Erik Pierstorff
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is the development of a platform of drugs with therapeutic effects that cannot be achieved otherwise, such as disease modifying effects for neurodegeneration or universal treatments for cancer. The project aims to determine the biological laws of molecular networks driving diseases and programing these into an efficient, scalable algorithm for drug target discovery. The understanding of network biology may enable the rapid design and development of a high number of therapeutic programs and their commercialization with high predictability. It may also inform the field on how molecular networks operate and initiate a new research field. The societal impact of the innovation is to address high unmet medical needs, such as stopping the progression of neurodegenerative diseases or providing universal treatments for cancer. The platform has the potential for broad impact as it can expand to most cancers, neurodegenerative diseases and beyond, including fibrosis or cardiac disorders. The proposed project of identifying how of molecular networks drive diseases and programing their laws into a drug target discovery algorithm represents a potential technological leap to develop revolutionary therapies. Current treatments focus on single targets, providing variable therapeutic effects. What is advanced here is the opposite approach: reprogramming molecular networks to produce safe, profound and consistent therapeutic effects. Specifically, transcription factors (TFs) are dominant proteins controlling all gene expression and cell fate. Because TFs act in networks, algorithms are built to map TF networks and identify the TFs controlling diseased networks. Oligo-based drugs will be developed with the unique ability to inhibit multiple TFs to drive therapeutic effects beyond single target approaches. The technical objectives of the proposal are the demonstration that oligo efficacy is a function of TF network reprogramming using a well-established breast cancer cell line, building a computational model to select TF targets to reprogram networks toward therapeutic effects and demonstrate the scalability of the model in a second cancer cell line. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
COSINE CORP
SBIR Phase I: Electrified Thermochemical Biogas Reforming for Hydrocarbon Fuel Production
Contact
221 AYRSHIRE FARM LN APT 203
Stanford, CA 94305--7621
NSF Award
2528485 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,975
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 06/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Directors
Rajesh Mehta
Samir Iqbal
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to build the next generation chemical reactor using induction heating through a process called mixed reforming of methane. Mixed reforming of methane makes synthesis gas, which is a fundamental building block for other chemicals for fertilizers, plastics, rubber, and fuels. Today, the dominant process that makes synthesis gas is steam methane reforming, but it emits carbon dioxide through heating of natural gas and as a byproduct of the reaction. This project focuses on combining highly efficient induction heating to drive the synthesis gas generation, with significantly cheaper capital and operating costs compared to other clean technologies. If successful, the technology could enable widespread use of low-emission fuels and chemicals such as methanol, which are essential for transportation, materials, and energy storage. Broader impacts may extend to fields such as sustainable aviation fuels, fertilizer production, and hydrogen-based applications. This project aligns with the National Science Foundation?s mission and supports cheap, domestic chemicals manufacturing, job creation, economic growth, and educational advancement in the chemicals and energy sectors. The project?s technical objectives focus on building inductively heated thermochemical reactors with silicon carbide susceptors that have coupling efficiencies above 95%. The reactor also utilizes a catalyst-like material that uses a reduction-oxidation cycle to generate synthesis gas. The primary technical goal of this project is to experimentally demonstrate the feasibility of a reactor concept that integrates the silicon carbide susceptor with the catalyst material, with attention to power converter performance, materials stability, total reaction efficiency, system scalability, technoeconomic analysis, and life cycle assessment. The project will use methods including high-frequency power electronics design, redox material synthesis and testing, finite element simulation of electromagnetic heating, and chemical, electrical, and thermal performance characterization. The intellectual merit of this project hinges on the successful integration of innovative power electronics, reactor design, materials, and chemical engineering. The expected outcomes will lead to scale up of a commercial scale reactor for synthesis gas generation. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
CREATHADH ENERGIES, LLC
SBIR Phase I: Prototype for Vibration Harvesting in Wearables
Contact
1932 IOWA ST
Cedar Falls, IA 50613--3842
NSF Award
2507259 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
04/15/2025 – 09/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Directors
Elizabeth Mirowski
Samir Iqbal
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial impacts of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will be in enabling human movement vibrations to be used to power commercial applications such as wearable devices. The end goal is a wearable, such as a heart rate monitor for athletes, that would never need a coin cell battery replacement or a recharge. Such a wearable product would enable continuous data acquisition, allowing better monitoring of an athlete?s performance. This technology would limit the use of coin cell batteries. Once an initial market of wearables for athletes can be commercialized, longer-term wearable applications in telehealth and national defense will open up. Key innovations will enhance scientific and technological understanding in the power management circuitry for a system powered by human movement and in the long-term use vibrations harvesters. A business model first focused on creating a prototype wearable for athletes will rely on technological advances in chip circuit design and mechanical energy harvesters. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project addresses the challenge of building a low-power energy harvesting system to harvest vibrations from human movement. Electromagnetic vibration harvesters are ideal for harvesting low-frequency human movement. Unlike piezoelectric harvesters? high voltage outputs, electromagnetic harvesters? voltage outputs are low and will not create an electrostatic discharge event. This allows the use of low-power innovations in integrated circuit Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) technology. Unique circuit designs allowing for low-voltage start-up, a custom electromagnetic vibration harvester, and power-management system are necessary for a prototype system that will need to operate from non-periodic human movement in this project. An electromagnetic harvester and discrete power-management system will be built using a pre-existing integrated circuit-based low-voltage start method. New techniques will be developed for the power-management system for non-periodic harvested human movement. To accomplish this, both the harvester and prototype containing the harvester and electronics will be built and tested on a shaker table using human-based acceleration profiles. The final prototype will be shown to store at least 75µW in this testing. The anticipated prototype will be able to charge a rechargeable battery that will power a sensor. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
DAYZERO WATER LLC
SBIR Phase I: Effective, Affordable, UV Treatment Technology for Microbiologically Contaminated Water
Contact
1915 NE 55TH AVE
Portland, OR 97213--3506
NSF Award
2449174 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,950
Start / end date
02/15/2025 – 10/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Rajesh Mehta
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is in the development of a novel inexpensive, adaptable point-of-use water treatment device. It deploys commonly used ultraviolet (UV) light disinfection technology in a simple pitcher-shaped, countertop, household appliance. It operates using electricity when available but can also be powered by a rechargeable battery. Anyone can safely operate it to produce all the drinking water needed after a city?s water treatment or distribution systems are damaged by a flood or earthquake or other natural disaster. Thus, the product can have significant value in addressing the U.S. incident and emergency management challenges. Microbiologically contaminated drinking water contributes to more than 500,000 deaths annually. Globally, about a billion people boil their water every day to make sure it is safe. The proposed product can meet their needs more safely while meaningfully reducing carbon emissions. This project is also in alignment with the 2022 U.S. Global Water Strategy that calls for increased water security where it is needed most. This SBIR Phase I project will focus on the design of an instrumented UV appliance. This will be aided by light transmission modeling in non-cylindrical vessels to assure uniform and adequate exposure of water to the UV light and appropriately locating UV-C LED lamps and UV transmittance monitors to achieve those goals. The device will be experimentally tested with controlled microbial challenges with the goal of demonstrating that the appliance conforms to World Health Organization?s standards for household water treatment technologies for a broad array of contaminated water sources. It is thought that discrete UV intensity monitoring can be correlated with UV-C dose so that performance can be adjusted for water with varying levels of microbial contamination. The appliance will also incorporate sensor capabilities to automatically log, and report use data to support the potential compilation of carbon credits. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
DESIGNER ECOSYSTEMS LLC
SBIR Phase I: Building A Reef Mimicking Coral-Independent Habitat Support Structure
Contact
487 N OWEN ST
Alexandria, VA 22304--2245
NSF Award
2436946 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$301,769
Start / end date
04/15/2025 – 03/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Rajesh Mehta
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to develop a novel modular construction technology to simultaneously provide shoreline protection and restore the most economically important aspects of coral reefs. This technology aims to solve two fundamental problems of traditional coral restoration where corals are transported from nurseries and secured back onto reef habitats: (1) that coral reefs naturally develop slowly over centuries, which means coral restoration efforts are slow to offer measurable returns to investors; and (2) that successful restoration of the reef ecosystem and concomitant services is dependent on coral survival, which is threatened on many levels. The strategy offered by this project is to replace the structure of mature reefs and provide immediate valuable shoreline protection and fish habitat, so that this approach to restoring reef ecosystem services can succeed even when coral mortality events occur. More traditional shoreline protection structures like seawalls change the physical parameters of the marine environment, making customers choose between habitat restoration and coastal protection. This technology offers both long term storm damage reduction to shoreline properties and increased value of natural ecosystems and the resultant blue economy. The product under development in this project is an engineered habitat support structure for reef ecosystems, novel for its relatively larger size and degree of surface complexity. Most artificial reef systems are orders of magnitude smaller or are constructed of large piles of recycled materials that lack the surface features critical to nature-based solutions. While the proposed technology may demand large upfront investments, it can substantially shorten the recovery time of degraded reefs by facilitating self-organization of supporting ecosystems. A major innovation of the product is its modular design, which will allow it to be built of scalable block-like components while also being customizable to a variety of installation sites. This Phase I project will test the feasibility of developing this product as a commercial technology that can be built and installed at scales relevant to coral restoration and shoreline protection needs for customers in several industries across the Caribbean. It will also test tradeoffs between strength and mass of various block shapes, and a variety of block joints that can be used to reduce the cost of construction without reducing the performance of the resulting structure. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
DHICHIPS INC.
STTR Phase I: A Programmable Processor-in-Memory Accelerator for Data-Intensive and Deep Learning Applications
Contact
63 EGRET DR
West Henrietta, NY 14586--9317
NSF Award
2507092 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,988
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 09/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Directors
Parvathi Chundi
Peter Atherton
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project will be to improve the efficiency of real-time data processing in safety-critical applications, such as autonomous driving. The company is proposing to develop a Processor-in-Memory (PIM) that is flexible and capable of few-shot learning using AI methods, which require only a few training samples instead of large datasets. The initial target application domain is autonomous vehicles, in both indoor and outdoor environments. Machine Learning embedded autonomous and connected vehicles revenue in the US market is expected to reach 78.63B$ by 2030, growing at a compound rate of 19.56% per year during 2023-2032. This domain itself has a very broad base, encompassing the automobile industry as well as material handling and manufacturing industries that use automation. Therefore, the research outcomes are expected to influence and impact this multi-billion-dollar AI-driven automation sector, potentially positively affecting millions of human lives. This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project will develop a Processor-in-Memory (PIM) that is flexible and capable of few-shot learning using AI methods, which require only a few training samples instead of large datasets. The PIM is a hardware accelerator that embeds Processing Elements (PEs) inside dynamic random access memory (DRAM) subarrays, which are adopted in a large majority of computing devices and processing platforms. By eliminating the interconnect bottleneck between the memory subsystem and the PEs, as exists in traditional computers using CPUs and GPUs, the PIM is expected to improve energy efficiency by one or two orders of magnitude. The proposed accelerator hardware is based on modular LookUp Table (LUT) based PEs, which enables both functional flexibility as well as energy efficiency. Therefore, the proposed device can support a variety of applications, encompassing AI algorithms as well as cybersecurity applications such as data encryption/decryption at unprecedented low energy expenditure. Unlike most Deep Learning AI accelerators that rely on large datasets for training, this system will be capable of fast learning and enable automation with minimal downtime. Due to combined energy-efficient hardware and less reliance on training data compared to the state-of-the-art, the company anticipates achieving high accuracy in automation with higher energy efficiency. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
DIGI-CLONE LTD
SBIR Phase I: Efficient 3D Body Reconstruction and Physics-Based Garment Simulation for Consumer-Facing Virtual Try-On
Contact
3310 OAK HAMPTON WAY
Duluth, GA 30096--8601
NSF Award
2528099 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,888
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 06/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Lindsay Portnoy
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to reduce the high volume of clothing returns in online shopping, a costly and inefficient outcome driven largely by poor fit. In 2024, about 43 percent of Americans shopped for apparel online, and nearly one in four items were returned?mostly due to size or fit issues. This project addresses that problem by creating a virtual fitting room experience that allows users to preview garments on a realistic 3D model of themselves, generated from smartphone photos. By offering a more accurate, personalized preview of clothing, the technology helps consumers make better purchasing decisions and reduces avoidable returns. The innovation applies advancements in computer vision and human modeling to improve how 3D avatars are created and displayed in real time. This solution sits at the intersection of retail technology and computational imaging. The first market segment will be online apparel retailers looking to reduce return costs and improve customer experience. The competitive edge comes from improved accuracy and ease of use compared to existing tools. Within three years of deployment, the platform could support millions of users, with measurable impact seen in lower return rates and increased consumer satisfaction. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to develop a virtual try-on system by advancing techniques in human body shape estimation and garment retargeting. The technical challenge lies in recovering accurate 3D body models from a minimal number of smartphone images and simulating garment fit without collisions between the clothing and body mesh. The research will implement a machine learning pipeline trained on a synthetic dataset of clothed human models to predict parametric body shape representations aligned with real-world clothing measurements. Garments will be registered to the predicted body geometry and simulated using a physics-based engine to model dynamic interactions. A key innovation is a collision mitigation strategy that uses an expanded proxy body during simulation to prevent garment-body interpenetration. The system will be demonstrated through a lightweight web application supporting real-time performance at over 30 frames per second. The anticipated outcome is a prototype capable of accurate body measurements within manufacturing tolerances for selected garment categories and reliable simulation of single-layer clothing. This work contributes to the scientific understanding of 3D human modeling, computer vision, and physics-based animation, with potential applications in retail technology, digital fashion, and personalized virtual experiences. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
DIGITAL COPILOT, INC.
SBIR Phase I: Advanced Technologies to Enhance Aviation Safety in Airports without Air Traffic Control Towers
Contact
7 GREEN ACRES LN
White Plains, NY 10607--2705
NSF Award
2503791 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,695
Start / end date
06/01/2025 – 11/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Lindsay Portnoy
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is the reduction of mid-air collisions and near-miss incidents at airports that do not have air traffic control (ATC) services. Of the 20,000 airports in the U.S., only 500 are supported by ATC, leaving over 90% of airports without coordinated traffic separation. Each year, 15 to 25 mid-air collisions occur?most of them fatal?and many more near-misses go unreported. This project addresses that risk by developing a low-cost, tablet-based system that predicts aircraft maneuvers in high-risk airspace near airports. This innovation leverages advances in machine learning and aviation data analytics to enhance predictive accuracy, situating it in the field of aeronautical systems and human-machine interaction. The product will initially serve the general aviation market, targeting the 500,000 U.S. pilots who fly single-pilot aircraft. The value proposition lies in offering real-time, predictive situational awareness without requiring ground infrastructure. This creates a durable competitive advantage by filling a critical safety gap with a standalone, affordable solution. The company?s business model is based on a monthly or annual software subscription. By year three, the system aims to serve over 50,000 pilots, with success measured by adoption rates, incident reduction, and improved safety reporting metrics. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to develop and validate predictive algorithms for aircraft maneuvering within the airport environment, where existing traffic avoidance systems are significantly less effective. Current systems rely on ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance?Broadcast) data, using real-time GPS positions to extrapolate future aircraft trajectories based on current velocity and heading. While sufficient for enroute scenarios, this method fails in the airport environment due to frequent, nonlinear maneuvers required for takeoff, landing, and taxiing. The proposed research will leverage physics-based modeling and path prediction algorithms to generate probabilistic 4D trajectories (longitude, latitude, altitude, and time) independent of adherence to FAA-recommended visual traffic patterns, which are often not followed consistently at the 97% of U.S. airports lacking air traffic control. The research will use historical ADS-B data to train and tune the model, followed by real-time testing using live broadcast data. Performance metrics will include spatial and temporal prediction accuracy, as well as system efficacy in forecasting and mitigating potential mid-air conflicts. The anticipated outcome is a validated predictive model capable of delivering earlier and more accurate alerts to general aviation pilots, increasing safety near uncontrolled airports and advancing state-of-the-art predictive analytics in aviation safety systems. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
DUET BIOSYSTEMS, INC
STTR Phase I: New Paradigm for Combination Drug Optimization and Discovery
Contact
1515 BEECHWOOD AVE
Nashville, TN 37212--5516
NSF Award
2432890 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$264,736
Start / end date
03/01/2025 – 02/28/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Erik Pierstorff
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (STTR) Phase I project is in addressing directly the challenge of optimizing the use and discovery of drug combinations. Effective combination drug therapies optimize the therapeutic effects of these drugs and minimize harmful and/or uncomfortable side effects. Many diseases, including cancer, Alzheimer?s, heart disease, and life-threatening infections, are treated by drugs used in combination. Amazingly, the use of these drug combination is guided by analytical methods that are over 100 years old. Researchers have developed the first components of a new analytical toolkit for combination drug discovery and development across a range of disease indications. This STTR Phase 1 research project will enable the commercialization of this toolkit by discovering how to harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to sift through a range of existing (and future) laboratory and clinical data to find the drug combinations that work best. The combination drug toolkit may create significant value for its customers by (1) improving target selection, (2) reducing the number of drug development programs that fail, (3) increasing the efficiency of clinical trials data analysis, and (4) extending the patent life of important drugs with new viable combinations. The proposed project seeks to leverage improvements in quantitative understanding of drug ? drug synergy to overcome challenges associated with the optimization and discovery of combination drug therapies. The Multidimensional Synergies of Combination (MuSyC) algorithm is valued as an improvement in understanding drug ? drug synergy by rigorously defining synergy of efficacy and synergy of potency and extracting these different synergies from experimental data sets. The proposed research seeks to innovate the means of data production and integration across diverse data sources and merge this with additional relevant databases and clinical data to create an effective analytical toolkit for optimizing all stages of combination drug research and development. The research plan consists of an experimental track and a computational track. The experimental track will use the MuSyC algorithm to inform experimental design and high-throughput data collection for three use cases of considerable clinical relevance. In parallel, the Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning approaches will be used to integrate diverse data sets with the MuSyC algorithm to predict synergies of combinations. The data track and the AI-track will then be merged to provide proof-of-concept for an AI-enabled MuSyC toolkit for optimizing combination drug use and discovery. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
E-ROOTREE LLC
SBIR Phase I: Design of E-Kit implanted as Synthetic root by biomimicking xylem hydraulics for Environmentally & Economically sustainable Holistic Tree care system for Angiosperms
Contact
1028 WILLIE RANCH WAY
Leander, TX 78641--5715
NSF Award
2432240 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$262,960
Start / end date
09/15/2024 – 11/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Elizabeth Mirowski
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to reduce the chemical use in the form of fertilizers and pesticides and promote tree crop agronomy. Lands being cultivated for centuries now mostly rely on fertilizers and other chemical solutions to maintain yields. Nutrient management plays a key role in tree metabolism, growth, yield and the aesthetics of crop, pest, and stress resistance which determines crop yields. Nutrient consumption is increasing annually with a current consumption of 19 million metric tons in US that is projected to grow to 117 Megatons in 2027. Agricultural emissions contribute to 11.2% of US emissions which challenge our sustainable development goals for 2050. The methods of application of these fertilizers negatively impacting our environment via acidification of soils, toxification of water bodies, harming pollinators, increase emissions and unnecessary economic costs. This project aims to create a single approach to address the multitude needs of tree crops, thereby promoting economic and environmental sustainability in fruit and nut tree crops.
This project focuses on designing a state of the art, unified and stand alone, easy use kit for diverse species of fruit and nut tree to provide regular nutrient, growth, biotic-abiotic stress and pest management from single node on a tree trunk that will cover the entire tree canopy while imparting zero environmental exposure. Such a quantum leap forward in chemical resource management and zero environmental toxification for holistic tree care is possible by integrating bio science and engineering to build a sustainable tree nutrient delivery kit based on Microelectromechanical systems, which bio-mimic the xylem hydraulic system, correlate the energy that drives the transport and allow for compatibility with anatomical structures. This proposal investigates the xylem hydrodynamics and tree susceptibilities to identify and obtain design conditions, needs, and risks in engineering the system. For the kit to function efficiently from single site it is important to control both axial and radials flows to achieve adequate distribution across the tree. The merit of this method is in engineering both flows and ability to distribute wide range of solutions with various viscosities, dosages and flow rates.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.EARNEST AGRICULTURE, INC.
STTR Phase I: Development of Seed Applied Bacterial Consortium for Soybean to Increase Yield, Nitrogen Fixation, Disease Resistance, and After-Harvest Soil Nitrogen Content
Contact
505 E CONDIT DR
Rantoul, IL 61866--3604
NSF Award
2422259 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$274,918
Start / end date
07/01/2025 – 06/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Erik Pierstorff
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project will include substantial economic and commercial benefits for organic soybean growers, consumers, and the United States. This project will develop a combination of bacteria applied via seed coating to reduce soybean disease outbreaks, reduce soybean fertilizer needs, and increase soybean yield. Currently, the United States remains heavily reliant on imported organic soybeans, with over 80% sourced from countries such as Turkey, India, and Argentina. This project aims to support American soybean farmers in transitioning to organic production by providing them with a solution that can replace pesticide and fertilizer applications that are used in conventional agriculture. The successful execution of this project would thereby reduce dependence on imports and strengthen domestic agricultural markets. By increasing local organic soybean supply, this effort has the potential to enhance economic resilience and contribute to the national agricultural sector. Beyond economic and commercial benefits, this project also supports societal benefits like property health concerns from nitrogen fertilizer run-off. In the United States, improper nitrogen management contributes significantly to algal blooms and fish die offs in waterways, thus solutions such as this project can reduce nitrogen fertilizer use thus reducing nitrogen run-off. The proposed project seeks to address challenges faced by organic soybean growers related to plant pathogens and nitrogen availability. This research aims to develop a microbial seed coating that enhances organic soybean production by simultaneously reducing pathogen-associated yield loss and improving nitrogen fixation. The overarching goal is to develop a bacterial consortium that promotes soybean disease resistance, nitrogen fixation, yield, and soil nitrogen availability. The proposed project will achieve these objectives through a set of field and greenhouse trials designed to evaluate the impact of the seed-applied bacterial consortium on soybean growth and productivity. Specifically, these trials will assess disease resistance to damping-off pathogens, including Fusarium, Pythium, and Phytophthora, through disease incidence scores and stand counts. Additionally, soybean tissue nitrogen concentration and final yield will be measured to determine consortium effects on nitrogen fixation and productivity. Post-harvest soil samples will be analyzed to quantify residual nitrogen availability. Rhizosphere samples will be collected throughout the growing season and examined to identify microbial strains associated with improved plant and soil characteristics, facilitating iterative optimization of the consortium. These findings will contribute to the development of an effective microbial inoculant for organic soybean production, enhancing both disease management and nitrogen efficiency. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
EASCRA BIOTECH, INC.
SBIR Phase I: Development of rod-shaped drug delivery nanoparticles for in-space manufacturing
Contact
22 LAFAYETTE ST
Pawtucket, RI 02860--6122
NSF Award
2415574 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$274,990
Start / end date
12/15/2024 – 11/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Anna Brady-Estevez
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is its potential to transform the solid tumor cancer treatment market, projected to reach $424.6 billion by 2027. The project aims to advance the regulatory pathway for space-made medicines by using Janus base nanoparticles (JBNps) as a test case to demonstrate comparability with Earth-made versions. This step is crucial for the commercialization of space-made therapeutics, addressing challenges in drug delivery for solid tumors and advancing oncology biotherapeutics. Additionally, the project will boost U.S. dominance in the space economy, drive innovation and economic growth in biotech, and enhance the nation?s global competitiveness. It could lead to advanced, safer therapies for various diseases and contribute to fostering a diverse American STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) workforce. Beyond its technological benefits, this project emphasizes diversity, education, and community outreach, promising broader societal and environmental benefits. Ultimately, it holds potential for positive impacts on the LEO (Low Earth Orbit) commercial space economy and global healthcare. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to tackle the urgent need for advanced drug delivery systems capable of effectively targeting solid tumors. Current lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), while widely used, face challenges in penetrating the dense extracellular matrix (ECM) of tumors. Eascra?s project focuses on creating a regulatory pathway to commercialize space-made Janus base nanoparticles (JBNps). These nanoparticles, with their nano-rod morphology and DNA-mimicking chemistry, offer improved tumor penetration, effective treatment, and minimal toxicity. Additionally, JBNps maintain drug stability and bioactivity at room temperature, overcoming the cold storage challenges faced by LNPs. Phase I will advance the regulatory approval pathway, laying the groundwork for Phase II, where in-space manufacturing of JBNps will be optimized. This technology has the potential to revolutionize cancer treatment by providing a versatile, more effective drug delivery platform. The success of this project holds significant implications for future space-made medicines, benefiting both terrestrial and space-based healthcare. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
EDNA INC.
SBIR Phase I: Addressing Mental Health in Underserved Athletic Populations
Contact
4 MAYFAIR CIR
Oxford, MA 01540--2722
NSF Award
2430370 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$275,000
Start / end date
10/01/2024 – 09/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Alastair Monk
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact and commercial potential of this SBIR Phase I project lies in its innovative approach to proactively monitor mental health support for student-athletes, particularly those from underserved communities. Research shows that college athletes face 20 times higher rates of mental health issues than their non-athletic peers, with students of color encountering unique challenges tied to economic, culture, and social constructs. This product will launch at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), where underfunded institutions, lack of social support, and imposed responsibilities compound the pressures of athletic competition.
This project focuses on developing an AI tool that provides conversational check-ins, identifying language indicative of mental distress. By leveraging minority data, this tool engages student-athletes in a culturally relevant manner, promoting their mental wellness. The primary objective is to train a large language model (LLM) using this data to proactively monitor the health and wellness of these student-athletes. The bot integrates subjective conversational data with objective clinical surveys through proprietary algorithms, offering a more accurate assessment of mental distress. With a projected revenue of $3 million by year three, this comprehensive approach has the potential to revolutionize mental health support for student-athletes, with broader commercial applications for other vulnerable populations.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.ELECTROFLOW TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
SBIR Phase I: Assessing and Improving Membrane Stability to Enable Sustainable Lithium Chemical Production
Contact
1162 CHERRY AVE
San Bruno, CA 94066--2302
NSF Award
2508383 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 03/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Vincent Lee
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is the development of a novel electrochemical process to extract and convert lithium from low-concentration brine into battery-grade lithium chemicals, a key ingredient in electric vehicle and grid storage batteries. This innovation has the potential to dramatically expand the usable lithium resource base in the United States by enabling access to brines previously deemed too dilute to be economically viable. The proposed technology operates with minimal land and water use and avoids environmentally damaging practices associated with conventional lithium mining and evaporation ponds. By directly producing battery grade lithium chemicals in a single step, the process could significantly reduce energy consumption and cost while supporting the national goal of onshoring battery material supply chains. The first commercial application is expected in partnership with junior resource holders, addressing the growing demand from battery manufacturers. The technology offers a durable competitive advantage through its ability to operate on low-grade brines, paired with a modular design that supports flexible deployment. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to evaluate the stability and selectivity of anion exchange membranes in a novel electrochemical cell that simultaneously extracts lithium ions from brine and converts them to battery grade lithium chemicals. Unlike conventional direct lithium extraction systems that produce lithium chloride, this project investigates a single-step method for producing lithium carbonate and hydroxide, eliminating the need for downstream conversion processes. The key technical challenge is maintaining high anion permselectivity and product purity under high-salinity and extreme pH conditions. The research objectives include systematically studying the effects of chemical aging, brine fouling, and long-term electrochemical cycling on membrane performance. Experimental work will involve operating electrochemical cells with various commercial membranes exposed to real brines, followed by chemical analysis of transport properties using ion chromatography and spectroscopy. Post-mortem analysis will include scanning electron microscopy and elemental mapping to evaluate degradation or fouling. The anticipated results will inform the selection of membrane materials and operating conditions that ensure greater than 99.5 percent lithium chemical purity over extended use. These findings are expected to de-risk a critical component of the overall lithium extraction system, enabling future pilot-scale deployment in partnership with domestic brine resource owners. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
ELEKTRUM TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
STTR Phase I: Ultra-Low-Cost Additive Manufacture of Transparent Conductive Electrodes
Contact
9053 IKE BYROM RD
Krugerville, TX 76227--6290
NSF Award
2451340 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
05/01/2025 – 04/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Vincent Lee
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project is to provide a fully additive method of manufacturing ultra-low-cost flexible transparent metal-mesh conductors. These transparent conductive electrodes offer superior performance at substantially lower cost than existing options based on indium tin oxide. Highly conductive and transparent conductor films enable applications such as current collectors for EMI shielding, flexible energy storage, capacitive touch screens, electrochromic window films, transparent light emitting diodes, solar cells, and more. This project will focus on large-scale production with high throughputs. Existing transparent conductive electrodes largely use indium tin oxide, but indium is a rare earth metal that has been steadily increasing in price as demand increases. Indium is also typically imported. Reducing the dependence on foreign inputs for optoelectronic manufacturing offers commercial and security advantages. While indium tin oxide has been used in some flexible devices, the material is ill-suited for these applications due to its brittleness imposing severe limitations on bend radius and bend cycles. Metal-mesh transparent conductive electrodes do not suffer from these limitations. Thus, a method of cheaply producing flexible transparent conductors will enable the development of smart windows, rollable transparent displays, portable solar panels, and other devices with new form factors. This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project will (1) develop improved catalytic ink formulations that are compatible with high-speed micropatterning methods and (2) prototype an innovative system for roll-to-roll electroless plating of those catalytic traces with new methods of film conveyance and improved plating-bath control. Capital and operating expenses of existing methods used to make conductive metal micropatterns such as photolithography can be cost prohibitive for many applications and do not scale well. This project aims to eliminate these costly processes and instead use a fully additive process to make the micropatterns. These patterns will then be metalized using electroless plating to obtain conductive metal patterns. The challenge to be solved is that existing manufacturing equipment tends to be unsuitable for roll-to-roll electroless plating of flexible substrates. The modular plating equipment being designed as part of this STTR includes a novel conveyance system that is more compatible with electroless plating baths and new methods of process controls to achieve reliable plating of micro-scale fine metal lines. These new features will maximize flexibility and equipment uptimes. An additional goal is to develop a kit to retrofit existing off-the-shelf equipment to add roll-to-roll capabilities to further reduce equipment cost. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
ELITE NEURO INC
STTR Phase I: Enhancing Cognitive Performance Through a Scalable Virtual Reality Platform
Contact
335 S SIERRA MADRE BLVD APT 201
Pasadena, CA 91107--6515
NSF Award
2451312 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
03/01/2025 – 11/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Lindsay Portnoy
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project lies in addressing the critical need for effective, accessible tools to enhance cognitive performance. Cognitive abilities like memory, decision-making, and processing speed are fundamental to success in education, athletics, healthcare, and high-pressure professions such as law enforcement. This project will leverage virtual reality (VR) technology to create an immersive platform that combines cognitive assessment and training to address these needs. The innovation provides a scalable solution that enables users to identify their cognitive strengths and weaknesses while participating in engaging activities that improve cognitive performance. By initially targeting the athletic market, the project will help athletes enhance reaction times and decision-making skills while reducing injuries. The long-term vision includes expanding into markets such as education and cognitive rehabilitation, potentially benefiting millions by improving learning outcomes and supporting recovery from brain injuries. This platform also advances scientific understanding by applying validated sensory-perceptual training techniques to real-world cognitive challenges. Within three years of implementation, this technology is projected to impact thousands of users and establish a sustainable model for commercialization, with the potential to improve the quality of life and productivity across multiple sectors. This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project aims to develop and validate a virtual reality-based platform that integrates cognitive assessment and enhancement through perceptual training. The project addresses the need for scalable, scientifically validated tools to improve cognitive performance across domains. Research indicates that training specific sensory-perceptual abilities, such as reaction time and auditory processing, can enhance broader cognitive functions like memory and decision-making. This project aims to utilize perceptual training tasks to improve cognition through a proposed virtual reality (VR) platform with embedded multi-modal VR tasks targeting specific perceptual tasks known to improve cognitive capacity. The research objectives include developing reliable VR-based measurement tools, designing engaging training modules, which demonstrate measurable cognitive gains in athletic performance through iterative development, user testing, and statistical analysis to ensure the platform?s effectiveness and scalability. Anticipated results include improved perceptual accuracy and reaction time, with significant cognitive gains and the project has the potential to redefine cognitive training by integrating cutting-edge VR technology with rigorous scientific principles, providing a novel solution for enhancing cognitive performance in real-world settings. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
EMODE PHOTONIX LLC
SBIR Phase I: Nonlinear Eigenmode Expansion Method for Integrated Quantum Photonics
Contact
315 S 38TH ST
Boulder, CO 80305--5469
NSF Award
2507617 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
04/01/2025 – 05/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Samir Iqbal
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial impacts of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project are in developing a new computer program that will enhance the design and optimization of photonic devices used in quantum technology. Photonic devices in quantum technology use light to process and transfer information in advanced ways. This innovation addresses a major gap in the ability to model and design optical processes which are essential for secure quantum communications, sensing, and computing. Existing computer programs cannot capture the complexity of quantum photonic interactions, leading to slow and expensive designs. By introducing a faster and more accurate modeling approach, this project will help accelerate the development of next-generation quantum technologies, reducing both the cost and time required for device design. The commercialization strategy is focused on offering a free version with basic functionality and premium versions with the newly developed capabilities. The proposed technology will provide a durable competitive advantage and large commercial potential through patent protection. Beyond commercial applications, this project will support workforce development and contribute to research and development, aligning with US leadership goals in AI computing. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project focuses on the development of a nonlinear eigenmode expansion simulation tool for modeling nonlinear optical interactions in complex waveguide structures. Current modeling approaches, such as finite-difference time-domain, are computationally expensive and struggle to accurately model key nonlinear optical processes like second harmonic generation and spontaneous parametric down-conversion. The proposed nonlinear eigenmode expansion method aims to overcome these limitations by integrating nonlinear and quantum-specific calculations into an eigenmode expansion framework, using a semi-classical framework. The project will develop and validate a robust simulation tool that significantly reduces computational time while maintaining high accuracy. Research efforts will include implementing core algorithms for modeling nonlinear interactions, extending these methods to quantum-specific processes, and benchmarking the tool against both experimental data and traditional simulation methods. This project will result in a commercially available simulation tool that accelerates research and development in the quantum photonics industry, enabling the design of more efficient and scalable quantum devices. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
ENDURA THERAPEUTICS INC
SBIR Phase I: Multiplexed High Throughput Discovery of Functional RNA-Targeting Small Molecules Via Next-Generation Sequencing
Contact
329 OYSTER POINT BLVD FL 3
South San Francisco, CA 94080--1913
NSF Award
2507762 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$303,445
Start / end date
05/15/2025 – 01/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Erik Pierstorff
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to address currently untreatable diseases by developing small molecule drugs that modulate RNA. Despite advances in genomic medicine, many disease-causing proteins remain undruggable using conventional approaches. By targeting RNA instead of proteins, this project could enable therapeutic interventions for diseases lacking treatment options, including certain cancers and neurological disorders. The technology platform will provide a scalable method to identify RNA-targeting small molecules, accelerating drug discovery and potentially creating a new class of oral medications. The commercial impact extends beyond therapeutic applications, as the screening platform could become an industry-standard tool for RNA drug discovery, stimulating broader pharmaceutical innovation. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to develop a next-generation sequencing platform for discovering small molecules that target RNA. The project addresses two challenges: demonstrating that small molecules binding to messenger RNA can modulate protein expression in cells, and developing a high-throughput screening method to identify such molecules and their optimal RNA targets. The research will establish an assay that can detect RNA-drug interactions and identify which RNA structures are most amenable to binding. The technical approach integrates RNA biochemistry with next-generation sequencing to create a multiplexed screening platform. If successful, this project will establish a novel approach to RNA-targeted drug discovery, providing starting points for developing therapies against disease targets previously considered undruggable. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
ETHAR, INC.
STTR Phase I: Semantically-Enabled Augmented Reality for Manufacturing
Contact
1806 UNIVERSITY DR NW
Huntsville, AL 35801--5743
NSF Award
2335533 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$275,000
Start / end date
02/15/2024 – 09/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Vincent Lee
Errata
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Abstract
This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project facilitates safer and more efficient human-centered manufacturing tasks. The introduction of context-sensitive work guidance through immersive technologies will expedite workforce training, enhance users' spatial awareness, and outperform existing manufacturing work instruction systems, leading to heightened productivity across industries. This development embodies the emergence of cyber-human relationships and Digital Twin and Smart Factory applications, reinforcing U.S. manufacturing leadership, bolstering economic competitiveness, and fortifying national security. The anticipated commercial Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) solution is poised to benefit approximately 10,000 U.S. manufacturing firms. Beyond its economic implications, the first-generation, open-specification Reality Modeling Language (RML) developed in this project is expected to gain widespread acceptance in the international standards community, improving spatial system automation across diverse industry verticals. Ultimately, this system will render the physical world more accessible, searchable, and comprehensively annotated with data, unlocking new frontiers in user support, safety, and efficiency.
This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project addresses mission-critical challenges for fully leveraging Augmented Reality (AR) tools in manufacturing environments. It draws upon ontologically structured data and a proprietary Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven knowledge system for automating the generation and display of context-specific AR content in 3D space, eliminating the need for individually designed AR interactions. The solution enables training and work instruction systems to become spatially- and contextually aware, in order to adapt to dynamic conditions impacting worker safety and efficiency. The objective of this project is to demonstrate and quantify how automatically generated, spatially- and semantically aware AR can provide work guidance, machine status data, and hazard warnings to increase worker capabilities versus conventional guidance tools. The RML will be derived and logically describe and computationally code the 3D spatial scene of a simulated factory floor, and later, RML will be released as an open code library to the developer community. The system will sense the real world and objects in real-time, learn as input is received, and prioritize and render AR content communicating context-specific suggestions and warnings. This project will demonstrate integration between workers, their environment, and the tools engaged to complete their tasks so production personnel can act confidently, safely and effectively.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.FLUENT METAL INC.
SBIR Phase I: Drop-on Demand Liquid Metal Additive Manufacturing
Contact
1035 CAMBRIDGE ST
Cambridge, MA 02141--1154
NSF Award
2528245 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 09/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Vincent Lee
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is the development of a new type of metal 3D printing technology that is significantly more accessible, compact, and safer than current systems. Today, metal 3D printing is largely restricted to major players due to high equipment costs, complex infrastructure needs, and the safety hazards of using metal powders. This project introduces a drop-on-demand liquid metal printing process that uses solid wire as feedstock, simplifying the system?s architecture and its overall operations, eliminating the barriers imposed by current systems. By making high-quality metal printing accessible to small and medium-sized businesses, research labs, and universities, this innovation will accelerate technological innovation across the nation. The initial market will be applying coatings to industrial components, a billion dollar opportunity. Success in this niche will pave the way for expansion into the rapid prototyping and small-batch production markets for more complex components. The business model is based on selling low-cost, user-friendly printers that can operate in a standard office or lab environment, providing a durable competitive advantage and enabling widespread adoption of this critical manufacturing capability. This serves the national interest by fostering innovation, onshoring metal manufacturing, and thus enhancing U.S. competitiveness. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project addresses a critical knowledge gap in a novel drop-on-demand liquid metal 3D printing process: the lack of fundamental understanding of the interplay between plasma melting and droplet ejection dynamics, which is essential for producing fully dense and metallurgically bonded parts. The project?s primary research objectives are to systematically investigate how plasma arc parameters govern a droplet's thermal energy to achieve consistent metallurgical bonds on a room-temperature substrate; and characterize the relationship between a wire's motion profile, droplet separation dynamics, and deposition accuracy. The research will test the central hypothesis that precise control over these factors enables high quality bond and high part density without the need of heating the base part. This will be accomplished through systematic experiments on a dedicated hardware setup, using visual and laboratory inspection to assess the results and quantify these physical phenomena. The anticipated technical results include a deeper understanding of the process physics that results in denser and more dimensionally accurate prints, demonstrated through the fabrication of sample cubes with an internal density greater than 95% and dimensional accuracy of +/-300 microns, validating this advanced manufacturing approach. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
FLUID REALITY INCORPORATED
SBIR Phase I: Compact Haptic Actuators Using Electroosmotic Pumps
Contact
1857 N CALIFORNIA AVE APT 1
Chicago, IL 60647-
NSF Award
2507634 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,991
Start / end date
07/15/2025 – 03/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Lindsay Portnoy
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project includes creating quality, highly productive jobs for working class Americans by using extended reality (XR) to embody and operate robots using the sense of touch. The proliferation of general-purpose robotics is of generational significance, affecting every single American, and potentially multiplying national economic production by adding millions of helping hands to accomplish the work of the nation. With teleoperation in XR, workers can virtually step into robot bodies to perform their jobs from home in safe, ergonomic conditions, while also amplifying their productivity by operating 2-5 robots at once with AI assistant routines. However, 99% of all American jobs require fine manipulation with the sense of touch. This project advances development of the first reliable, commercially viable, high-definition haptic hardware that allows a person to feel what the robot feels and perform physical jobs virtually. This electrohydrodynamics research seeks to understand factors influencing reliability of electroosmotic pumps for useful mechanical work. This foundational piece of research will advance global technological leadership for the company and allow manufacturing and sales of the core product, aiming to control ten thousand helping robot hands by year 3. This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project enables a commercially viable haptic display for the first time. By imprinting high fidelity tactile images on the skin through inflated bubble-like actuators acting as haptic pixels, these displays can be used to feel localized contact, edges, shapes, textures, and vibrations - the key primitives of the sense of touch. These haptic displays can be embedded in XR interfaces such as lightweight wireless gloves to feel objects in virtual environments. Underlying these haptic displays is a new method of creating extremely compact actuator arrays based on electrohydrodynamics, specifically electroosmotic flow. This seeks to establish a new class of commercially viable mechanical actuator. Unlike legacy actuators like electromagnetic motors or piezoceramics, the basic operating limits, performance metrics, failure modes, and predictive models are not well established or explained in literature. This project aims to establish foundational knowledge of the electroosmotic pump system by first developing improved methods to measure key physical parameters. Then, pump performance will be characterized in controlled conditions to isolate and identify degradation modes. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
FOLDE INC
SBIR Phase I: A Novel Device for Difficult Urethral Catheterization
Contact
5933 CORONADO LN STE 101
Pleasanton, CA 94588--8599
NSF Award
2507316 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$303,242
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 09/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Ed Chinchoy
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project addresses a critical issue with urinary catheters: difficult urethral catheterizations (DUC). Catheter insertion is among the most common medical procedures in the U.S., yet DUCs occur once every minute, leading to significant medical and financial burdens and frequently necessitating emergency urological consultation. Traumatic urethral catheterization (TUC), a complication of DUC, affects 2% or approximately 500,000 cases annually. The proposed system if successful will significantly improve catheter insertion, reduce infection risk, and enhance patient care quality. Its innovative design seeks to establish a new standard in urology, achieving high success rates without surgical intervention and provide a new standard of care for the $5.1 billion (projected 2028) urinary catheter market, positively impacting society and global health standards. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will demonstrate the feasibility of a novel urinary catheter design which conforms to a wide range of individual human anatomies. This project will finalize catheter specifications, including flexibility, functionality, and material properties. State-of-the-art solid mechanics computational simulation will be employed to optimize insertion force, design, and overall functionality. Physical prototypes will be fabricated using medical device production techniques, followed by proof-of-concept testing utilizing a force gauge simulator. The key technical challenges to be addressed include maintaining structural integrity concurrent with increased flexibility, ensuring appropriate urethral fit, achieving scalable manufacturing, and successfully transitioning from a computational model to a physical prototype. The anticipated outcome is an optimized catheter design suitable for subsequent clinical studies and trials, with the primary objective of reducing morbidity associated with urinary catheterization procedures. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
FOLI BIO INC.
SBIR Phase I: Development of a High-Throughput Fecal Exfoliome Analyzing Platform for Clinical Drug Development
Contact
4080 BROADWAY # 247
New York, NY 10032--1572
NSF Award
2528222 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 09/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Henry Ahn
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project lies in enabling pharmaceutical companies to better evaluate and tailor treatments for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a chronic condition that affects over 3 million people in the United States. Drug development for IBD is hindered by the lack of scalable, non-invasive tools for monitoring disease activity and understanding patient variation. This project addresses that gap by developing a stool-based platform capable of capturing real-time molecular information about gut health. Unlike invasive procedures like endoscopy or conventional stool tests that offer only limited insight, this method provides a more detailed, data-rich view of gastrointestinal function over time. By helping pharmaceutical companies evaluate new drugs, identify patients most likely to benefit, and improve the design of clinical trials, this technology holds the potential to boost success rates and lower development costs. The platform is designed for integration into pharmaceutical pipelines through sustainable business models with near-term revenue and long-term licensing opportunities. On top of its commercial potential, this technology aims to advance public health by enabling more personalized treatment strategies and better outcomes for people living with IBD. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project addresses a long-standing challenge in healthcare for gut disorders: how to non-invasively access meaningful information about the human gut. Stool contains human genetic material shed from the lining of the intestine, but analyzing this material has been difficult due to the overwhelming presence of microbes and food debris. This project builds on a method that captures human gene activity from stool and aims to expand its use in drug development. The project will enhance the method to measure the activity of over 2,000 genes related to gut health and immune function, develop software tools to interpret the data, and apply the approach to biobanked stool samples from patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). By connecting gene activity patterns in stool with how patients responded to specific drug treatments, this research may help identify genetic signals that predict whether a treatment will work. The anticipated results will demonstrate how stool samples could guide more personalized and effective treatment design for people with gut disorders and support the development of new therapies. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
FOOGLY CORP
SBIR Phase I: Recovering Damaged Coastal Ecosystems Using Upcycled Food Waste
Contact
233 WASHINGTON RD
Princeton, NJ 08540--6407
NSF Award
2528313 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 09/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Rajesh Mehta
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is in the development of local manufacturing methods for synthesizing low-cost soil amendment and shoreline restoration products using local food waste inputs. Coastal erosion, declining soil health, and soil acidification threaten both ecosystems and human infrastructure across the United States. Traditional fertilizer products often rely on mined inputs, which are expensive, contribute to carbon emissions, and degrade land/marine environments during extraction. This project proposes transforming farmer?s food waste and seafood restaurant seashell waste into regenerative soil fertilizers and sea brick products, aimed at enhancing plant growth, improving soil health, and bolstering coastlines erosion resiliency. This effort aligns with national sustainability goals by reducing methane emissions from food waste, revitalizing degraded coastal and agricultural areas, and offering affordable alternatives to synthetic fertilizers. The proposed technology may lead to environmental solutions that transform America?s food waste (FW) liabilities into valuable soil amendments products. It could also create jobs in manufacturing such sustainable products, provide communities with access to local, renewable inputs, and position the United States as a leader in climate-adaptive infrastructure. By leveraging circular economy principles, this project may have a lasting impact on both environmental outcomes and economic resilience. The proposed project will build on the work done to develop a calcified FW fertilizer, using seashells to provide the minerals, with ozone(O3) and infrared(IR) irradiation to chemically modify them. The resulting shell particles irreversibly react with O3 treated FW particles, bypassing the industry-wide bottleneck of nutrient leeching. The resultant material can be formed into biodegradable sea bricks for erosion control or granulated for agricultural use. Phase I R&D and pilot-scale field tests will be used to evaluate product stability, ecological restorative properties, and agricultural yield improvements. Key metrics include plant growth rates, soil pH, soil organic matter, and soil conductivity. The ability of the materials to reduce coastal erosion and store CO2 as biomass will also be experimentally measured. The outcomes of this work will demonstrate the technical feasibility of the radical localization, mobilization, and manufacturing of local FW inputs into soil regenerative products at scale and measure the carbon emission reduction reduction potential the proposed closed-looped manufacturing procedures. The innovation underlying this technology addresses complex challenges at the intersection of coastal community climate adaptation, local FW waste valorization, and sustainable agriculture practices. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
FORAGR MEDICINES, INC
SBIR Phase I: High-throughput platform for small molecule, in-cell targeting of undruggable proteins via their mRNAs
Contact
606 BOLIN CREEK DR
Carrboro, NC 27510--1263
NSF Award
2432856 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$275,000
Start / end date
01/15/2025 – 12/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Erik Pierstorff
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will be improvement of the health and welfare of Americans by providing an efficient and cost-effective approach for developing therapeutics for previously undruggable diseases, including hard to treat neurodegenerative diseases and highly aggressive cancers. Most diseases are targeted at the protein level using small molecule drugs, but only 600 proteins have ever been drugged directly. This collective human effort has left the majority of roughly 3,000 disease-related genes in humans undrugged and unable to be drugged using conventional pharmaceutical technology. Messenger RNAs (mRNAs) lie upstream of protein expression and, in principle, can be targeted to modulate protein function and treat disease. However, the physical and chemical properties of mRNAs present unique challenges not faced during protein-based drug discovery, and there has been little success in targeting mRNAs using small molecules. This project will address this unmet need by developing small molecule drugs against hard to treat and previously undruggable diseases by targeting their mRNAs directly. The proposed project will enable critical technical innovations needed to ensure the technical and commercial viability of a nascent drug discovery platform making it high-throughput and cost effective. The high throughput drug discovery platform to be developed creates an efficient path to screen for high-value drug assets and creates multiple pathways to new classes of therapeutics. The drug discovery platform currently has outstanding robustness and accuracy in defining interactions between small molecules and mRNAs in cells. However, the platform includes bespoke and hands-on steps and will remain a research-lab-only tool without critical innovations. The proposed project will improve the platform to be capable of fully automated ligand screening in cells using a library of complex small molecules optimized to bind mRNA. Methods will be developed to screen multiplexed samples, in a quantitative way. Automation will require the integration of diverse, novel methodologies, and data deconvolution. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
FUM TECHNOLOGIES, INC
SBIR Phase I: Materials Science Digital Experts and AI-Powered Data Platform
Contact
178 HARVARD ST
Cambridge, MA 02139--2723
NSF Award
2423569 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$275,000
Start / end date
06/15/2024 – 01/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Lindsay Portnoy
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this SBIR Phase I project lies in its potential to significantly streamline the process of discovering and utilizing novel materials, vital for advancements in sectors like healthcare, energy, and national defense. A large portion of essential materials data is currently inaccessible, hidden within complex documents or known only to a handful of experts. This project aims to develop a technology that transforms this inaccessible data into useful information, drastically reducing the time needed for material selection from weeks to minutes, thereby accelerating scientific and technological advancement and enhancing national prosperity and security. The market for advanced materials is projected to grow to $2.1 trillion by 2025, and the business model for this initiative focuses on providing technological services to materials suppliers, ensuring a sustainable competitive advantage by improving access to and usability of critical data. Initially targeting the semiconductor industry and industries reliant on polymers, the strategy is to achieve significant market penetration, with anticipated substantial annual revenues by the third year of production, underlining its impact across multiple high-value industries.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project addresses the critical challenge of "dark" data in materials science?valuable data that is unutilized because it is trapped in diverse formats or accessible only to a few experts. The primary research objective is to develop an artificial intelligence-driven platform capable of extracting and synthesizing this data into an accessible and interpretable format. The proposed research involves the creation of a customizable, conversational digital expert system that leverages advanced Large Language Models (LLMs) to interact with and learn from heterogeneous data sources, including natural language texts and inconsistent file formats. This system will enable the transformation of complex datasets into structured, actionable insights, facilitating rapid and accurate materials selection and application. The anticipated technical results include the successful demonstration of the platform's ability to interpret and organize large volumes of dark data, significantly reducing the time and expertise required to access this information. This breakthrough has the potential to catalyze discoveries and innovations in materials science by making decades of accumulated data readily available for research and commercial use.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.GALLOX SEMICONDUCTORS INC.
STTR Phase I: Harnessing Gallium Oxide for High-Efficiency Power Conversion in Data Centers - Evaluation of Gallium Oxide Power Devices in Power Converters
Contact
350 DUFFIELD HALL
Ithaca, NY 14853--2700
NSF Award
2451404 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
02/01/2025 – 01/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Directors
Elizabeth Mirowski
Samir Iqbal
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial impacts of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project is to address the inefficiencies that exist within power electronics. Power electronics is the use of components and circuits to modify the voltage to make it usable. Electricity goes through many power conversion steps until charging a computer with a cumulative efficiency of <80%. By using new semiconductor materials, these power conversion steps can be made more efficient. By making power electronics more efficient, significant cost savings can be realized, making a positive economic and environmental impact. The benefits of this technology are most obvious within high power or high-power density applications. Electric vehicle charging infrastructure, solar farms, and industrial applications are commercial use cases that will directly benefit in addition to important defense applications for aerospace and weapon systems. This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project will use the next-generation ultra-wide bandgap semiconductor gallium oxide (Ga2O3). With its large bandgap and the availability of high-quality native substrates, Ga2O3 can meet emerging needs that current materials cannot readily address. Through this grant, the project team will enhance the performance of scaled-up Ga2O3 devices by refining their design to minimize losses. These improved devices will be tested in industry-relevant circuits, allowing the team to quantify their economic and technical advantages. Such circuit-level data will be instrumental in identifying the optimal operating conditions (e.g., voltage, power, frequency) for Ga2O3-based devices and in guiding further engineering efforts. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
GALVANIX INC.
SBIR Phase I: Novel Process for Neodymium Manufacturing Using Continuous Chloride Electrolysis
Contact
50 FAIRWAY TRL
Moreland Hills, OH 44022--2378
NSF Award
2450998 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
03/01/2025 – 02/28/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Vincent Lee
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will be to alleviate societal reliance on pollution intensive processes for the production of the Rare Earth metal neodymium. Neodymium is essential to permanent magnets which are key to a wide range of modern technologies including wind turbines, electric vehicles, cell phones, and defense applications such as fighter jets, submarines and drones making a domestic supply critical. Our alternative to the current technology is protected by a combination of patent applications and trade secrets, both competitive advantages which are expected to expand via this project. A toll manufacturing business model is intended to help deploy the technology while insulating the startup company from commodity price fluctuations. The proposed technology is presently the sole market offering for the startup and thus this project is essential to the success of the company. The company intends to target domestic supply chain applications for initial market entry bolstering domestic manufacturing and improving national security. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to disrupt the current (>90% market share) oxyfluoride molten salt electrolysis for reduction of neodymium metal. The current oxyfluoride process is a semi-batch process that relies on consumption of a graphite anode which produces carbon dioxide and perfluorocarbons pollutants. The direct generation of perfluorocarbons, which are strictly regulated by the US EPA, makes domestic deployment of the oxyfluoride process challenging and costly. A novel alternative molten salt electrolysis process has been developed that is more electrically efficient than oxyfluoride. However, the process was originally developed for intermediate temperature, solid neodymium reduction. To achieve cost-competitiveness, this project aims to advance the novel process to run stably for extended durations at higher temperatures where liquid neodymium can be produced continuously, achieving cost-advantaged neodymium reduction. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
GELASTOMERICS LLC
SBIR Phase I: Bringing Intrinsic Lubricity to the Medical Elastomer Market
Contact
1830 OVERLOOK DR
Fort Collins, CO 80526--3315
NSF Award
2507798 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
05/01/2025 – 04/30/2028 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Henry Ahn
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to bring a new hydrogel elastomer technology to market. This technology was engineered to address the acute need for (and conspicuous absence of) intrinsically lubricious, elastomer materials in the today?s medical plastics marketplace. Medical device manufacturers produce millions of elastomeric devices designed for intimate contact with biological tissues and fluids, but rely heavily on the use of costly, capital- and labor-intensive coating processes to achieve the sustained, biologically inert, surface lubricity. Catheter systems designed to enable minimally invasive surgical access to remote intravascular spaces constitute one such set of important examples. However, even routine catheters designed for biological fluid collection, delivery and drainage, and day-to-day healthcare consumables such as medical tubing, containers, and bags - all rely on combined elasticity and biologically non-reactive surface hydrophilicity as key components of their design and function. As a versatile, drop-in elastomer alternative, this new technology offers the promise of pushing the technological capabilities and improving the performance and function of a broad spectrum of tissue contacting devices, eliminating the need for economically burdensome coating solutions, and transforming current archetypes in device design and manufacturing. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is focused on the R&D activities designed to establish the viability of this new hydrogel elastomer technology as a versatile, drop-in alternative in intravascular catheter componentry design and manufacture specifically. Customer discovery has indicated the introduction of intrinsically lubricious elastomer technology into the intravascular catheter design space could eliminate up to 25% of the current manufacturing costs associated with current coating processes while simultaneously providing a technological advantage that helps push the current limits of least invasive surgical devices and their ability to access deeper, more remote vascular spaces. Challenges to be addressed include validating that the new hydrogel elastomer technology can be formulated to meet the diversity of technical performance demands required for use in catheter componentry, namely tunable stiffness and flexibility, durable lubricity, biocompatibility (including hemocompatibility), and a tolerance to standard device sterilization protocols used throughout the medical device industry. Expected results from the planned R&D activities include the generation of key composite formulations of the new elastomer technology demonstrating defined benchmarks in the above performance categories over a range of material hardnesses and flexibilities. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
GIANT BIOSYSTEMS INC.
SBIR Phase I: High-Throughput AST Using Gradient-Based Microfluidic
Contact
87 MARION AVE
Pasadena, CA 91106--2008
NSF Award
2444168 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
03/01/2025 – 02/28/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Henry Ahn
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to create a rapid point-of-care antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) kit that can be run on the same day the sample is taken. This will help physicians to utilize the best antibiotic at the optimal dosage sooner, reducing the number of exposures for antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Such infections are responsible for more than 2.8 million infections and 35,000 deaths annually in the U.S. The integration of the proposed platform with mobile devices for result interpretation ensures that it can be widely deployed, including in resource-limited settings and during emergencies. This adoptability is crucial for promptly responding to future pandemics and ensuring that even remote or underserved areas have access to advanced diagnostic capabilities. This project will help to reduce the economic burden associated with AMR ($20 billion/year) and infectious diseases ($41 billion/year). Once commercialized, the proposed platform is expected to promote better antibiotic stewardship, reducing antibiotic release into the environment. Antibiotics in plants and the food chain pose risks to human and animal health, and contribute to the spread of resistant bacteria, making infections harder to treat and increasing outbreak risk. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will develop a novel microfluidic platform for rapid and precise AST. Current methods, such as broth microdilution and Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion, are limited by long turnaround times of 3-5 days. This delay leads to a postponement in adjusting antibiotics. Even emerging rapid diagnostic systems, while quicker, still require >20 hours to provide results, resulting in >4 doses of broad-spectrum antibiotics before precision adjustments can be made. The proposed platform generates actionable results within 6-9 hours from time of sample, as opposed to the conventional 3-5 days, identifying not only the most efficacious drug but also the appropriate dose. In the short-term, the technology will improve patient outcomes, particularly in life-threatening conditions like sepsis. In the long-term, more precise antibiotic usage promotes stewardship and extends the overall value we can derive from antibiotics before resistance mechanisms become ubiquitous. Three primary areas of risk will be addressed during this project: 1. Compatibility with scalable manufacturing materials used in injection molding, 2. Extending the shelf life to >6 months by lyophilizing pre-loaded antibiotics, and 3. Creating colorimetric interpretation software that can run on mobile devices to provide accessible and objective analysis and readouts. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
GIWOTECH INC.
STTR Phase I: Accelerating Molecular Dynamics using Coarse-Grained Neural Network Potentials
Contact
100 MORRISSEY BLVD
Boston, MA 02125--3300
NSF Award
2451680 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
07/15/2025 – 06/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Erik Pierstorff
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project is to revolutionize drug discovery by accelerating molecular dynamics simulations through advanced AI techniques. This project aims to reduce drug development timelines by 2-5 years and cut costs by $300 million to $1 billion per approved drug. By enhancing the speed and accuracy of simulations, this technology will enable faster screening of potential drug candidates, improving the prediction of drug efficacy and side effects, and potentially increasing clinical trial success rates by 20-30%. The innovation will enhance scientific understanding by revealing previously unknown protein conformations and binding sites, potentially leading to breakthroughs in personalized medicine and treatments for rare diseases. The market opportunity lies in the pharmaceutical industry, where the technology can provide a competitive advantage by significantly reducing the time and cost of drug development. The business model involves service to pharmaceutical companies, with potential annual revenues projected to reach $2-5 million by year three of production, targeting the initial market segment of pharmaceutical companies focused on rare diseases and personalized medicine. This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project addresses the limitations of current molecular dynamics simulations, including insufficient sampling, model inaccuracies, and complex data interpretation. The research objectives of this project are to develop a robust neural network model capable of simulating protein systems up to 500 times faster than current Graphics Processing Unit-based classical Molecular Dynamic simulators while maintaining accuracy and stability. The proposed research combines four key advancements: enhanced coarse-grained mapping to reduce inherent noise in atomic forces, advanced energy matching techniques for estimating absolute free energies, active learning for continuous model refinement, and Hessian matching for improved interpolation and extrapolation capabilities. The project involves rigorous mathematical derivations, extensive data generation, and iterative model improvements to overcome technical challenges including hidden entropy contributions and the need for comprehensive training datasets. The anticipated technical results include a platform that significantly accelerates drug discovery processes, enabling the exploration of rare molecular events and complex biological systems. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
GLAIVE MEDICAL OPTICS INC
SBIR Phase I: Development of A Novel Visible-Light Phase Shifter and Intraocular Lens to Improve Vision for Those With Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Contact
1903 WOODBERRY AVE
Shreveport, LA 71106--8550
NSF Award
2451179 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,998
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 09/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Ed Chinchoy
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is a novel implantable lens for shifting the phase of visible-light phase to mitigate vision loss due to age related macular degeneration and damaged retinal regions. Age-related macular degeneration is a chronic and progressive eye disease affecting more than 20 million people in the US and 200 million people worldwide and often results in irreversible blindness. No permanent solution currently exists for treating age-related macular degeneration and mitigating vision loss until surgical interventions may be required. This proposed system aims to provide a permanent means for shifting the area of focus of visible light onto a viable region of the retina for restoring vision to help patients complete common everyday activities, reduce costs of care associated with vision loss and reduce the resulting emotional or health-related burden of macular degeneration. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to complete the development of an electronic implantable intraocular lens through a novel implantable low power rechargeable visible-light phase shifter and subsequent optical phased arrays. Current optical phased arrays require high-power consumption with a large footprint, impeding their effectiveness in a commercializable, fully implantable biocompatible device. This project aims to address several critical technical hurdles by developing an energy-efficient metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitor, small-form factor optical phased array in an intraocular implantable device capable of electronically adjusting and shifting visible light frequencies to alternative viable regions of the retina. The study team will conduct systematic modeling to map the performance of key functions and determine the optimal waveguide geometry. Once finalized, the study team will fabricate the devices and measure their performance using standard optical benchmarking measurements relative to a reference waveguide. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
GLOW THERAPEUTICS INC.
SBIR Phase I: The TPMAL Platform for Targeted Delivery of Photodynamic Therapy and Chemotherapy to Peritoneal Metastasis
Contact
819 D ST NE UNIT 11
Washington, DC 20002--6597
NSF Award
2507639 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
06/15/2025 – 05/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Henry Ahn
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project focuses on advancing a novel light-activatable nanoplatform to improve the management of peritoneal metastasis and enhance patient quality of life. Peritoneal metastasis is a common pattern of disease spread in advanced gynecological and gastrointestinal cancers. There are nearly 1.2 million patients globally, with around 75,000 new cases diagnosed annually in the United States. Specifically, colorectal peritoneal metastasis remains particularly challenging to treat, with a high recurrence rate of over 65%. Unfortunately, the overall survival and disease management has only modestly improved in the past 30 years. The U.S. peritoneal cancer market is projected to reach approximately USD 1.0 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate of 9.1% from 2024 to 2030. This underscores the urgent therapeutic and economic need for innovative strategies to treat colorectal peritoneal metastasis. One promising clinical advancement is intraperitoneal photodynamic therapy (PDT), which can be integrated into standard laparotomy or laparoscopic procedures. Currently, there are over 100 active or recruiting clinical trials related to PDT. This nanoplatform enables efficient co-delivery of PDT and chemotherapy to selectively target cancer cells that could not be removed by surgery, potentially improving patient survival. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will help bridge the translational gap of a novel light-activatable nanoplatform, facilitating its successful commercialization for the treatment of peritoneal metastasis. The nanoplatform is designed for the targeted co-delivery of PDT and chemotherapy to eliminate tumors left after surgery. The nanoplatform combines antibody-photosensitizer conjugates and liposomal chemotherapy to enhance the safety and efficacy of PDT. Following injection, harmless red-light selectivity activates PDT within cancer cells, inducing cancer cell death while minimizing damage to healthy cells. This Phase I project will help de-risk the translation of the nanoplatform from bench to bedside by developing a scale able manufacturing process, determining the optimal drug administration route, and identifying PDT threshold. To achieve these goals, the key objectives are to: 1) Compare the pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of the nanoplatform following intravenous or intraperitoneal administration, and 2) Establish the photobleaching threshold of PDT. Insights from this study will accelerate clinical translation and ultimately provide surgeons with an alternative treatment for peritoneal metastasis. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
GOODMAN CONSULTING GROUP, LLC
SBIR Phase I: Pathogen Interception: A new method for finding and identifying genetic sequences
Contact
3749 N PLACITA VERGEL
Tucson, AZ 85719--1439
NSF Award
2230484 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$275,000
Start / end date
05/01/2023 – 12/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Erik Pierstorff
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will be the ability to quickly and inexpensively determine the presence and genetic sequence of a wide variety of pathogenic organisms. Most importantly, this technology could be implemented without prior assumptions as to which organisms are expected. Sequencing will be accomplished by direct electrical identification of the building blocks, the bases, of the genomic sequence. The potential societal impact of this technology is to provide a method to screen individuals quickly (under a minute) for the presence of infections. Screening at ports of entry and in appropriate community settings will minimize disease transmission and allow for the quick identification and treatment of any infected individuals at US borders. In addition, beyond this immediate application, the technology may also enhance scientific understanding of normal genetic sequences in any organism. If its anticipated speed, high accuracy, and low cost are realized, this technology may find applications in human in vitro diagnostics and human genome sequencing. The studies in this Phase I project will lead to a proof-of-concept demonstration for an automated, commercial instrument.
The project seeks to determine the identity and order of the genetic building blocks, the nucleotide bases, comprising any genomic sequences present in a sample solution. This sequencing will be done by examining the ability of each base in the sequence to modify a tunneling current as it is passed by electrophoresis across two very closely spaced tunneling electrodes. Tunneling is a well-known quantum mechanical effect, and it is quite sensitive to the electrical configuration of the object (here a given specific nucleotide base) present between its electrodes. Experiments with this technology to date have been unsuccessful because genetic sequences have not been able to be moved slowly enough across the tunneling electrodes for their bases to be distinguished. The studies here will overcome this problem by modifications of the geometry and solution conditions of the electrophoresis and possibly with improved methods of tunneling current detection. The data obtained through the application of this technology is expected to enhance the current understanding of nucleotide base chemistry. The solution may permit the detection of nucleotide base modifications of potential biological and medical importance.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.GRAPHENETX INC
STTR Phase I: Development of a Melt Spinnable Polyacrylonitrile-based Carbon Fiber Precursor
Contact
17217 WATERVIEW PKWY
Dallas, TX 75252--8004
NSF Award
2450261 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
05/15/2025 – 04/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Vincent Lee
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project is the introduction a cost competitive carbon fiber production from melt-extrudable polymer precursors. Ever since the commercialization of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based solution processing of carbon fiber production in 1960s, there have been no changes to address the use of hazardous solvents and high process cost. This project will replace the current solvent spinning process-based polymer precursor fiber production with melt-spinning and eliminate the use of harmful solvents in spinning process and thereby reduce the production costs, investment costs, and health hazards. The new technology will produce high strength carbon fiber at a reduced cost by 30-40% compared to the current technology. The lower cost of carbon fiber will open up the long-sought application by automotive, offshore wind energy and other industries where carbon fiber composites are used. This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project is to develop a novel manufacturing process to extrude our patented polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based quad polymer into precursor fibers, which are carbonized to produce carbon fibers. High strength carbon fibers have been produced from the PAN based precursor fibers by solvent spinning process since it was developed in 1958. The precursors are still produced by solution spinning of the polyacrylonitrile-based polymers in toxic organic solvents such as dimethyl sulfoxide and dimethylformamide. These toxic solvents have to be contained, collected, and recycled which adds to high manufacturing costs of carbon fibers. Additional drawbacks in the solvent process include fibers with porosity that prevent the final carbon fiber to reach high strength and slow drawing speed. This results in low manufacturing productivity. The STTR project innovates with a new melt-extrudable polyacrylonitrile-based quad polymer and a melt-spinning process for making precursor fibers. Currently, there is no commercial manufacturing of precursor fibers produced using dry melt-extrusion process to produce the precursor fibers for carbon fiber production. This process will also eliminate the use of hazardous solvent during the precursor fiber extrusion process. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
GROUND CONTROL ROBOTICS, INC.
STTR Phase I: Weed Control Via Terradynamically Robust Robots
Contact
720 HUNTING VIEW POINT
Atlanta, GA 30328--2784
NSF Award
2335553 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$275,000
Start / end date
02/15/2024 – 09/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Elizabeth Mirowski
Errata
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Abstract
This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project develops a robotic platform that can provide automated weed control throughout crop development stages. In recent years, weed control costs have been growing due to the rise of herbicide-resistant weeds and the increase in costs of agricultural labor. Additionally, increased demand for fruits and vegetables leaves these specialty crop farmers struggling to find options to increase productivity while keeping expenses manageable. Several companies offer automated weed control in vegetables; however, these large platforms struggle not to damage fruit in berry orchards. This project aims to develop swarms of robotic devices that can operate underneath the plant canopy to provide mechanical weed control for berries throughout the year without impacting plant growth. This technological development will enable domestic fruit production to meet the growing consumer demand and allow for less chemical use in fruit production, reducing herbicide-associated health risks to farm workers and consumers. Long term, these devices can augment weed control strategies in other crops and perform different agricultural tasks such as fungicide treatments and plant health monitoring, with the goal of automating agriculture to be more efficient and sustainable.
This Small Business Technology Transfer project aims to develop rugged, low-to-the-ground, multi-legged robots that can locomote in various agricultural fields. This technology builds off of recent works demonstrating the effectiveness of centipedes and centipede-like robots when traveling over diverse terrains. When properly coordinated, these mechanically redundant legged systems demonstrate robust locomotion in complex terrain without the need for sensory feedback. This project will leverage this platform and perform systematic robot experimentation and theoretical modeling to develop coordination schemes for various maneuvers in agricultural terrain analogues. These strategies will then be implemented on a hardened robot to reliably locomote beneath the canopy in crop fields and identify weeds using an onboard camera and computer vision techniques. This device will make use of low-cost components and principles of mobility in complex environments to deliver guaranteed locomotion in these unpredictable terrains. Eventually, swarms of these devices will be deployed on various crop fields to provide autonomous weed management throughout the growing season, decreasing the costs of production for farmers and consumers. This project will result in a robust robotic platform that can provide cheap, reliable, all-terrain locomotion and such a device can extend beyond agriculture to address other U.S. sectors such as search-and-rescue and defense.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.H2C ENERGY INC.
STTR Phase I: High Throughput Discovery of Catalysts for Water Electrolysis Anion-Exchange Membranes
Contact
32 WALTHAM ST
Woburn, MA 01801--5970
NSF Award
2528067 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$301,578
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 09/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Mara Schindelholz
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project lies in its potential to significantly advance the availability and affordability of clean hydrogen, a critical component for transitioning heavy industries for meeting atmospheric carbon targets. Today, most hydrogen is produced through fossil fuel-intensive processes, contributing substantially to undesirable emissions. On the other hand, the high cost and limited efficiency of existing renewable hydrogen production methods have constrained widespread adoption. By developing an innovative approach for hydrogen generation, this project addresses critical needs including cost efficiency, resource abundance, and scalability. Achieving competitively priced clean hydrogen can revolutionize industries such as steel manufacturing, ammonia production, and heavy transportation, directly aligning with national objectives for energy independence, economic growth, and environmental stewardship. Successful commercialization of this technology would position the United States as a leader in clean energy innovation, creating numerous high-skilled jobs and contributing substantially to tax revenues while fostering a resilient and robust industrial base. This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) project aims to advance a groundbreaking technology for hydrogen production, employing innovative anion exchange membrane water electrolyzers (AEMWE). The primary technical innovation involves an artificial intelligence-driven discovery process for catalysts and electrolyzer components that are exceptionally efficient, durable, and do not rely on critical minerals such as iridium and platinum. Current electrolyzers struggle to operate effectively at high current densities and face rapid degradation. The novel electrolyzer developed here uniquely incorporates advanced self-regenerating catalyst materials discovered through an AI-guided robotic experimental platform, offering unprecedented operational lifetimes while at current densities tenfold higher than existing systems. The project's research scope includes validating these newly discovered catalysts, optimizing their performance, and rigorously testing electrolyzer configurations under realistic operational conditions. This transformative approach represents a high-risk but highly impactful innovation, capable of rapidly accelerating progress toward affordable, environment-aligned hydrogen production on a global scale. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
HIDALGA TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
SBIR Phase I: AI-Driven Platform for Prior Authorization Automation and Workflow Optimization in Oncology Specialty Healthcare
Contact
3352 CORSICA TER
Springdale, AR 72764--7590
NSF Award
2507367 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,935
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 09/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Alastair Monk
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project lies in transforming oncology prior authorization (PA) processes through artificial intelligence (AI) automation. Current PA systems are labor-intensive, causing costly delays in life-saving cancer treatments. This innovation aims to streamline treatment approvals, reducing administrative burdens and supporting faster patient access to care. By leveraging natural language processing and machine learning, the platform could improve workflow efficiency, decrease PA processing times, and increase initial PA approval rates. The commercial potential is significant, with the U.S. oncology clinics market of $454 million. The business model follows a subscription-based software approach, ensuring scalability and recurring revenue. The company projects over $8 million in revenue and break even by year three, positioning itself for long-term growth and acquisition by major healthcare IT firms. This project will advance scientific understanding of AI applications in healthcare administration while providing a scalable, competitive solution to a critical inefficiency in US healthcare. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to develop and validate an AI-driven platform to automate prior authorization (PA) processing in oncology clinics, addressing a critical bottleneck in timely cancer treatment. Current PA workflows are manual, time-consuming, and prone to missing documents and errors, delaying treatment initiation by an average of two weeks and leading to increased patient mortality. This project will integrate natural language processing (NLP), machine learning (ML), and reinforcement learning (RL) to streamline PA submission, predict approval likelihoods, and optimize workflows. The research objectives include (1) developing NLP models to extract key clinical data from unstructured medical records, (2) training ML models to predict PA outcomes with high accuracy based on historical and real-time data, and (3) implementing RL-driven workflow automation to optimize PA submissions and follow-ups. The outcomes will establish a foundation for broader deployment across multiple specialties, enhancing healthcare operational efficiency nationwide. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
HOMININ.AI INC.
SBIR Phase I: Identifying Movement-Based Biomarkers with Large Movement Models Using Commercial Headphones
Contact
650 S ORCAS ST STE 103
Seattle, WA 98108--2652
NSF Award
2451164 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$302,668
Start / end date
08/01/2025 – 07/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Directors
Parvathi Chundi
Peter Atherton
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation (SBIR) Phase I project is to translate ordinary human walking into movement-based biomarkers of personal health using commercially available wireless headphones. These biomarkers can be used to identify early indicators of musculoskeletal or neurological disease, predict exacerbations in health conditions allowing early intervention, and optimize injury recovery. Health monitoring outside of the clinic is urgently needed to reduce costs and lower the burden on the US healthcare system. Chronic musculoskeletal pain costs $600B per year and affects approximately half of the US population. Combined with the cost of neurological diseases, this rises to almost $1T. Early intervention and expanded access to at-home monitoring and rehabilitation can reduce the burden and economic impact of these diseases. The company has developed a novel approach to quantify individuals? unique walking patterns and identify changes to individuals? walking mechanics that indicate pathology. This project will combine methods across multiple scientific disciplines to construct novel machine learning models that establish a personal baseline for each individual and flag changes to that baseline that indicate pathology, enabling increased access to personalized, preventative healthcare to reduce clinical burden, thus reducing cost of care and lost productivity. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is focused on developing a software system to provide real-time, precise monitoring of user health through movement monitoring outside of the clinic. This project will advance the development of novel deep learning models to identify movement-based biomarkers captured by commercially available wearable devices to increase access and reduce the cost of preventative care. The R&D of this proposed project has three technical objectives: i.) building a mobile application to collect and analyze human motion recorded by consumer headphones, ii.) conducting a systematic study with human subjects under test conditions simulating pathology, and iii.) building a software package that uses deep learning models (Large Movement Models) to establish an individual?s baseline and identify deviations from that baseline. The expected result of this work is an innovative, personalized deep learning model that can be deployed through API licensing across any consumer wearable device containing an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) sensor. Through widespread adoption of this technology, the anticipated outcome of this project is expanded access to preventative monitoring and predictive health outside of the clinic. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
HYDROPORE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
STTR Phase I: Zinc-Assisted Two-Step Electrolyzer for Clean Hydrogen Production Using Low Purity Water
Contact
3401 GRAYS FERRY AVE BLDG 176-1090
Philadelphia, PA 19146--2701
NSF Award
2528022 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 03/31/2027 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Mara Schindelholz
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project is to enable small-scale hydrogen users to produce their own hydrogen fuel on-site and on-demand. Currently, delivering hydrogen to end users requires the use of highly pressurized tanks, which can be expensive for small-scale users and raise safety concerns. To tackle this issue, this STTR Phase I project will develop a compact, portable device that generates clean hydrogen fuel using energy from sunlight or wind. This will allow for clean hydrogen production exactly where it is needed and when it is needed, with applications ranging from hydrogen fuel cell drones and forklifts to heavy-duty trucks. Additionally, this device, which is made from materials abundant in the U.S., will store renewable energy, allowing users to produce hydrogen even when sunlight or wind energy is unavailable. This innovation aims to make hydrogen a more accessible and affordable energy source, particularly for those who lack reliable access to traditional power grids. Conventional water electrolyzers that split water into hydrogen fuel and oxygen require high-purity water and cannot produce hydrogen off-grid. Producing hydrogen off-grid, on-site, and on-demand using low-purity water is desirable for many applications. This project aims to address the limitation of conventional electrolyzers by developing an innovative zinc-assisted two-step electrolyzer that uses low-purity water to produce hydrogen off-grid, on-site, and on-demand. In step #1, hydrogen is produced when activated zinc spontaneously reacts with water, without requiring electrical energy input. This reaction converts the activated zinc into zinc oxide. In step #2, oxygen is produced when electrical energy (e.g., from renewable sources) is used to electrochemically convert the spent zinc oxide back to activated Zn, regenerating it for reuse in the next cycle. The electrochemical conversion of the inactive zinc oxide back to activated Zn stores renewable energy in Zn, that is effectively used to produce hydrogen in the next cycle. This STTR project will support the development of a prototype commercial-scale two-step electrolyzer by overcoming two technical hurdles: (i) First, reducing the high reaction overpotentials that arise during oxygen evolution in practical commercial-scale electrodes. This will require transitioning from small-sized electrodes with low mass loading to large-sized electrodes with high mass loading. (ii) Second, finding operating conditions that enable the use of non-desalinated seawater in the two-step electrolyzer. These conditions must not allow the formation of unwanted side products that can degrade the activated zinc. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
HYPOGENICA LLC
STTR Phase I: Microbially-Produced Precipitated Calcium Carbonates (mPCCs) as a Paint Filler
Contact
7 ROLLINGWOOD
Tuscaloosa, AL 35406--2263
NSF Award
2451297 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,901
Start / end date
07/15/2025 – 06/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Vincent Lee
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project is the production of particulate calcium carbonates, which are an important filler used in paints, plastics, adhesives, and paper; products that play a crucial role in numerous industries, including construction and consumer goods. Traditional methods for producing high-quality particulate calcium carbonates are costly, energy-intensive processes that create supply chain risks and increase operational expenses for U.S. manufacturers. This project leverages a breakthrough biological process that produces high-quality calcium carbonates using bacteria, offering a reliable and cost-effective alternative to conventional manufacturing. This innovation has the potential to strengthen domestic production, reduce dependence on imported materials, and support industries that rely on these materials for high-performance products. By improving manufacturing efficiency and creating opportunities for new production hubs, our work promotes scientific progress and contributes to national prosperity. This research also opens pathways for advancements in microbial manufacturing, reinforcing the U.S. position as a leader in cutting-edge material science. The current global particulate calcium carbonate market is worth $14.5 billion, but this work will initially focus on high-value niche applications, such as cosmetics and water treatment. This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project aims to scale a novel carbonate precipitation pathway in bacteria to produce industrially relevant precipitated calcium carbonates (PCCs). Micron-scale calcium carbonates have a number of industrial uses (in paper, thermoplastics, sealants and adhesives, and paints), providing a higher consistency in size, color, and chemistry, compared to cheaper alternatives. Nonetheless, traditional manufacturing processes are costly and relies on energy-intensive limestone sintering. This technology relies on cellular Ca²? homeostasis in Escherichia coli, wherein the cell removes potentially toxic levels of Ca2+ via the production of precipitated calcium carbonates. The research will determine the scalability of production using this approach, while optimizing conditions to improve yield and product consistency. This will be accomplished by focusing on three key challenges: increasing production rates at bench (5 L) scale; examining techniques to improve the scalability of calcium carbonate recovery; and characterizing secondary, high value products (such as vaterite) formed during pre-aggregation phases. The obtained precipitated calcium carbonates will then be tested against commercially available products, to determine whether they meet or exceed industry standards. Anticipated results include the development of a scalable, cost-competitive alternative to sintered calcium carbonates that maintains the desired physical and chemical properties for use in paints and coatings. This research advances fundamental understanding of biomineralization processes while enabling a novel biotechnology approach with the potential to transform industrial precipitated calcium carbonate production. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
ICARUS QUANTUM INC.
SBIR Phase I: A Tunable Source of On-Demand Single and Entangled Photons
Contact
397 PEARL ST
Boulder, CO 80302--4928
NSF Award
2507504 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 09/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Peter Atherton
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project lies in its potential to shape the quantum economy, unlocking new applications across fields ranging from pharmaceuticals to optimization and finance. Successful implementation of both short- and long-range quantum networking will provide the foundational infrastructure for data center-scale quantum computing and secure communication - two critical pillars for the future security of governments and industries alike. The proposed entangled photon device offers over 70-fold improvement in efficiency compared to current technologies, reducing system cost while accelerating the transition toward quantum advantage. By enabling modular quantum computing and supporting the distribution of entangled photon pairs, the proposed technology represents a necessary step toward realizing a functional quantum internet. The project aims to deliver a commercial-grade entangled photon generator by 2028. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) project aims to evaluate the feasibility of generating high-fidelity, polarization-entangled photon pairs with high efficiency using semiconductor quantum dots (QDs). In strategic collaboration with NIST, the company has already demonstrated the ability to produce high-purity, indistinguishable single photons that surpass industry benchmarks, positioning it to advance toward deterministic entangled photon generation. The proposed project will utilize a QD chip, incorporating a p-i-n junction to stabilize the charge environment, embedded in an optical cavity and subjected to controlled mechanical strain to eliminate fine structure splitting by restoring QD symmetry. This approach ensures indistinguishability in all degrees of freedom except polarization, resulting in a high-fidelity entangled photon source. Embedding the QD in a cavity also reduces its radiative lifetime, enabling a high-rate, lifetime-limited entangled photon pair generation. The projected outcome of this project is a compact, chip-scale entangled photon generator, serving as a foundational component in the company?s planned turnkey device for scalable quantum networking. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
IHNNOVA LLC
STTR Phase I: Hand-Held Induction Heaters for Pancreatic and Prostatic Cancer Treatment
Contact
234 CALLE ERNESTO RAMOS ANTONINI, MAYAGUEZ BAJOS
Mayaguez, PR 00680-
NSF Award
2404556 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$275,000
Start / end date
10/01/2024 – 09/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Ed Chinchoy
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is a portable device providing focused magnetic field applications for treating cancer using magnetic nanoparticle-based cancer strategies, but in patients with metallic implants (e.g., joint replacements, pacemakers, stents) who are currently ineligible for the treatment due to their peripheral effects. Cancer treatments typically require customized strategies and the appropriate tools for treatment without damaging the surrounding tissues. The proposed innovation aims to provide contactless heating of electrically conductive materials in challenging areas to directly access of the patient, enabling access to a subset of patients for an emerging therapy for cancer treatment who are currently ineligible due to compatibility issues with the form of energy delivery and their peripheral effects. The potential opportunity of the 2 million patients with either pancreatic and prostate cancer who may be contraindicated for existing systems represents a 131MM annual market opportunity.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to advance the development and evaluation of hand-held induction heaters for cancer treatment. The system aims to provide magnetic fluid hyperthermia (MFH), an emerging electromagnetic thermal treatment for treating cancer. The system proposes benefits to current larger and more complex systems with exclusion criteria for patients with metallic implants below their neck due to heating risks. The objectives are to (a) develop methods to deliver signi?cant thermal energy to pancreatic and prostate porcine organs in vivo, and (b) characterize and validate the extent and severity of tissue damage using patented, unique, deep technology on swine models. This project will focus on its feasibility as a cancer treatment, to advance the proposed technology from a Technology Readiness Level 4, representing laboratory validation, to Level 6 indicating the technology has been validated in a relevant environment. The Phase 1 results will finalize feasibility assessments for a novel instrument that enables an emerging MFH cancer treatment but for currently contraindicated patients, into clinical practice for human use, at a future stage.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.IMMUNO NANO MED, INC
STTR Phase I: Room Temperature Stable, Dry Powder Particle-Based Vaccines Against Influenza
Contact
5021 ATRB
Ames, IA 50011--0001
NSF Award
2528179 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 09/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Henry Ahn
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project is to demonstrate room-temperature-stable, dry powder inhalable influenza vaccines represent as an innovative, next generation technology to promote the health and welfare of the American public by eliminating the existing pain points of current influenza vaccines. The global influenza vaccine market size is projected to increase to $17.77 billion by 2032. Therefore, the demand for innovative vaccines against seasonal respiratory viruses remains a high priority. These dry powder vaccines introduce a transformative innovation ? induction of durable protective immunity that targets both the upper and lower airways via nasal delivery and removing the cold chain due to room-temperature shelf stability, thereby lowering vaccine costs and wastage. This outcome can result in cost savings of up to 80%. The economic and social benefits of this vaccine technology will lead to achieving and maintaining a significant market share of the flu vaccine market. Additionally, this technology?s plug-and-play capability allows swapping pathogen-specific proteins and creating new inhalable room-temperature-stable vaccines for other respiratory pathogens. Altogether, this advance will significantly lower storage costs while improving our nation?s strategic preparedness in stockpiling vaccines against circulating disease, emerging threats, or biowarfare agents. This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project will demonstrate the feasibility of producing a novel room-temperature-stable, dry-powder inhalable influenza vaccine and using a new scalable process to manufacture the vaccine. Current flu shots do not provide lung-specific immune responses and require refrigerated storage. This project?s value proposition is to replace current needle-in-the-arm, partially effective flu shots with next-generation vaccines and delivery methods. This project enables the risk-reducing R&D needed to advance a dry powder vaccine manufacturing technology called Payload Reduction and Encapsulation Technology (PRET). The goal is to demonstrate feasibility of this manufacturing method by showing dry powder influenza vaccines synthesized by PRET result in reproducible dry powder vaccine characteristics, high vaccine yields, protection against influenza infection, and room-temperature shelf stability. There are three objectives that will be pursued to demonstrate this: 1) feasibility of achieving initial pilot-scale production and characterization of dry powder influenza vaccines using PRET; 2) dry powder influenza vaccine efficacy compared to traditional flu vaccines; and 3) production of influenza particle-based vaccines using scaled-up engineering runs and evaluation of room-temperature shelf-life. The new paradigm represented by room-temperature-stable, dry powder vaccines has the potential to transform the vaccine-delivery landscape and enhance the nation?s pandemic preparedness. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
INCUENTRO LLC
STTR Phase I: Enhancing Career Decision-making for Individuals with ASD Through Adaptive Vocational Assessment Using Reinforcement Learning
Contact
11518 SHADOW WAY ST
Houston, TX 77024--5216
NSF Award
2506644 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,951
Start / end date
04/01/2025 – 03/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Lindsay Portnoy
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project lies in its transformative approach to addressing the critical employment challenges faced by over 5 million autistic adults in the U.S. where unemployment rates soar as high as 85% and many remain underemployed. Current vocational assessments are not only costly and time-consuming but also fail to capture the unique strengths of these individuals. This unique innovation leverages advanced reinforcement learning (RL) integrated with an immersive virtual reality (VR) environment to gather detailed skills, interests, and behavioral data, thereby enabling precise and adaptive job matching. This project enhances scientific and technological understanding by exploring the intersection of AI and VR within the field of neurodiversity, setting a new benchmark for personalized career support. Initially serving high school students and job training programs, the system is poised for expansion into state vocational rehabilitation agencies, creating a sustainable, subscription-based commercial model that provides a durable competitive advantage. By empowering autistic individuals to secure meaningful employment, the solution not only meets a significant market need but also promises to measurably reduce economic dependency projected to reach $11.5 trillion by 2029 to enhance workplace success to positively impact thousands of lives by year three. This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project addresses the critical challenge of vocational assessment for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by developing an innovative AI-powered virtual reality (VR) system. The project aims to overcome the limitations of conventional evaluation methods by integrating advanced cognitive modeling and reinforcement learning (RL) algorithms to deliver adaptive, personalized vocational assessments and job matching solutions. The research involves simulating real-world vocational environments within VR to capture comprehensive performance metrics and behavioral data. In parallel, synthetic data generation via cognitive models replicates ASD-specific interaction patterns, thereby augmenting the training dataset for the RL framework. This dual approach enables continuous optimization of assessment strategies and job recommendation algorithms based on real-time user feedback. The anticipated technical results include improved accuracy in skill assessment and job matching, reduced evaluation bias, and enhanced predictive performance of vocational outcomes. Moreover, the system?s design incorporates a scalable framework amenable to integration into existing vocational training and human resources infrastructures, thereby offering substantial commercial potential. By leveraging interdisciplinary principles from AI, human-computer interaction, and behavioral sciences, this project promises significant advancements in personalized vocational evaluation and employment integration. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
INERTIAL CORPORATION
STTR Phase I: Supersonic Inertial Separation for Carbon Capture Technologies
Contact
1623 W FULTON ST
Chicago, IL 60612--2507
NSF Award
2508025 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
06/01/2025 – 03/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Rajesh Mehta
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project is in cryogenically capturing CO2 and H2O waste from industrial exhaust streams and converting them into sellable products. It aims to simultaneously freeze water and CO2 out of industrial exhaust streams with its unique swirling axisymmetric nozzles at locations such as power plants, manufacturing plants, and cement production. The CO2 captured using this technique can then be sold to a downstream customer looking to turn CO2 into a value-added product (e.g. CO2-to-fuel, CO2-to-building materials, etc.) and the captured water can be sold back to local municipal water systems to ease water stress in arid climates. Such an approach can reduce the deleterious impacts of industrial exhaust on local populations and enhance its commercial appeal even amid potential changes in the regulatory environment around emissions. The intellectual merit of the project lies in the design, validation, and optimization of an axisymmetric swirling flow nozzle that enables simultaneous freezing of H2O and CO2 followed by their inertial separation. At its core, the technology involves pressurization of the flue gas exhausted from an industrial source and then accelerating it out at high supersonic speeds. During this flue gas expansion, static temperature and pressure of the exhaust stream are lowered so much that the H2O and CO2 freeze into solid particles. These solid particles are heavier than the surrounding gas and can be separated from the rest of the flow by adding a strong swirling component that migrates the solid particles to the outer regions of the flow. The H2O and CO2 are then removed, and the remaining core flow passes through a power recovery turbine to reduce operational costs. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
INNOTECH PRECISION MEDICINE, INC
SBIR Phase I: Development of a Microfluidic Device for Multi-Omics Diagnosis of Cancer
Contact
11 PARKSIDE DR
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130--2403
NSF Award
2527720 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
07/15/2025 – 06/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Henry Ahn
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project lies in its potential to save lives by enabling earlier cancer diagnosis, which is known to significantly improve treatment outcomes and survival. Despite this, there are currently no effective early diagnostic tools for many types of cancer. Head and neck cancer is one such disease, with rising incidence and mortality rates, particularly among men. It is often detected late, typically during routine exams, only after symptoms become evident, by which point treatment options are limited and outcomes are poor. This project seeks to change that by developing a non-invasive, saliva-based test that can deliver accurate results within 30 minutes at the point of care. This approach could dramatically reduce the time to diagnosis, eliminate the need for invasive biopsies, and expand access to early cancer detection. By reducing the burden of late-stage diagnosis and enabling timely intervention, this innovation has the potential to lower healthcare costs, improve quality of life, and address significant gaps in health equity. Its modular design also allows for future adaptation to detect other cancers. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to develop and validate a portable diagnostic system that detects cancer markers for both risk and progression in saliva. The research will focus on creating a fully integrated microfluidic device that combines multiple types of biomarker detection into one enclosed cartridge. The project will address key technical challenges such as improving the consistency of sample handling, ensuring even distribution of reagents, and optimizing the materials and layout to support accurate, reliable results. The system will be tested using samples with known cancer markers to confirm performance against standard laboratory methods. The anticipated outcome is a working prototype that demonstrates the technical feasibility of delivering multi-biomarker analysis from a single non-invasive sample at the point of care. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
INSIGNA, INC.
SBIR Phase I: Safe non-surgical alternative to spays in female cats
Contact
60 HAZELWOOD DR # 230G
Champaign, IL 61820--7460
NSF Award
2415687 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$275,000
Start / end date
11/01/2024 – 10/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Erik Pierstorff
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is achieved through developing a novel non-surgical method of sterilizing female cats. Unlike traditional spays, this innovation uses a single injection of a small implant to achieve sterilization. The high costs and risks associated with surgically removing reproductive organs often lead cat owners to delay or avoid sterilization, which contributes to cat overpopulation and abandonment. This situation exacerbates the strain on animal shelters and communities, contributing to around 500,000 cats being euthanized annually and an estimated 32 million free-roaming cats across the US. This new approach may address the substantial market of over 2 million female kittens born annually in the US, offering a commercially viable solution to these widespread issues. Additionally, the proposed project is expected to enhance the understanding of reproductive endocrinology in domestic cats, paving the way for future veterinary advancements. In the long term, this product could revolutionize traditional population management approaches and improve the care of companion animals.
The proposed project addresses a critical need for a more affordable, less invasive sterilization method for female cats. The main objective of this project is to evaluate the effectiveness of a novel non-surgical method for sterilizing cats, including its effect on fertility and sexual behavior. Female kittens will be treated with three escalating doses and at two different ages to determine the optimal dose range and treatment age. Effectiveness on fertility will be assessed by measuring blood sex hormone concentration, executing histological examination of reproductive organs, and conducting breeding trials. Effectiveness on sexual behavior will be determined by monitoring their reproductive cycles and assessing their mating behaviors in the presence of proven male cats. This treatment is expected to cause infertility by irreversibly inactivating reproductive neurons in the hypothalamus that play a critical role in fertility in the female cat. The proposed study aims to accomplish two goals: refine the product to suit the unique metabolic and reproductive traits of female cats and provide evidence of its effectiveness and safety to initiate regulatory approval.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.INTEGRATED DYNAMICS, INC.
SBIR Phase I: High-Temperature Fermentation for Volatile Organic Chemical Production
Contact
400 N ABERDEEN ST STE 900
Chicago, IL 60642--6549
NSF Award
2528400 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$245,300
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 06/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Erik Pierstorff
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project ultimately includes improving domestic chemical supply chains by enhancing the capability of a hyperthermophile organism to produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs), namely ethanol and acetone. The United States consumes approximately 14.2 billion gallons of ethanol and 0.5 billion gallons of acetone per year in widespread use as a fuel additive and industrial solvent, respectively. Currently, most American bioethanol is produced from corn-derived sugars using a relatively low-temperature, yeast-dependent bioprocess whereas most acetone is produced from fossil fuels using the cumene process. High-temperature bioprocess exhibits several distinct advantages over low-temperature bioprocess, including intrinsic resistance to contamination by other microbes and simplified product separation through continuous VOC distillation. Despite the promising attributes of high-temperature bioprocess as a technology, implementation has not been feasible due to insufficient product yields. This project aims to use novel synthetic biology methods to improve VOC production of a hyperthermophile. Success and implementation of this project has the potential to improve American fuel and chemical feedstock independence while increasing demand for domestic agricultural markets. The proposed project seeks to engineer a strain of high-temperature microbe to produce volatile organic chemicals, primarily ethanol and acetone, to investigate whether this type of microbe could feasibly be used for large-scale biomanufacturing. While microbial ethanol production is common, it faces a variety of challenges related to low reaction rate, high energy use, poor compatibility with lower-cost feedstocks, sensitivity to environmental contaminants, complicated product separation, and inflexibility to products beyond ethanol. The same is true of microbial acetone and isopropanol production, which have not seen industrial use in nearly a century. A high-temperature system can address these challenges through faster reaction rates, less heat wastage from process cooling, passive thermal degradation of feedstocks and environmental contaminants, continuous product distillation, and improved metabolic flexibility. This project will use metabolic engineering techniques to re-route carbon and energy from the production of organic acids, which are inhibitory to growth, low-value, and challenging to isolate, and towards volatile organic chemicals like ethanol, acetone, and, if time allows, isopropanol using plant fibers as a feedstock. This is done by upregulation, downregulation, and knockout of native enzymes and/or by heterologously expressing enzymes from other high-temperature microbes. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
IRRADIANT SENSING CORPORATION
STTR Phase I: Novel Fluorescence-Based Force Sensor for High-Resolution Tactile Sensing
Contact
2281 DAILEY ST
Superior, CO 80027--8318
NSF Award
2432516 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$275,000
Start / end date
10/01/2024 – 09/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Samir Iqbal
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial impacts of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project are in the area of tactile sensing technology for robotics and biomedical instruments. The tactile sensors enable robots and machines to perceive and interpret physical touch and texture. As the robotics technology is increasingly required to perform complex and delicate operations which requires advanced tactile sensors, it is essential to ensure safe and precise interaction of robots or robotic tools with their environment. There are, however, gaps in the current tactile sensing technology. One is concerned with recognizing textures, and another is safely interacting with soft environment such as biological tissues. The sensor to be developed in this project will enable highly effective recognition of textured surfaces, which then would allow robots to recognize objects more efficiently. Also, it will lead to a safe and precise robotic tool for medical procedures. There exists a large and fast-growing market for tactile sensors which the new technology is expected to make inroads into. The initial market segment will be robotic surgery which will be followed by other robotics market such as humanoid robots.
This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project is designed to develop a novel tactile sensing technology with applications in robotics and biomedical instruments. As the robotics technology matures, there is a growing need for an advanced tactile sensing technology to ensure safe and precise interaction of robots or robotic tools with their environment. The current technologies, however, lack several key capabilities which include high spatial resolution and high force sensitivity. These deficiencies in turn lead to grand challenges such as texture recognition and interaction with soft environments such as biological tissues. The new sensor to be developed in this project will achieve both high spatial resolution and high force sensitivity. It can be mounted on modules with small and adaptable form factors, making it applicable to a wide array of applications. The new ability to effectively recognize textures will enable highly complex and dexterous operations of robots and robotic tools including the emerging humanoid technologies. High sensitivity can be used to ensure safe and precise interaction with biological tissues, which would then enable improved medical procedures. The initial market segment will be robotic surgery which will be followed by other robotics market such as humanoid robots.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.IVSONANCE BIOMEDICAL INC
SBIR Phase I: Novel Acoustic Tweezers for Enhanced Efficiency Ova Denudation in ART
Contact
204 SUMMERHILL DR APT 5
Ithaca, NY 14850--2846
NSF Award
2528147 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 09/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Henry Ahn
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to provide a contactless single cell micromanipulation tool using modulated sound waves. This technology will improve single cell handling. The proposed innovation allows handling of delicate biological materials of various sizes. This project will automate various procedures within an embryology lab to decrease costs. The successful development and commercialization of the proposed acoustic tool will increase procedure reliability and embryologists? productivity. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will develop a semi-automated acoustic tweezer capable of handling delicate biological materials that are 7-15 microns, 100-120 microns, and 400-700 microns using a single frequency. This contactless automation technology aims to remove user-performance variability by using acoustic approach that helps embryologists perform the denudation procedure optimally. This technology is designed as an accessory to assist embryologists by lowering skill dependency, not to replace them, a threat imposed by robotic solutions with liability concerns. This contactless approach also relaxes the concerns over the micropipette supply chain, their expiration date and the time and resources used for their sterilization. This project will develop a user-friendly commercial module based on end-user feedback and will ensure optimal performance by rigorously testing it on mice gametes and optimizing the denudation conditions. This enhancement may result in superior blastocyst quality. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
JULIA JEAN, LLC
SBIR Phase I: Novel Cold Cathode E-Beam Sources for Advancing Semiconductor Manufacturing
Contact
40 CANYON RDG
Irvine, CA 92603--3410
NSF Award
2506377 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
06/01/2025 – 05/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Directors
Elizabeth Mirowski
Samir Iqbal
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial impacts of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will be in developing new solutions for semiconductor chip manufacturing for artificial intelligence (AI). Mask writers are machines that are integral to the semiconductor industry, as these create the stencils (masks) that are sandwiched together to form advanced computer chips. The number and complexity of the masks required for these chips are increasing beyond the capacity of state-of-the-art machines. The company is developing a component device that has the potential to introduce disruptive change in the fundamental design of mask writers. The project will harness this technology to tackle manufacturing bottlenecks in mask production that are caused by the accelerating demand for advanced intensive AI applications. The work will lead to a more efficient solution for producing semiconductor chips faster and with high computational power. The project has the potential to effect a financial impact of greater than $20M annually after three years, and to kickstart entry of the fundamental technology into additional market segments. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will lead to a wafer-scale process for creating controllable cold cathode electron sources that advance integrated circuit design and manufacturing. Semiconductor chip fabrication is achieved by performing photolithography through stencil masks that are themselves created using either laser- or electron-beam mask writers. The properties of these tools dictate spatial resolution, precision, and turnaround time. The multiple electron-beam (multi-beam) writer has achieved the smallest feature sizes, thus displacing the laser writer for artificial intelligence (AI) applications. The goal of this project is to help eliminate two significant bottlenecks that hinder production and advancement in multi-beam technology: (1) Beam quality and parallelization (reliability and yield) are physically limited by the industry?s dependence on thermionic (hot) electron sources; and (2) escalating processing power for implementing design code for advanced mask sets is stressing computational resources. The proposed device will provide a means to accelerate chip production using controllable electron beams for faster and higher quality mask writing. The focus of this project on solving the first bottleneck should also help address the second bottleneck, expanding the degree of complexity of the chip sets that can be designed and manufactured for AI. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
JUNIPERO THERAPEUTICS, INC.
SBIR Phase I: Epigenome Editing by Induced Proximity Using Oligonulcleotide-conjugates
Contact
25 MADISON AVE UNIT 3
Cambridge, MA 02140--1620
NSF Award
2451259 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
04/15/2025 – 03/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Erik Pierstorff
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to develop an entirely new class of gene therapies that can be delivered more safely, cost-effectively, and at scale for a wide range of serious genetic disorders. By harnessing existing mechanisms for turning genes on or off, this approach aims to resolve persistent shortcomings in current gene therapy methods, including delivery challenges, high manufacturing costs, and safety risks. Initial applications focus on neurodegenerative conditions such as Huntington?s disease and ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), but the same platform could be adapted to address other inherited and acquired diseases. In addition to reducing disease burden, this project has the potential to lower healthcare expenditures by offering a safer and more flexible alternative to traditional gene therapies. Broader availability of effective genetic treatments would stimulate growth in the biotechnology sector, accelerate clinical development timelines, and ultimately expand global access to lifesaving and curative therapeutics. The proposed project leverages short oligonucleotides conjugated with small molecules to induce proximity of endogenous epigenetic machinery to disease-relevant genes in a precise and reversible manner. By eliminating the need for foreign enzymes or viral vectors, this approach aims to reduce immunogenicity, enhance delivery, and simplify manufacturing of gene therapies. The research plan includes systematic optimization of these oligonucleotide conjugates, advanced cell-based assays, and genome-wide analyses to confirm targeted gene modulation with minimal off-target effects. Focused initially on severe neurological disorders such as Huntington?s disease and ALS, the resulting platform is designed to accommodate other conditions driven by dysregulated gene activity. Proof-of-concept studies will evaluate the therapeutic potential and specificity of these epigenetic interventions establishing a foundation for further preclinical development. By integrating knowledge of oligonucleotide chemistry, epigenetics, and advanced bioinformatics, the proposed project seeks to overcome barriers in current gene therapy strategies, ultimately delivering a versatile new method with broad relevance to genetic medicine. The anticipated outcome is an efficient, scalable, and clinically translatable platform. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
KAPHA BIO, INC.
STTR Phase I: A Platform of Biomimetic Mucins for Addressing Recurrent Infections
Contact
823 W K ST
Benicia, CA 94510--2503
NSF Award
2527934 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
07/15/2025 – 06/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Henry Ahn
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project is the development of effective treatments for recurrent bacterial infections, using biomimetic mucins that restore mucosal tissue homeostasis. Native mucins are a category of molecules that defend mucosal surfaces against infection by selectively domesticating pathogenic microbial populations while supporting commensal populations. When mucosal surfaces are compromised, pathogens can overgrow and cause recurrent infections. Gum disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and bacterial vaginosis (BV) are all recurrent bacterial infections which affect billions of people worldwide. These seemingly unrelated ailments share the common root cause of compromised mucosal barriers. By developing biomimetic mucins, this project improves upon existing standard-of-care treatments, which address symptoms of disease but do not rectify the underlying mucosal disruption, leading to high rates of recurrence. This project aims to develop scalable and cost-effective biomimetic mucins that exhibit native-like functionalities and can be delivered to mucosal surfaces by incorporation into personal care and dietary supplements. Successful commercialization of this technology will result in a significant reduction in infection and recurrence rates, coupled with a reduction in the associated healthcare expenditures. This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project will create the first library of biomimetic mucins screened for microbial susceptibility mechanisms?including bacteriostatic, bactericidal, and anti-biofilm activities?against key pathogenic bacteria involved in recurrent infections. To date, biomimetic mucins development has taken an analog discovery route and requires long development timelines that impede commercialization efforts. This project introduces a multiplexed approach for producing and screening a biomimetic mucin library against a wide variety of hallmark pathogenic/commensal microbial strains and epithelial cells for streamlining the discovery route. The goals of this project are to (1) build a library of biomimetic mucins that captures relevant diversity of native mucins (2) screen the library against hallmark microbial strains typical of mucosal surfaces and (3) confirm the cytocompatibility against human epithelial cells. To accomplish these goals multiplexed tools and assays will be pioneered for chemical synthesis and bioactivity evaluation of biomimetic mucins. The output of this undertaking will be a foundational dataset of structure-activity relationships from which top-performing biomimetic mucin variants will be identified for scaled-up manufacturing, in-vivo efficacy testing, and commercialization efforts. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
KAYA FERTILIZERS, LLC
STTR Phase I: Vacuum Stripping and Absorption (VaSA) to Recover Wastewater Ammonia and Treat Digestate
Contact
272 LORRAINE AVE APT 4
Syracuse, NY 13210-
NSF Award
2448907 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
04/01/2025 – 03/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Rajesh Mehta
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I project is advancing efficiency of wastewater infrastructure by filling the gap of scalable technologies to cost-effectively recover ammonia in wastewater. Nitrogen is one of the primary nutrients that are essential for the normal growth of plants. Nitrogen in the fertilizers applied for food production ends up largely in wastewater. This project is to translate the innovative Vacuum Stripping and Absorption (VaSA) process into a cost-effective, scalable technology for recovery of ammonia in wastewater while upgrading the biosolids in the treated wastewater and increasing production of renewable natural gas. The proposed technology promotes efficiency by turning wastewater pollutants like ammonia into high-purity nitrogen fertilizers. It holds a great promise to substantially reduce the operational costs for water resource recovery facilities and concentrated animal feeding operations to meet regulatory requirements for discharge of treated wastewater and land application of animal manure. The recovered fertilizers and upgraded biosolids generate revenues for the facilities and operations. The VaSA process brings wastewater to boiling under vacuum at a temperature much below the normal boiling point, under which ammonia is effectively stripped out of wastewater, separated from water vapor in a demister, and absorbed to an acidic solution to form ammonium sulfate crystals. Through pilot tests using a 3-pool VaSA prototype, this project will for the first time explore the regulation of vapor-liquid equilibrium profile from the complex boiling wastewater to the water-ammonia binary system in the stripper head and demister. When scaling up the VaSA technology, vapor-liquid equilibrium evolves from the multi-pool boiling stripper throughout the demister and varies with the number of vertically mounted pools and demister configuration. Understanding the vapor-liquid equilibrium profile will derisk the multi-pool scaling-up design approach and inline production of solid fertilizers. By controlling the factors that regulate vapor-liquid equilibrium, the technology can be scaled up for continuous operation without compromise of its high efficiency for ammonia recovery while maintaining minimal energy consumption. Moreover, it is expected to prove the high efficiency of anaerobic digestion under alkaline conditions and elucidate the mechanisms of alkaline anaerobic digestion through laboratory digestion experiments coupled with a single-pool VaSA prototype. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
KROKOS BIO INC
SBIR Phase I: A Method for Domestic Production of Saffron, Utilizing Novel Plant Cell Culture Techniques for Cell Adhesion and Immobilization.
Contact
610 HOOP ST
Olean, NY 14760--2918
NSF Award
2528085 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 03/31/2027 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Erik Pierstorff
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is the creation of a scalable and reliable method for domestic saffron production. Saffron, one of the world?s most expensive spices, faces significant production challenges due to its high cultivation costs, sensitivity to weather conditions, and labor-intensive harvesting process. By reducing dependence on foreign supply chains and mitigating risks from crop failures, this innovation has the potential to stabilize global saffron availability and pricing. The project will benefit both consumers and businesses that rely on saffron, while strengthening U.S. leadership in advanced agricultural biotechnology and specialty ingredient manufacturing. Beyond saffron, this project also helps advance scientific understanding of how to grow complex plant tissues in the lab. The work combines cell culture, plant biology, and manufacturing innovation to build a platform that could be used for other rare plant-based ingredients in the future. In doing so, it promotes growth in the emerging field of cellular agriculture, supports the U.S. economy through domestic production and job creation, and strengthens supply chain resilience for natural products. The proposed project aims to revolutionize saffron production through the development of lab-grown Crocus sativus stigma tissue. The approach involves cultivating Crocus sativus callus cells in suspension culture, followed by integrating them with a scaffold for immobilized culture. The cells will be extruded within a hydrogel into an elongated shape and induced to differentiate into stigma-like tissue expressing secondary metabolites, mimicking the structure of natural saffron threads. The development of a specialized scaffold will enable suitable cell adhesion and controlled plant tissue growth leading to an increase in the production of the valuable metabolites that give saffron its characteristic color, taste and bioactive functions. This novel culture system and differentiation method for Crocus sativus cells will facilitate the production of saffron that is nearly indistinguishable from traditionally grown threads. The objective is to create a scalable, cost-effective, and climate-resilient method for saffron production that ensures consistent quality and supply while significantly reducing costs. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
Kompass Diagnostics Inc
SBIR Phase I: Portable Blood Diagnostic Technology Enabling Care Delivery Beyond Hospital Walls
Contact
1354 N KOSTNER AVE BLDG A
Chicago, IL 60651--1605
NSF Award
2507280 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,966
Start / end date
05/01/2025 – 10/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Henry Ahn
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will be the advancement of a portable, cost-effective rapid point of care diagnostic device that utilizes high sensitivity biosensors for detecting multiple blood-based biomarkers. Starting with reproductive hormones, this technology empowers clinicians to obtain rapid hormone level results to support time-sensitive clinical decisions in fertility treatments such as in-vitro fertilization and cryopreservation. This project aims to address capacity constraints in reproductive care, reduce cost of care, and enhance patient-centric treatment models. This project will lay the foundation to expand into other point of care applications, including the quantitative detection of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin and Alzheimer?s disease-related small proteins, improving clinical outcomes of chronic diseases. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project develops a point-of-care immunoassay system designed for use by lay users with minimal laboratory training to obtain simultaneous, quantitative measurements of three reproductive hormones. The research objectives include: (1) developing an integrated cartridge/analyzer system that automates serum separation and buffer dilution, ensuring high-sensitivity biomarker detection upon sample insertion, (2) optimizing the system for high accuracy and reproducibility, and (3) validating the system in human samples. If successful, this project will result in the first rapid diagnostic platform capable of demonstrating lab-comparable hormone quantification at the point of care. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
LASER GRAPHICTRONICS LLC
STTR Phase I: DigitFoal: An Early Labor Warning System for Safe and Successful Foal Delivery
Contact
3605 BLUE CEDAR LN
Columbia, MO 65203--6614
NSF Award
2335352 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$275,000
Start / end date
10/01/2024 – 09/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Directors
Mara Schindelholz
Peter Atherton
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this STTR Phase I project is reflected in the innovation of DigitFoal, a sophisticated early labor warning system tailored for the equine industry. By leveraging state-of-the-art dual wearable photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors and a pre-trained deep learning algorithm, this system is poised to greatly mitigate the foal mortality due to dystocia. It is projected to reduce foal deaths by 30%, translating to a substantial economic benefit of over $82.5 million annually. The broader implications extend beyond economic savings, promising enhancements in scientific understanding and livestock management. This technology could revolutionize not only equine breeding practices but also be adaptable for monitoring other livestock and wildlife, thereby contributing to broader societal, environmental, and educational advancements.
The intellectual merit of this project is anchored in the integration of innovative PPG sensor technology with a robust echo state network model to monitor and analyze critical physiological signals of horses, which are predictive of foaling stages. This approach is designed to fill a significant void in current market offerings that largely depend on manual monitoring and are plagued by high rates of inaccuracy and labor intensity. The research will further refine the predictive capabilities of the technology, facilitating real-time, accurate assessments of foaling risks. This project is expected to yield significant advancements in non-invasive, real-time animal monitoring systems, contributing invaluable knowledge to the field of precision livestock farming and enhancing the technological landscape of animal health monitoring.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.LEAP PHOTONICS INC.
SBIR Phase I: Chip Scale Acousto-Optics Beam-Steering LiDAR
Contact
6315 NE RADFORD DR APT 3414
Seattle, WA 98115--8715
NSF Award
2451021 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
07/15/2025 – 06/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Samir Iqbal
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial impacts of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is in advancing the capabilities of Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) systems, which are critical for autonomous vehicles, robots, and smart city infrastructure. Current LiDAR technologies face challenges such as high costs and large sizes, limiting widespread adoption. This project addresses these barriers by developing a compact and chips-based technology that leverages innovative sound and light principles. This technology has the potential accelerate adoption in markets like outdoor robotics and smart city applications, with broader future impacts in other high-performance sectors. By offering a cost-effective, scalable solution, this project will enhance scientific understanding of integrated systems and establish a durable competitive advantage in the LiDAR market. The innovation will make LiDAR systems more accessible thus contributing to national security, prosperity and welfare. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project focuses on developing an acousto-optic beam steering (AOBS) technology for LiDAR systems. The current challenge lies in creating a beam steering mechanism that is compact, fully solid-state, and cost-effective while maintaining high performance. The proposed work will integrate acousto-optic materials with precise field programmable gate array (FPGA) controlled beam steering algorithms. The project will investigate methods to enhance beam steering precision, improve near-infrared integration for time-of-flight LiDAR, and develop advanced packaging for scalable manufacturing. Research objectives include optimizing the performance of the AOBS chip, demonstrating its seamless integration with existing LiDAR platforms, and validating its manufacturability at scale. The anticipated technical results include a working prototype of the AOBS-based LiDAR system with performance metrics that meet or exceed those of current systems at a fraction of the cost. If successful, this innovation will lay the groundwork for further development and commercialization, providing a transformative solution to the challenges faced by traditional LiDAR systems. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
LF PRINTECH LLC
STTR Phase I: Novel Bioactive Hydrogel Dressings with Porous Surface for Burn Wound Treatment
Contact
10517 PINE LAKE DR
Rolla, MO 65401--5421
NSF Award
2507525 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
07/01/2025 – 06/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Henry Ahn
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project is to address the critical challenges in treatment of second-degree burn wounds, which affect over a million individuals annually in the US. Despite advancement in treating wet wounds, existing products fail in the management of burn wounds, causing excessive pain, infection, prolonged healing, and poor functional and aesthetic restoration. This project introduces a novel bioactive hydrogel dressing with a breathable, porous contact designed to accelerate natural healing processes and reduce the trauma associated with dressing changes and body movement. The transparent appearance and bioactive formulation of the proposed dressing allow for non-invasive assessment of the wound and maintain optimal moisture levels for up to 10 days, reducing the frequency of dressing changes. The proposed dressing's extended operational time and enhanced stability offer an effective solution that lowers overall treatment costs, reduces hospital visits, and alleviates the workload on healthcare professionals. This hydrogel dressing is poised to fulfill a substantial demand in the US wound care market by addressing the critical gaps in existing treatments for second-degree burns and other low-exuding wounds such as necrotic wounds and radiation-induced dermatitis. This Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I project aims to develop a novel dressing prototype, composed of natural hydrogels enriched with bioactive compounds, utilizing 3D printing technology. Burn wounds are prone to dehydration, which can cause dressings to adhere to the wound bed, resulting in pain and trauma during removal. The proposed project aims at developing hydrogel dressings with porous surface to distribute the pull-off force across an extended interface area, reducing trauma during the dressing removal. The proposed project will evaluate the antibacterial properties of the dressings, as wound infection significantly delay healing and increase complications. Additionally, the project aims to assess the dressing's anti-inflammatory effects by measuring the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in a preclinical mouse model. The anticipated technical results include the fabrication of 3D-printed dressings in various sizes, shapes, and pore designs, evaluating their mechanical stability and distribution of pull-off force, followed by validation of their antibacterial activity and ability to modulate inflammatory responses. Achieving these milestones will result in an advanced wound dressing prototype for second-degree burn wounds, supporting its safety and effectiveness in promoting favorable inflammatory response and wound healing. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
LIGHT RESEARCH INC
STTR Phase I: Snapshot, on-machine metrology system for high-precision optical manufacturing
Contact
4815 N ROCK CANYON RD
Tucson, AZ 85750--6064
NSF Award
2322208 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$274,524
Start / end date
10/01/2024 – 09/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Vincent Lee
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project advances precision manufacturing. The on-machine metrology system will have a transformative effect on highly efficient and precise optical manufacturing, additive manufacturing, and precision machining. These industries currently face a shared technical challenge: the lack of real-time quality control during fabrication. The on-machine metrology tool's real-time quality control capabilities will not only drive efficiency in high-precision manufacturing but also contribute to reduced manufacturing costs and enhanced product quality. Overall, the project's anticipated outcomes include an efficient high throughput manufacturing process with on-machine metrology, the development of a compact, snapshot, multi-wavelength on-machine metrology system, and the establishment of a next-generation innovation and entrepreneurship training program.
This STTR project seeks to develop a compact, snapshot, dual-mode, multi-wavelength interferometric system for in situ metrology in high precision manufacturing. The lack of real-time quality control during fabrication is a critical hurdle, leading to delays and manufacturing errors. This system integrates unique techniques to overcome this challenge and enhance throughput and accuracy. The technology utilizes a polarization-based, multi-wavelength, snapshot technique providing real-time measurements of machined surfaces with minimal environmental impacts. By offering instant feedback on surface quality, reducing iterations for diamond tool centering, and improving throughput and accuracy, the system becomes the smallest interferometric system suitable for integration into existing equipment for in situ metrology. The project's goal is to develop a market-ready, on-machine metrology system through prototyping, software development, and performance validation. This real-time, in-situ metrology process is estimated to achieve efficiency improvements of 30% or more in diamond-tool alignment and 50% or more in surface metrology. Successful development and commercialization of this system will hold significant intellectual merit, overcoming a critical hurdle in high-precision manufacturing and enabling real-time quality control.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.LIMAX BIOSCIENCES, INC.
SBIR Phase I: Hemostatic Tough Adhesive Hydrogels for Advanced Biosurgery
Contact
12 DIMICK ST
Somerville, MA 02143--4317
NSF Award
2528115 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 09/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Henry Ahn
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to address longstanding unmet needs in bleeding control. Uncontrolled bleeding is a major intraoperative issue and postoperative complication with high economic impacts, increasing procedural costs up to $30,000. Of 1.6 million surgical procedures in the US, 15% or 240,000 patients underwent re-operation due to lack of hemostasis. Post-operative bleeding results in 2-3 times longer hospital stay (15 vs 6 days), 6 times longer ICU stay (6 vs 1 days) and increased costs of 3-4 times ($40k vs $14k). HemoMax has the potential to save 70,000 lives per year in the US and reduce the suffering and recovery time of many more patients worldwide. This project supports job creation by employing researchers, engineers, and technicians while fostering workforce development through specialized training in biomaterials, medical device manufacturing, and regulatory science. It contributes to industry competitiveness by developing highly skilled professionals who drive innovation in biomedical engineering and surgical hemostasis. Additionally, this work may result in patent filings and peer-reviewed publications, protecting intellectual property while disseminating cutting-edge research on biomaterial-based wound management to the scientific and clinical communities. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will translate a new hemostatic hydrogel for advanced bleeding. Limax?s bioinspired hydrogel design achieves adhesion energies 100 to 1,000 times greater than those of existing commercial adhesives on wet tissue surfaces. Adhesion occurs within minutes, is independent of blood exposure, and forms a robust seal compatible with dynamic in vivo environments. The proposed project will proceed in three phases: (1) Phase I will focus on optimizing HemoMax for the rapid and effective sealing of bleeding solid organs; (2) Phase II will evaluate the material?s performance after terminal sterilization, assessing retention of adhesive and mechanical properties under clinically relevant conditions; (3) Phase III will assess acute and chronic performance in a large animal model of partial nephrectomy, providing critical insights into in vivo efficacy and biocompatibility. Together, these studies will provide a comprehensive preclinical foundation to support the translation of HemoMax toward GLP-enabling studies, positioning the technology for future regulatory and clinical advancement. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
LUMINOVA BIOTECH LLC
STTR Phase I: Mitochondria-ON: a Platform for Light-Responsive Energy Generation in Plant Mitochondria
Contact
515 MADISON AVE FL 29
New York, NY 10022-
NSF Award
2507381 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
06/15/2025 – 11/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Erik Pierstorff
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project is a more productive and resilient food supply, enabled by enhanced growth and stress tolerance for a wide range of crop plants. This project aims to impart these benefits through the development of a technology that augments plant mitochondrial function using light to reduce oxygen instead of electron transfer. The technology offers an entirely novel means of accelerating plant growth and increasing plant stress tolerance, potentially leading to increased yields and crop loss reductions. Even marginal crop yield increases can have significant economic impacts; thus, the proposed technology?which can be introduced into any crop plant amenable to genetic modification?carries the potential to provide farmers growing a wide range of crops with sustained economic benefits. Moreover, this increase in productivity can help meet rising global food demand without the need for expansions in agricultural land. This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project aims to meet the need for novel traits that increase crop yield without an associated increase in nutrient demand. To accomplish this, the project will leverage a technology that enhances respiration in response to light. This technology has already been shown to be functional and impart benefits at the cellular and organism levels in animal models; the aim of this project is to build on this work by demonstrating a proof-of-concept for use of the technology in plants. The technology will first be introduced into a model plant system and evaluated for functionality at the cellular level. Benefits to plant growth and development as a result of the technology will then be evaluated. Ultimately, this project aims to show that the use of the technology imparts benefits to a range of critical plant growth and development parameters. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
LYBRA BIO INC.
SBIR Phase I: Microneedle-Based Platform for Treatment of Autoimmune Skin Diseases
Contact
127 WESTERN AVE
Allston, MA 02134--1008
NSF Award
2506886 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,450
Start / end date
06/15/2025 – 01/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Henry Ahn
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is the development of a new standard-of-care for managing autoimmune skin diseases through a microneedle-based platform that restores immune balance in the skin. This platform will improve patient outcomes by offering a safer alternative to current immunosuppressive standards and address the psychological and social impacts of autoimmune skin diseases. Also, the microneedle patch will empower patients by being both self-administered and discreet, offering a user-friendly solution that seamlessly integrates into daily life. Beginning with Alopecia Areata as its first indication and followed by conditions including vitiligo and psoriasis, this technology addresses a significant market niche, affecting up to 3-4% of the population. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to advance a hydrogel-based microneedle patch for managing autoimmune skin diseases to achieve scale-up readiness. Traditional treatments for autoimmune skin diseases, like creams and ointments, lack efficacy due to their limited skin penetration. Microneedle-mediated therapies overcome this by effectively delivering therapeutics through the stratum corneum. However, consistent drug exposure between patients is a critical factor for regulatory approval. Reducing the administration time (or wear time) of the patch to minutes rather than hours can prevent premature patch detachment and minimize patient-to-patient variability in drug exposure. The project goals are to modulate the current drug release profile of the microneedles patch and determine the minimum wear time required for therapeutic efficacy. The Phase I strategy will be two-fold: (1) chemical iteration of the hydrogel matrix of the microneedle patch and (2) determining in an in vivo model of Alopecia Areata the impact of faster release kinetics on the therapeutic efficacy. This work is important since the final formulation will be ready for scale-up manufacturing. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
LYOWAVE, INC
SBIR Phase I: Scaling Up Tunable High-Frequency Microwave Heating for Pharmaceutical and Biologics Manufacturing
Contact
615 CARROLTON BLVD
W Lafayette, IN 47906--2337
NSF Award
2451630 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,436
Start / end date
03/01/2025 – 02/28/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Vincent Lee
Errata
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Abstract
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will result in fundamental knowledge needed to solve the scale-up problem for fast, uniform, volumetric heating during manufacturing of freeze-dried medicines, diagnostics, preservative-free foods, and other high-value sensitive materials. The findings will facilitate a significant improvement in manufacturing capacity for most freeze-dried goods and ultimately provide a pathway towards addressing recurring shortages and securing long-term availability. This SBIR research will produce data critical for process understanding as well as new quality control methodologies necessary for regulatory acceptance of microwave drying. The technology will be initially marketed to research and development units or organizations having a clear and viable downstream pathway towards manufacturing. The key competitive advantages offered by the technology are its ability to be noninvasively retrofitted to both new and legacy freeze-drying systems and its capability of producing uniform high-frequency electromagnetic fields specifically targeted towards frozen materials. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to improve manufacturing performance of high-value freeze-dried materials having limited shelf life using high-frequency microwave heating. The overall goal of the project is to gain the fundamental knowledge required to effectively scale the technology from laboratory to large-volume manufacturing freeze-drying systems. Key research objectives to be addressed include developing new experimental methods for estimating the effective dielectric properties of frozen aqueous solutions and primary packaging, identifying appropriate physics-based models and parameters for system modeling, and implementing model-based closed-loop control strategies to drive the freeze-drying process at optimal rates. To accomplish these tasks, multiple microwave sources will be fabricated and installed on a modified laboratory freeze-dryer together with a suite of temperature sensing technologies. Experimental measurements will provide the data necessary to develop the coupled unsteady electromagnetic and heat and mass transfer simulations for identifying the scale-up characteristics, microwave source interaction, and volumetric heating performance. Free radical production in the vacuum environment and material compatibility with the electric fields over the system bandwidth will also be assessed either explicitly using appropriate probes or implicitly via bioindicators. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
LuxNour Technologies Inc
SBIR Phase I: Efficient Transfer Technology for Ultra-Thin Dies (UTD) in Advanced Semiconductor Chip Packaging
Contact
1055 NE 25TH AVE STE E1
Hillsboro, OR 97124--4901
NSF Award
2505353 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,507
Start / end date
04/01/2025 – 03/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Directors
Elizabeth Mirowski
Samir Iqbal
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial impacts of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase-I project is in increasing the USA footprint in the advanced semiconductor chip assembly and package equipment market. The Ultra-thin die (UTD) semiconductor chip devices are building blocks for a wide range of mobile and flexible electronics applications. These UTD chips are very fragile and their handling during manufacturing is substantially different from traditional chips. The handling and transfer of UTD chips is a major contributor to the package cost and yield, which are critical for new technologies. In this project, an innovative technology will be developed for fast and precise transfer of UTD chips during semiconductor chip manufacturing. Customers for this technology are the world-wide original device manufacturers and semiconductor foundries, for use in a wide range of consumer products. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase-I project focuses on the introduction of a transfer technology capable of collectively transferring UTDs from the dicing tape to another substrate without the risk for die cracking, chipping or warpage. The ?one-die-at-a-time? vacuum-based transfer that dominates today?s equipment market utilizes vacuum and a needle to push the die away from the tape while the pickup tool lifts the die off of the needle and places it into the appropriate output carrier. This technology is a major contributor to die stress and cracking, especially for UTDs. As high-performance chips trend to increase in area and decrease in thickness (< 50 microns), the task of reliable peeling of UTDs from the dicing tape becomes more challenging. To address this challenge, this project introduces two innovative methodologies / hardware components; the first of which is a Vacuum-Activated, Patterned Stage (VAPS) essential for initiating the collective delamination of all dice placed on a UV-sensitive dicing tape substrate, while the second is a pattern-sensitive individually addressable head for the electromagnetic pick and place of released dice. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
MACROCYCLE TECHNOLOGIES
SBIR Phase I: Low-Cost, Waste-Resilient Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) and Polyester Upcycling Through Macrocyclic Chemistry
Contact
750 MAIN ST
Cambridge, MA 02139--3544
NSF Award
2507694 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 09/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Vincent Lee
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this SBIR Phase I project is the development of an efficient recycling technology that converts mixed and contaminated low value polyester textile waste into a high-purity, high value solution. This innovation enhances scientific understanding of recycling through investigation of impurities in plastic waste and the removal of the latter. Commercially, the technology addresses a global market exceeding 100 million metric tons and >$130B per year, where demand for high-quality recycled content is rapidly growing. The initial market focus will be on packaging and textiles, sectors actively seeking cost-effective, virgin-grade recycled plastic. By avoiding costly breakdown into lower value components and high energy inputs, this technology achieves cost parity, providing a sustained competitive advantage over incumbents. It enables domestic supply chain resiliency, while diverting strategic resources into fuel and energy rather than plastics, and waste away from our waterways. The business model involves direct sales of recycled plastic to converters and brands. Because the recycled plastic meets virgin performance specifications and integrates seamlessly into existing supply chains, it enables customers to meet recycled content targets without a cost premium. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project develops a new process to recycle polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyester materials through a non-destructive and selective process. In the >$100 billion PET and polyester markets, existing mechanical recycling is very limited given typically observed contamination levels and the inability to remove them. Chemical recycling technologies, such as Methanolysis, Glycolysis or Enzymolysis of PET back into its monomers, have the potential to derive virgin-grade PET from wastes but are complex, costly, and thus mostly not economically competitive with fossil-based plastic production. This SBIR Phase I project develops a new technology that does not follow the depolymerization of plastic waste to monomers but performs the formation of macrocyclic oligomers from polyester waste by means of solvents and catalysts, the ring-opening polymerization thereof to obtain virgin-grade PET, while removing non-PET impurities such as dyes and other contaminants along the process. In this project, new impurity removal steps will be developed to make the technology resilient to mixed waste streams, product quality will be assessed and benchmarked with state-of-the-art analytics to elucidate fit for market demands, and technoeconomic analysis will be performed to assess the process? competitiveness with fossil PET production and other technologies. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
MAGNOLIA ELECTRONICS INC
SBIR Phase I: Machine-Learning Enabled Analog-to-Digital Converter
Contact
221 N BROAD ST
Middletown, DE 19709--1070
NSF Award
2507707 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,900
Start / end date
04/15/2025 – 09/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Directors
Elizabeth Mirowski
Samir Iqbal
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial impacts of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project are in developing electronic components called analog to digital converters (ADCs). Physical phenomena like light waves exist in analog domain, whereas chip circuits require digital values. ADCs turn real world analog measurements into digital values that are used in computers. This project enhances scientific and technological understanding of the ADC process by demonstrating a new approach based on machine learning (ML). Computer models suggest that this new, patent-pending approach can measure much denser signals than traditional ADCs, meaning more information can be captured and processed. The first market opportunity will be computer chips that send data over networks, enabling faster data center and internet connections. The devices using this technology will have significant higher speeds and have cost advantages over traditional devices. The existing data center ADC market is close to $1 billion annually and growing. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project advances the design of ADCs. The ML ADC decomposes an analog signal into multiple channels, each containing only a portion of the signal?s total information. Each channel is sampled separately, slower than the input signal?s Nyquist rate, producing aliased and complicated digital outputs. A neural network, trained to approximate the inverse transfer function of the analog front-end, maps those digital outputs to the standard Shannon-Nyquist signal representation. This project implements one half of a common communication device, a Serializer/Deserializer receiver, using a ML ADC in printed circuit board prototype form. This project will examine the ability of the physical prototype to capture complete information in gigahertz-range pulse amplitude modulated (PAM) signals. This project expects to replicate computer simulations indicating high accuracy of the ML ADC when driven by a jittery and phase-drifting clock running below the Nyquist rate. The project will produce neural network models trained on the receiver?s data and report the error rates achieved by the models in decoding PAM-4 signals recorded by the receiver. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
MAGSORBEO BIOMEDICAL CORP
STTR Phase I: Bioabsorbable Magnesium with a Tailorable Absorption Profile for Maxillofacial Fixation
Contact
435 LODGE DR
Detroit, MI 48214--4160
NSF Award
2451737 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
03/01/2025 – 03/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Henry Ahn
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impacts and commercial potential of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project lie in developing a magnesium (Mg) alloy for implants that support healing by temporarily fixating bones or stabilizing tissues. These implants provide mechanical support during recovery and are gradually absorbed by the body, restoring the implant site without requiring removal surgeries. Specifically, this project will develop a bioabsorbable magnesium alloy for maxillofacial fixation. This innovation aims to improve healthcare outcomes by eliminating secondary hardware removal surgeries, which occur in 5-20% of maxillofacial fixation cases and cost the U.S. healthcare system $1.72 billion annually. Permanent metal implants often lead to ongoing risks and expenses, while resorbable polymers, an alternative, are limited by limited strength, unreliable healing, and complex surgical procedures. A bioabsorbable metal implant with superior mechanical robustness and controlled absorption addresses these challenges and offers the potential to capture market share from both titanium and polymer implants. With 19% of the maxillofacial fixation market already using resorbable polymers, a superior bioabsorbable alloy would significantly improve clinical outcomes while reducing healthcare costs. This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project will demonstrate the feasibility of a bioabsorbable alloy with a customizable absorption profile tailored for maxillofacial fixation. Intellectual merit includes (1) developing a bioabsorbable alloy with tunable absorption profiles, (2) understanding how processing affects absorption behavior, and (3) validating a large-animal preclinical model for novel bioabsorbable implants. Technical challenges addressed in this project include the impact of processing on microstructure and absorption (TC1), correlation between in vitro and in vivo absorption profiles (TC2), anatomical variations in absorption (TC3), absorption effects on the bone-implant interface (TC4), and gas evolution's impact on bone density (TC5). This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
MAIN ENGINEERING LLC
SBIR Phase I: High-Precision Timing Devices for Research and Industry
Contact
8070 GEORGIA AVE STE 304
Silver Spring, MD 20910--4971
NSF Award
2507531 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
04/01/2025 – 06/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Directors
Elizabeth Mirowski
Samir Iqbal
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial impacts of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is in developing timing devices with increased performance and capability. These timing devices, capable of picosecond accuracy (a trillionth of a second), enable nuclear physics research, light detection and ranging, and medical imaging. This project will develop a time-to-digital converter (TDC) with unique features and the capability to operate in harsh environments. A TDC is an electronic device that measures time intervals with extremely high precision and converts the measured time into a digital value. TDCs are widely used in applications requiring precise timing, such as LIDAR, high-energy physics, medical imaging, and communications. The market opportunities and the competitive advantage are secured through an architecture that overcomes the limitations of current TDC implementations. The developed TDCs will be semiconductor chip based that will be fabricated domestically and introduced to three primary markets: nuclear physics, spacecraft instrumentation, and medical imaging devices. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is a high-availability TDC that features zero dead-time, unlimited multi-hits, picosecond accuracy, and a dedicated calibration circuit. A proof-of-concept already exists, and a prototype application-specific integrated circuit is ready for fabrication. Phase I addresses research and development of hardware and software and overall robustness to withstand high radiation and cryogenic temperatures. This will be achieved through an iterative design methodology between logic design, transistor design, and transistor layout, each in their respective software environment. At the conclusion to Phase I, the primary goal is to have a second prototype ready to send to a chip fabrication facility. This prototype will include new features of the design, as well as radiation hardening. The radiation hardening will allow the prototype to operate in a more extreme environment, dictated by the operational constraints of the end users. The secondary goal will analyze the extreme temperature and radiation environments of the particle physics community and determine if and how to migrate the design to a chip fabrication process that includes radiation hardening and cryogenic models for a potential Phase II follow on. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
MANA BATTERY, INC.
SBIR Phase I: Electrolyte and Interphase Design for Stable, Safe, and Low-Cost Sodium Batteries
Contact
2620 TENNYSON ST
Denver, CO 80212--3035
NSF Award
2423370 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$275,000
Start / end date
06/01/2025 – 05/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Mara Schindelholz
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is an economical solution to achieving sodium-ion batteries that meet the performance requirements for grid energy storage systems with 2- to 8-hour duration. Sodium-ion batteries are not yet ready for grid applications due to limitations around battery lifetime, especially calendar lifetime and temperature stability, which is the key problem that this project will address using a low-cost electrolyte that is designed specifically for sodium-ion batteries. The global market for sodium-ion batteries for grid applications is projected at $4.1-8.2 billion by 2030, and is projected to grow rapidly through 2050 and beyond. A solution to the sodium-ion battery lifetime challenge will position the United States as a global leader in the nascent but rapidly-growing market, which is expected to yield significant economic and job development. Moreover, this innovation will enhance the scientific understanding of sodium-ion battery electrolyte and interphase chemistry, providing an enabling solution for the sodium-ion market as a whole. The intellectual merit of this project is centered on the development of electrolyte and interphase chemistries specifically tailored to the requirements of sodium-ion battery chemistry, which varies in several ways from the more mature lithium-ion battery chemistry. These novel and tailored electrolyte chemistries will provide a drop-in solution to the cycle and calendar life challenges, while achieving low-costs via an innovative and simple synthesis process. Moreover, this electrolyte chemistry has shown promise as a fire-extinguishing liquid, which may drive substantial safety improvements for large grid applications where fires are a significant concern. The primary objectives of this project are enabling this synthesis process to achieve high electrolyte quality, rationally designing the electrolyte formulation for a specific sodium-ion battery cell design that is most interesting for grid applications, and validating the combination of these breakthrough innovations in prototype battery cells that are of interest to grid energy storage system customers. This project will demonstrate the synthesis process for an optimized electrolyte chemistry and full cell performance results at a commercially-relevant scale to validate the commercial viability of these innovations at a suitable level to attract follow-on investment. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
MANZANITA COOPERATIVE, INC.
SBIR Phase I: Domestication of Western Lupine - Manzanita Cooperative
Contact
44280 GORDON LN
Mendocino, CA 95460--9758
NSF Award
2414864 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$254,903
Start / end date
07/01/2024 – 11/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Elizabeth Mirowski
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project lies in generating a novel sustainable, climate-resilient food source through development of lupine hybrids. By focusing on US-native, drought-tolerant lupines, this project will introduce alternative high-protein, low-water, native-derived options to traditional protein crops? ecological footprint. This project will enhance food security while increasing productivity from marginal lands with native crops? reduced input needs- aligning with NSF priorities toward ecological and public health stewardship. Project outcomes will provide more sustainable options for farmers than traditional commodity crops- without sacrificing land profitability. By introducing a protein-rich, low-water-use alternative crop, the project will promote consumers? access to nutritional density. As demand for plant-based protein grows, commercialization of these cultivars could position them toward the lead of a burgeoning plant protein market. This will support one FT position and one researcher to screen hybrids for desired traits to enable Phase II hybrid selection and patent protection. Upon Phase II completion, the project will move toward commercialization. Following this, at least 3 FT and 3 PT employees in R/D, Product Manager, Business Development and other roles will be filled to support projected growth.
This project proposes rapid domestication and commercialization of novel, native-derived lupines to address the need for sustainable, climate-resilient crop protein sources. This initiative focuses on development of heterozygous F1 lupine hybrids, incorporating the pauper allele from the 'Amiga' cultivar of European White lupine (EWL, Lupinus albus) into four drought-tolerant, US-native species (Lupinus arizonicus, Lupinus stiversii, Lupinus succulentus, Lupinus arbustus). This allele confers reduced alkaloid content, enhancing lupines? palatability without sacrificing the drought and disease resistance of native lupines. Phase I of the project will generate these hybrids through genetic marker-accelerated introgression of the pauper allele while overcoming challenges, including potentially reduced fertility from aneuploidy among US-native and EWL parents. The project?s comprehensive approach includes PCR-based genetic analysis to confirm presence of the pauper allele, alkaloid profiling to ensure the trait's expression in various tissues, and evaluation of growth and yield. Intellectual property protection is a cornerstone of our strategy, ensuring novel cultivars' commercial viability while maintaining control over the seed-to-consumer cycle to safeguard company innovations. Resulting crops will bolster modern agricultural resilience with a focus on sustainability, reduced crop inputs, and improved nutritional value, aligning with our aim to utilize native biodiversity for food security.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.MARK O'NEILL, LLC
SBIR Phase I: New Traffic Stripe 1,000 Times Brighter than Current Technology
Contact
9500 RAY WHITE RD
Ft. Worth, TX 76244--9105
NSF Award
2432539 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$274,524
Start / end date
09/15/2024 – 12/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Vincent Lee
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will be a substantial reduction in fatalities from vehicle crashes at nighttime by using a new ultra-bright traffic stripe. Brighter road stripes reduce crashes, and the new stripe is 1,000 times brighter. By enabling the development of the new traffic stripe from an environmentally friendly polymer, this project will also help eliminate a major source of environmental damage. When fully adopted, the new traffic stripe will reduce the tons of arsenic and lead dumped onto American highways each year when applying conventional traffic stripes composed of glass beads dropped into white paint. Considering only the white edge lines on U.S. interstate highways, the market for the new traffic stripe is $3.6 billion at $3 per foot installed cost and over 1,300 lives could be saved per year. Economic analysis of the new stripe shows a huge benefit to cost ratio due to the economic value of American lives saved.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will attempt to advance a unique ultra-bright traffic stripe technology from the laboratory toward the highway. The new stripe uses prismatic structures on both top and bottom surfaces of a thin polymer film to retroreflect incident light from distant headlights back toward the driver and sensors of the vehicle. The new stripe has already been shown in certified retroreflectivity testing of early prototypes to be 968 times brighter than the 2022 Federal Highway Administration standard of 50 mcd/m2-lux. Under the NSF SBIR program, a radical new approach to master tooling will be attempted, using gray scale lithography to cost-effectively provide millions of microscopic cube-corner prisms on the bottom surface of the film. Two sets of light-turning prisms for dry and wet conditions will be molded onto the top surface of the same thin film of transparent polymer. In Phase I, small building blocks will be tooled, molded, and assembled into testable prototype stripes, with retroreflectivity measured in a certified laboratory. In Phase II, a mass-production process will be implemented, and on-road qualification testing will be done. These critical results will enable the technology to be licensed to an established manufacturer.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.METEORA3D, INCORPORATED
SBIR Phase I: Rapid Lift-Based Peel Separation Masked Inverted Stereolithography 3D Printing for Urgent Procedural Planning
Contact
2515 BURNET AVE APT 1114
Cincinnati, OH 45219--2521
NSF Award
2430557 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$275,000
Start / end date
12/01/2024 – 11/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Vincent Lee
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will be a major contribution to both the scientific understanding and the technological advance of desktop inverted vat photopolymerization 3D printing. First, the theoretical analysis of the peel process will enhance scientific understanding. Second, the experimental validation will demonstrate industry readiness of the technology. These advances will inspire other innovations in healthcare and 3D printing. High throughput 3D printing will enable trauma surgeons to benefit from 3D printed anatomic models in their planning whereas current technologies are unable to address urgent surgeries due to slow throughput. The project aims to improve the surgical outcomes of 2.5 million patients who undergo urgent procedures in the US every year. The proposed lift-based peel separation technology will provide 6X the throughput of commercial 3D printing and provide a durable competitive advantage. The business model includes the sale of the 3D printer, consumables, spare parts, and service contracts to hospitals, medical device companies, and industry. The patent-pending lift-based peel separation innovation will be at the core of commercial success. The first target customers are trauma and urgent care hospitals across the US. Current desktop inverted vat photopolymerization 3D printing suffers low throughput, which prevents its adoption in planning urgent surgeries. The four project objectives are centered around the development of the core technology, the Lift-Based Peel Separation system, which aims to print 6X faster than the standard. First, application of fracture mechanics and control theory to a theoretical analysis of the peel process will provide foundational understanding. Second, incorporation of force feedback and peel detection into the peel control model, together with a firmware implementation, will bring the theoretical understanding into the real world. Third, experimentation will fine-tune and validate compatibility with medical-grade resin and membrane materials. Lastly, assessment of print quality via 3D surface scanning, caliper measurements, and optical microscopy will ensure dimensional accuracy within 1 mm and satisfactory surface quality for clinical application. It is anticipated that 6X throughput will be achieved as evidenced by print times for 10 anatomic models printed using the proposed technology. Further, it is anticipated that model accuracy will be within 0.5 mm for successful application to diagnostic use. Ultimately, it is expected that the technology will be versatile as demonstrated by its compatibility with many membrane and resin materials. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
MIXTA RE, INC
SBIR Phase I: Education and Training for an AI Integrated Future: Mixed-Reality, Competency Based Learning
Contact
695 FOREST RD
West Haven, CT 06516--7932
NSF Award
2451139 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,200
Start / end date
01/01/2025 – 12/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Lindsay Portnoy
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this SBIR Phase I project leverages adaptive and personalized mixed-reality training solutions to address the critical challenge of workforce displacement due to artificial intelligence (AI). AI and automation technologies will displace between 400 million and 800 million individuals globally by 2030, requiring up to 375 million workers to switch occupational categories and learn new skills. An adaptive learning platform will democratize access to high-quality, personalized training experiences, serving displaced workers, older persons, economically disadvantaged youth, and vocational learners. The platform accelerates the acquisition of essential competencies in AI literacy, data science, healthcare technical roles, and vocational skills through immersive, evidence-based learning experiences. This technology bridges the growing skills gap by validating existing competencies while developing new ones, enabling faster workforce transitions and creating new pathways to employment in an AI-integrated economy. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project develops a novel adaptive learning platform through three core technological innovations: a skills engine, an authoring tool, and an extended reality (XR) player. The skills engine uses Generative AI and RAG to identify and map key competencies, creating personalized learning pathways based on individual skill profiles. The authoring tool transforms the creation of adaptive learning content through AI-assisted scenario generation, automated asset creation, and integrated assessment tools, reducing development time and costs while maintaining high educational standards. The XR player delivers these experiences through augmented and virtual reality, adapting in real-time to learner performance and capturing analytics for competency validation. The platform architecture integrates these components seamlessly while maintaining compliance with IEEE standards and RAMP certification requirements, establishing new benchmark for evidence-based, adaptive learning in mixed reality environments. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
MOLECULAR INTERFACES, LLC
SBIR Phase I: High Light-Throughput Electrodes for Top-Emitting and Transparent OLED Displays
Contact
200 W MADISON ST STE 3300
Chicago, IL 60606--3607
NSF Award
2433105 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$274,953
Start / end date
01/01/2025 – 12/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Directors
Elizabeth Mirowski
Samir Iqbal
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project is the generation of more efficient and brighter organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) which are the individual lighting emitting elements within the displays of our cell phones, tablets, and smart watches. This project seeks to provide the same quality of OLED display but at 1.5? higher efficiency, thereby allowing a phone, for example, to run at 11% less power, with potential savings as high as 19%. If one considers the power used by the 4.9 billion cell phones worldwide (equivalent to the power generation for the state of Delaware) the cumulative saved power provides a significant effect in aggregate. Beyond large aggregate energy savings, this project provides other benefits to the end consumer. These include better brightness for outdoor usage of phones/watches/tablets, better viewing in augmented reality or virtual reality headsets, and even potential improvements in see-through display applications.
The efficient and brighter OLEDs are enabled by the project?s ultra-thin chemical adlayer which is placed on top of the materials in the OLED stack, resulting in superior transparency of the top-laying metal electrode. This circumvents the problem that has long vexed OLED display manufacturers, specifically, that the thin metal electrode providing electrical current to the materials in the OLED stack needs to be both transparent and conductive. Normally, reducing the thickness of the electrode improves transparency, but severely diminishes conductivity. As such, this thin metal cannot be reduced any further, and still limits the amount of light that can pass from the OLED. The project avoids this issue by making the metal a more uniform (continuous) layer by reducing self-aggregation of the metal, allowing the metal to retain high conductivity at a much lower thickness. This effect is enabled by the project?s technology, which is an unusually effective nucleation inducer. The project validates the effectiveness of the chemical adlayer in OLED pixels and then optimizes chemical structure for increased effectiveness. The resultant chemical treatment is then capable of reaching the targeted metric of 1.5? more efficient/brightness OLED pixel.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.MONGO APP INC.
SBIR Phase I: Intelligent Financial Coaching Platform Powered by AI and Behavioral Science
Contact
4213 ARKANSAS AVE
Kenner, LA 70065--1313
NSF Award
2526351 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,903
Start / end date
07/15/2025 – 12/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Lindsay Portnoy
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to reduce financial literacy gaps among young Americans. Less than 40 percent of this group demonstrate basic financial literacy; most live paycheck to paycheck. This challenge is not only personal but national, contributing to tens of billions in economic loss annually. As this group prepares to inherit trillions in wealth, the stakes grow higher. Traditional financial tools fail to engage young people effectively, pushing them to seek guidance from unreliable sources like social media and unregulated online content. This project addresses that gap through a technologically advanced, personalized interactive financial coaching experience designed for digital-native users. Using applied artificial intelligence, behavioral science, real-time financial data, and natural dialogue, the proposed innovation aims to build better financial habits in a format that aligns with preferred modes of communication. The initial commercialization effort will focus on community banks and credit unions?a $3 billion market. Within three years, the technology aims to improve the financial health of over 250,000 individuals, measured through goal achievement, engagement, and standardized well-being metrics. Positioned within financial technology, the innovation offers a durable competitive advantage through its trust-based, user-driven model. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project addresses the technical challenge of replicating human financial coaching through a multi-agent artificial intelligence system that integrates behavioral modeling, natural language processing, and real-time financial data ingestion. The project aims to develop an architecture in which multiple transformer-based agents, specialized for retrieval, personalization, compliance, and planning, work collaboratively within a modular orchestration framework. Using tools such as LangChain for workflow coordination and vector databases for contextual memory retention, the system will deliver adaptive financial guidance tailored to individual user behavior over time. The research will evaluate the extent to which retrieval-augmented generation can support accurate, context-sensitive responses that align with certified coaching practices and behavioral economics principles. Experimental validation will be conducted through structured financial scenarios and iterative testing in focus groups. Technical performance will be measured by agent coordination efficiency, semantic alignment using BLEU and relevance scores, and behavioral impact metrics such as those derived from the Financial Well-Being Scale. Expected outcomes include a functional prototype and empirical evidence supporting the viability of agent collaboration in high-compliance environments. This project contributes to the advancement of applied artificial intelligence in real-time decision support systems within the financial technology domain. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
MUJIELECTRIC LLC
STTR Phase I: Holistically Designed Perovskite Based Solar Cells.
Contact
18308 W SPRING LAKE DR SE
Renton, WA 98058--0602
NSF Award
2507769 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,996
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 09/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Samir Iqbal
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impacts of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project are in the area of solar cells, and specifically, Perovskite-based solar cells (PSC). The PSC are of great interest to capture sunlight, and convert it into electricity more efficiently and cheaply than traditional solar panels. They are lightweight, flexible, and have the potential to make solar power more affordable and accessible. The PSCa can be manufactured using methods that are similar to a newspaper printing press, and thus are orders of magnitude (more than 10 X) less expensive to produce, than conventional silicon solar cells. The specific PSC technology to be developed in this project would work well on its own as well as it can be combined with other solar cell materials, like silicon, to produce highly efficient solar cells. The developed PSC devices will be semi-transparent in nature, could be made to fit a wide variety of module sizes and form factors ? including being flexible. The proposed devices will find a wide array of markets ranging from niche portable and transportation applications, to large area utility scale deployments. This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project seeks to develop and scale-up novel, Wide Bandgap ?1.7eV, Perovskite-based solar cells (PSC). To gain the maximum benefit from these devices a number of steps and issues need to be overcome. First, the devices will be scaled up from <0.1 sq-cm, to 1 sq-cm while maintaining high, >20%, power conversion efficiency. Secondly, repeatable processes will be developed with stabilized constituent chemicals. Thirdly, formulations will be developed that would be amenable to large-scale fabrication processes. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
MULTITARGA LLC
SBIR Phase I: Adaptive Multi-Targeted Priming for Host-Pathogen Transcriptomics: Leveraging Graph Representation Learning for High-Resolution Pathogenesis and Immune Profiling
Contact
49 GROUSE LN
Woodbridge, CT 06525--1452
NSF Award
2507729 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,995
Start / end date
06/01/2025 – 05/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Alastair Monk
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project lies in advancing infectious disease research and diagnostics through improved genetic sequencing. The effectiveness of current Ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequencing assays is limited by an inability to detect low-abundance RNA of pathogens amidst host background RNA. This project produces infection-specific reagent products that could enhance sensitivity and specificity in transcript detection. The novel capabilities of this approach will enable researchers and healthcare professionals to possibly gain insights into host-pathogen interactions, support applications in disease surveillance, diagnostics, immune profiling, personalized medicine, and/or enhanced public health responses. The commercial potential of this project is driven by a critical market need within infectious-disease research and clinical diagnostics by providing a new primitive for any multi-organismal sample. The technology?s scalable nature ensures broad applicability, including potential extensions into microbiome research and environmental monitoring. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will provide the means to overcome limitations within current transcriptomic assays in detecting low-abundance pathogen transcripts within complex host-pathogen samples. These problems will be addressed by the development of the Host-Pathogen Enrichment Platform (HostPathEP), which adaptively computes a synthetic multi-targeted priming reagent for each specific host-pathogen system. This reagent is developed to identify conserved motifs that differentiate target from off-target sequences within the combined genomic data of the host and pathogen and tailored to the context-specific research or diagnostic goal of the assay. The first objective is the development of the informatics infrastructure and graph representation learning algorithm behind HostPathEP. Next is the design and evaluation of custom reagents for multiple infection models and for bulk RNA-seq, scRNA-seq, and viral genome sequencing. Addressing a fundamental gap in pathogen transcript detection, this project will enable more effective transcriptomics applications for both research and clinical spheres. Anticipated technical results include improved transcriptomic profiling, facilitating new experimental capabilities and driving advancements in infectious disease research. Successful execution of this project will contribute to the broader adoption of targeted biomolecular assays in healthcare and research, ultimately advancing knowledge in disease pathogenesis and immune-response mechanisms. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
NAMAKA ALGAE, INC
SBIR Phase I: Area Efficient Cultivation Technology for Dense Microalgae Cultures
Contact
64 5162C KAMAMALU ST
Kamuela, HI 96743-
NSF Award
2451285 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,541
Start / end date
06/01/2025 – 05/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Vincent Lee
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project are twofold: a disruptive algal production system that lowers costs while reducing land and water use, and U.S.-based algae industry to support aquaculture feed production and enhance food security. Algae cultivation is costly due to limited light penetration in dense cultures. This project aims to develop cost-effective technology to capture and distribute sunlight, reducing costs, land, and water use to make algae a viable food source. Aquaculture is the fastest growing food segment in the world, set to surpass chicken farming as the most farmed animal by 2030. This will drive demand for high-quality feeds and feed ingredients, such as proteins and micronutrients. U.S. algal manufacturing can meet this need, advancing national health, prosperity, and food security while driving US global leadership in innovation in aquaculture. The light technology developed will have applications not only in algae production, but also vertical agriculture and other precision agriculture industries facilitating the creation of jobs in rural areas that traditionally cannot be used for agriculture. This SBIR Phase I technical innovation involves passive capture and distribution of sunlight to increase growth in algae via a novel solar concentrating elements combined with an underwater light guide. The focus of the research will be in diverting sunlight beneath the culture surface to optimize light capture while ensuring adequate remediation of potential biofouling of the light distribution elements. Goals include a light capture efficiency of 80% and distribution of an integrated light amount of at least 40% of what was delivered into the rod to achieve a reduction of net algae production costs by 60-80% as theoretically predicted. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
NANODESK, LLC
SBIR Phase I: Software for Collaborative End-to-End Development of DNA Nanostructures
Contact
45271 ELECTRIC TER UNIT 402
Fremont, CA 94539--8469
NSF Award
2451274 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
07/01/2025 – 12/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Erik Pierstorff
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to advance structural DNA nanotechnology by developing a next-generation software platform for designing DNA origami nanostructures. DNA origami enables precise nanoscale assembly with applications in drug delivery, biosensing, materials science, and molecular computing. However, existing design tools often require researchers to use multiple disconnected applications, leading to inefficiencies in research and development. By streamlining the design-build-test-learn cycle, this technology has the potential to reduce development time and costs, accelerating the path to market for DNA origami-based innovations. The platform will be commercialized through a tiered software-as-a-service model, ensuring accessibility for academic researchers while providing robust solutions for industry users. The initial target market includes academic institutions, biotechnology startups, and pharmaceutical companies engaged in DNA nanotechnology. The broader impact of this project includes fostering scientific discovery, enabling new applications in nanotechnology, and supporting advancements in healthcare, materials science, and photonic technologies. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will focus on developing a computer-aided design application for DNA origami nanostructures, addressing key limitations in existing software. The research will emphasize user interface improvements and the development of features that support the entire lifecycle of DNA origami design, from initial modeling to experimental validation. Through iterative prototyping and testing, the project will evaluate the technical feasibility of a comprehensive design platform that facilitates advanced DNA nanostructure engineering. The team will create interactive prototypes to demonstrate core functionality and gather feedback from potential users. Success will be measured by the development of multiple functional user interface prototypes and the demonstration of the platform?s ability to streamline complex DNA origami design tasks. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
NANOPLASMONICS LLC
SBIR Phase I: Plasmonically Enhanced Molecular Imprinted Polymers for Toxins Detection
Contact
4223 BAYS WATER DR
Colorado Springs, CO 80920--7620
NSF Award
2505692 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,780
Start / end date
06/01/2025 – 05/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Vincent Lee
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project addresses the critical challenge of detecting harmful mycotoxins in the food supply chain. Mycotoxins, which are toxic compounds produced by certain fungi, contaminate approximately 25 percent of global food crops annually, resulting in billions of dollars in economic losses and posing significant health risks to both humans and animals. The development of a portable, cost-effective detection system will enable rapid on-site testing throughout the food production and distribution process, from farm to table. This capability will help prevent contaminated products from entering the food supply, thereby protecting public health and reducing economic losses in the agriculture sector. The technology has potential applications across multiple industries, including agriculture, food processing, and quality control laboratories. Successful commercialization of this technology will create high-skilled jobs in sensor manufacturing and technical support while generating tax revenue through domestic and international sales. Additionally, this innovation will strengthen the United States position as a leader in food safety technology and agricultural innovation. This project introduces breakthrough sensor technology for mycotoxin detection through the integration of three innovative components. The primary technical innovation centers on the development of synthetic molecular imprinted polymers that function as artificial antibodies, specifically engineered to detect mycotoxins with high selectivity. These polymers are combined with plasmonic nanoparticles that enhance fluorescence signals, enabling detection of extremely low mycotoxin concentrations. The technology incorporates smartphone-based signal processing and analysis capabilities, making it accessible for field use. The research goals include researching the molecular imprinted polymer synthesis for maximum selectivity, controlling the plasmon-enhanced fluorescence mechanism for improved sensitivity, and developing robust algorithms for accurate quantification of mycotoxin levels. The methodological approach involves systematic testing of polymer formulations and validation against established detection methods. This integrated system aims to achieve detection limits superior to conventional testing methods while maintaining reliability and ease of use. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
NANORES LLC
SBIR Phase I: User-Centric Super Resolution Imaging System Dissecting Molecular Composition and Ultrastructure in Cells and Tissues
Contact
3032 DECATUR ST
West Lafayette, IN 47906--1132
NSF Award
2451418 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
03/01/2025 – 02/28/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Henry Ahn
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project lies in its ability to revolutionize biomedical research by enabling advanced fluorescence imaging of biological tissues at unprecedented depth and resolution. The technology's ability to provide precise three-dimensional imaging of molecular structures in thick tissue samples offers significant advancements in drug discovery, disease diagnostics, basic biological research, and biological education. This innovation has the potential to fill a major gap in the high-end microscopy market, providing researchers with tools that surpass the limitations of current imaging systems, fostering breakthroughs in life sciences. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to develop a compact, multi-color super-resolution imaging system capable of imaging thick biological tissues with nanoscale precision. The project addresses the limitations of existing imaging technologies, which are restricted in depth and resolution, by incorporating advanced features such as adaptive optics and spinning disk technology to minimize optical aberrations and scattering. The research objectives include optimizing the system for imaging up to 250 micrometers in depth with a resolution of 10?20 nanometers and demonstrating its capability to visualize multiple molecular targets simultaneously. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
NCO Technologies LLC
SBIR Phase I: Scalable Production of High-Performance Metal-Organic Framework Membranes
Contact
720 BILLINGS ST
Aurora, CO 80011--6753
NSF Award
2507732 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 09/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Vincent Lee
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project lies in its potential to significantly improve the performance, cost, and durability of energy storage systems, which are critical to enabling the widespread adoption of renewable energy. Current long-duration energy storage technologies, such as redox flow batteries, are limited by high operating costs and performance degradation. This project aims to address these issues by developing a new type of advanced membrane using a novel porous material that can enable better selectivity, efficiency, and longevity. If successful, this innovation could lower the total cost of ownership for energy storage systems, enabling utilities and grid operators to store renewable electricity for use when the sun is not shining or the wind is not blowing. The technology is scalable and compatible with continuous manufacturing processes, which supports its eventual commercial deployment. The first market entry point will be long-duration stationary energy storage, with the potential to expand to water treatment and chemical separations. The innovation could enhance U.S. leadership in clean energy technologies, advance grid reliability, and contribute to national efforts in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It represents a durable competitive advantage in an emerging, fast-growing market. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project introduces an innovative manufacturing approach for advanced membranes based on metal-organic frameworks, a class of porous materials known for their tunable structure, high selectivity, and chemical stability. Despite their promise, metal-organic framework membranes have faced major barriers to commercial adoption due to challenges in large-scale fabrication and integration. This project addresses these limitations by developing a continuous, scalable roll-to-roll process for coating porous polymer substrates with metal-organic framework layers. The approach enables uniform, adherent coatings over large areas and is compatible with existing membrane formats, positioning it for industrial relevance. The research will focus on optimizing metal-organic framework substrate compatibility, improving coating uniformity, and ensuring mechanical durability. Performance will be assessed through rigorous characterization and electrochemical testing. The membranes are intended to address critical needs in advanced electrochemical systems that demand precise ion selectivity and long-term stability. One promising application is in non-aqueous redox flow batteries, where membrane performance hinders its commercialization. This work will establish the technical foundation for scale-up and broader adoption in clean energy and other high-impact applications. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
ND-DIAGENOMIX, INC.
STTR Phase I: Design a Just-In-Time Formative Assessment Algorithm for an Adaptive Education Platform
Contact
1400 E ANGELA BLVD
South Bend, IN 46617--1364
NSF Award
2451599 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
02/01/2025 – 04/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Lindsay Portnoy
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project will be achieved by developing and validating cutting edge assessment technology to address two critical problems in math education: a) student learning deficiencies and b) teacher overload and attrition. At the high school level, the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) reported that the math scores of U.S. students in 2022 ranked 28th among 37 participating countries, posing substantial risk to the nation?s competitiveness in STEM fields. This occurs while educators? burnout and attrition is at an all time high. Such significant learning deficiencies in math will cost an estimated $1.1T in GDP due to the loss of workforce productivity and innovation. Meanwhile, available tools and innovations for high school math are drastically low, in comparison to tools available for their K-8 counterparts. In response, this STTR project will develop a web-based system providing highly efficient, personalized, formative assessments that are easily customizable by teachers themselves. By addressing critical classroom and market needs, the project will help improve student math learning, cultivate a competitive and diverse STEM workforce, and contribute to high-tech innovation in a Federal Opportunity Zone in the heart of Midwest. This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project will develop a web-based formative assessment system providing highly efficient and personalized assessments that are easily customizable by teachers themselves, empowering teachers to do their work more effectively and efficiently. Unlike traditional adaptive assessment systems that often reduce the teacher?s role, this platform leverages cognitive diagnostic modeling to identify students? strengths and weaknesses in high school math in real time, both individually and collectively. An innovative machine learning algorithm clusters students for targeted instruction based on their mathematical competencies and current understanding, while also tracking their progress to enable timely interventions. Teachers can regularly and flexibly regroup students based on updated assessments, ensuring that instruction remains tailored to each class?s needs. Additionally, advancements in large language models (LLMs) will be utilized to expand the item bank, supporting the platform?s scalability and meeting ongoing assessment demands in diverse classroom environments. The system?s usability and effectiveness will be validated through a comprehensive pilot study, demonstrating its potential to enhance educational outcomes and streamline teaching processes. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
NEUCORE BIO, INC.
STTR Phase I: Fibroblast-Derived Engineered Extracellular Vesicles (eEVs) as New Nucleic Acid Therapeutic Delivery Systems for Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) Genetic Disorders
Contact
1275 KINNEAR RD
Columbus, OH 43212--1180
NSF Award
2507437 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,951
Start / end date
06/15/2025 – 05/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Henry Ahn
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project lies in its ability to advance gene therapy for neurological disorders by developing a scalable and cost-effective manufacturing process for extracellular vesicle (EV)-based therapeutics. This innovation has the potential to improve treatment safety, precision, and accessibility for patients with conditions such as neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), addressing a critical unmet medical need. By streamlining production methods, this project aims to lower the cost of EV-based therapies, making them more widely available. Additionally, the technology is expected to drive growth in the U.S. biotechnology sector, fostering job creation and reinforcing the nation's leadership in gene therapy innovation. The commercial potential is significant, as this approach may enable the development of novel, non-viral gene therapies with broad applications in precision medicine. This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project seeks to address key technical challenges in the scalable manufacturing of EV-based gene therapies. The research focuses on improving methods for EV isolation, purification, and cargo loading to enhance therapeutic efficacy. Specific objectives include optimizing culture conditions, refining chemical transfection protocols, and developing standardized procedures for loading exogenous DNA into EVs. The project will also evaluate biodistribution, dosing, and therapeutic outcomes in preclinical models to support future clinical translation. Anticipated technical results include the establishment of reproducible, scalable manufacturing protocols and the demonstration of in vitro efficacy. This work will contribute to the broader field of precision medicine by providing an alternative to viral vectors for gene delivery, addressing current limitations in safety, scalability, and immune response. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
NEXTGENEDU INC
SBIR Phase I: An Adaptive AI-Driven Career Exploration Platform
Contact
826 SE 36TH LN
Ocala, FL 34471--8714
NSF Award
2507751 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,993
Start / end date
04/01/2025 – 07/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Lindsay Portnoy
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this SBIR Phase I project is to ensure all Americans have access to 21st century careers while addressing a gap in workforce development through an adaptive, AI-driven career exploration platform which provides personalized career guidance for students in secondary and post-secondary education. This unique approach to career readiness will reduce unemployment and skill mismatches across the nation by addressing critical stages in career lifecycle of awareness, interest, and readiness. By enhancing the technological infrastructure supporting career development and fostering a more adaptive, skilled, and competitive workforce, the project aligns with national interests towards accelerated access to meaningful career choices and lower rates of unemployment in critical . The market opportunity for this project focuses on educational institutions and workforce development agencies, with the first market segment being high schools and post-secondary institutions. By year three of deployment, this solution is projected to improve career readiness for thousands of individuals, improving labor market alignment, which will create significant economic value by creating a more engaged and aligned workforce. This project will advance scientific understanding by developing and applying advanced learning theories and data-driven models to support open-field decision-making processes, fostering better career outcomes for all. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project focuses on developing a data-driven platform to address the challenge of career discovery and decision-making in complex and evolving job markets. The project integrates advanced learning theories to design state-of-the-art artificial intelligence and data visualization technologies to design and validate a novel system to contextualizes large datasets inclusive of such as labor market trends, job qualifications, and career pathways, into actionable insights for users. The approach leverages principles of machine learning, hierarchical reinforcement learning, and retrieval-augmented generation to create an adaptive platform capable of personalizing recommendations and guiding users through informed decision-making towards career identification, readiness, and success. Anticipated technical results include the development of scalable algorithms for hierarchical data modeling, a robust user-interface prototype, and pilot-tested outcomes demonstrating improved alignment between user preferences and career engagement. The research will provide foundational advancements in integrating educational, psychological, and data science principles, with implications for creating more effective, scalable solutions in career discovery and workforce development. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
NEXUMA L.L.C.
SBIR Phase I: Microbially-Driven Underground Barrier to Reduce Flooding in Coastal Communities
Contact
17105 N BAY RD APT B610
Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160--4089
NSF Award
2450954 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,988
Start / end date
03/01/2025 – 02/28/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Rajesh Mehta
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to develop a microbially-driven method to reduce flooding in coastal communities built on highly permeable coral limestone soil formations, such as those found in South Florida. With sea levels projected to rise 10-12 inches by 2050 along the U.S. coasts, barriers to prevent flooding are needed. Currently proposed methods rely on building extensive infrastructure both above and below land or moving residents to higher elevations, all of which are intrusive to the day-to-day lives of Americans. This project aims to prevent flooding in communities built on limestone soil by modifying the permeability of limestone using naturally occurring bacteria. Reducing the permeability of limestone will prevent underground water from rising into communities. The approach is less invasive than existing technologies, does not require excessive excavation, and may allow citizens to remain in their homes despite the sea level rise. It addresses NSF?s mission to ensure the prosperity of the average American citizen. It also involves stakeholders across multiple industries, including industrial microbiology, geochemistry, and construction, and can be applied to large areas of the US, thus potentially creating jobs and tax revenues from many sources. Microbially-induced carbonate precipitation (MICP), a process that uses naturally occurring bacteria to create calcium carbonate crystals on surfaces, will be employed to reduce the permeability of limestone to water. Upon optimizing and scaling this process, MICP will be used to modify in-ground limestone structures to reduce flooding in coastal communities. With this long-term goal in mind, and within the scope of an SBIR Phase I project, the goals of this proposal are to optimize the growth and MICP capabilities of naturally occurring bacterial strains in conditions that mimic the underground limestone environment and to test the structure, strength, and permeability of the MICP-modified limestone. The above will be accomplished using a suite of microbial growth and urease assays, biochemical and microscopy assessments of calcium carbonate deposits, and physio-chemical assessment of limestone porosity and bond strength. Together, the work proposed will establish the preferred conditions for MICP on limestone in environmentally relevant experimental conditions. This represents the first critical step towards using MICP in coastal communities to reduce or eliminate groundwater flooding as sea level waters rise. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
NITRO BIOSCIENCES INC.
STTR Phase I: A platform to overcome immunodominance in vaccine development
Contact
279 PEACH RD
Newark, DE 19711--4511
NSF Award
2507491 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,438
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 09/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Erik Pierstorff
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project is to advance a novel vaccine platform to develop engineered vaccines that provide longer lasting protection against infectious diseases. Several current vaccines face challenges in reliably protecting populations against rapidly evolving pathogens where prior exposure negatively impacts vaccine effectiveness. This project develops an innovative approach aimed at boosting the immune response to critical parts of pathogens, overcoming limitations associated with previous exposures or immune system biases. By directing immune responses toward conserved, essential regions of pathogens, the innovation has significant commercial and societal potential, including the development of vaccines that are effective across multiple pathogen variants. As an initial area of translation, the technology will be applied toward prevention of healthcare-associated infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This approach addresses an unmet clinical need and offers healthcare systems substantial cost savings and improved patient outcomes. The market opportunity for such vaccines is substantial, with potential annual revenues exceeding $200 million by the third year of commercial production. The resulting technology and its applications could provide durable competitive advantages through enhanced vaccine effectiveness, positioning it as a key factor in enabling commercial success and improving public health. This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project aims to overcome a significant limitation in vaccine development known as immune imprinting, which occurs when prior exposure to pathogens biases immune responses away from protective targets. The objective is to utilize a novel method involving engineered antigens containing chemically modified amino acids to enhance immune recognition and stimulate targeted protective responses. The research goals are to validate computational methods for accurately predicting optimal sites for antigen modifications, demonstrate increased antibody production specifically targeting essential pathogen regions, and confirm that these improvements enhance cross-strain protection. Research activities will include computational modeling to predict antigen modification sites, genetic engineering techniques to produce modified vaccine candidates, and immunological studies in animal models to evaluate effectiveness. Anticipated technical outcomes include validated predictive tools that significantly reduce experimental trial-and-error, proof-of-concept demonstration of enhanced antibody responses toward targeted regions of antigens, and improved vaccine induced protection in animal models. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
NOVATECH INNOVATIONS LLC
STTR Phase I: Cutting-Edge Nitride Based Distributed Bragg IR-Reflectors
Contact
7190 CALABRIA CT UNIT B
San Diego, CA 92122--6000
NSF Award
2505135 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,448
Start / end date
07/15/2025 – 12/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Samir Iqbal
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial impacts of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project lie in advancing laser targeting, range finding, light detection and ranging (LIDAR), free-space optical communication, and active sensing. The development of nitride-based reflectors will provide enhanced durability, efficiency, and optical performance. The global high-power laser market is expanding rapidly, with increasing demand for reliable, long-lasting optical components. This project will contribute to scientific and economic progress by advancing technological knowledge in semiconductor materials, optoelectronics, and photonics. This technology has wide-ranging applications that include improving national security by enhancing military laser systems, increasing the precision of LIDAR-based remote sensing for autonomous vehicles and improving industrial systems. Beyond these technical advancements, this project is expected to generate high-tech jobs in semiconductor manufacturing, laser system design, and research and development. The commercialization of this technology will foster economic growth and reduce energy consumption in laser-based systems. By integrating these advanced reflectors into various industries, this project will support long-term technological progress, strengthening the broader scientific community, and contributing to innovation-driven economic development. This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project focuses on developing highly reflective nitride-based Distributed Bragg Reflectors (DBRs) for infrared applications. Current oxide-based reflectors suffer from limited efficiency, laser damage susceptibility, and broad reflection bands, which hinder performance in high-power laser applications. To overcome these challenges, this project will utilize nitride single crystals with varying compositions to achieve more than 99.5% narrow band reflectivity at 1030-1070 nm enabling high-power laser resistance. By fine-tuning layer thickness and composition, we aim to achieve superior optical performance while minimizing point and extended defects formation. Advanced metal-organic chemical vapor deposition techniques will be employed, optimizing growth parameters such as temperature and metal organic flow rates along with the use of nitride native substrates to control film quality. Substrate removal and wafer bonding techniques will be explored to integrate nitride DBRs with silicon and other materials, ensuring compatibility and stability. The project will develop high-performance, crack-free nitride reflectors consisting of AlInN/GaN multilayers, achieving 99.5% reflection and a 40 nm stopband at ~1050 nm. These advancements will enable practical deployment in high-intensity IR environments, supporting next-generation laser technologies. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
NOVAURUM BIOSCIENCES INCORPORATED
SBIR Phase I: Development of a Novel Mammalian Cell-Based Nano-Biological Coating for Implantable Medical Devices.
Contact
42 MEDFORD ST
Somerville, MA 02143--4233
NSF Award
2449177 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
03/01/2025 – 02/28/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Henry Ahn
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to address the critical health and economic burden associated with implant-related infections by reducing or eliminating them with a novel biocompatible and antimicrobial nano-biological coating on implants. Infections related to implanted medical devices are shockingly common, as one million implant-related infections occur each year in the United States. These infections are usually treated with antibiotics. Unfortunately, overuse of antibiotics can cause multi-drug resistance, leading to more severe infections, making them harder to treat. There is a higher five-year mortality rate for prosthetic joint infections than for breast cancer. These infections not only present significant treatment challenges due to a biofilm formed by colonizing bacteria, but they also impose a massive financial burden on the healthcare system, costing more than $8.6 billion annually. This proposal addresses this critical issue by creating a novel nano-biological coating designed to inhibit biofilm formation and protect against all types of bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant strains, while ensuring high biocompatibility. As such, the primary target market for this technology is medical device manufacturers, particularly in the orthopedic implant sector, anticipating $8 million in revenues by the third year of commercialization. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will focus on the development of a novel mammalian cell-based nano-biological coating when applied to orthopedic implants and demonstrate that the nanoparticles that can limit infection and inflammation while promoting bone growth. Nanoparticles are well known to reduce infection but how they are coated on medical devices remain problematic and undescribed. This proposal will establish an innovative approach to treat medical devices with nanoparticles to inhibit bacteria via cell stimulation. Several technical challenges that arise from stimulating cells to produce nanoparticles on medical implants, include optimizing nanoparticle synthesis, in vitro characterization and validation, and in vivo proof-of-concept studies. Commercialization of this technology depends on establishing a controlled production system, scaling up production, obtaining regulatory approvals, and achieving market launch. The specific technical objectives of this SBIR Phase I are: (1) Characterization of nanoparticles produced by different cells on Ti6Al4V and stainless-steel orthopedic implants, (2) Determination of the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of such coated surfaces, (3) Determination of bone and fibroblast cell proliferation on such coated implants, and (4) Determination of the performance of nanoparticles produced by the cells as the active ingredient from such coated surfaces. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
OBEEWAN TECHNOLOGIES INC
SBIR Phase I: Queen Honey Bee Location Identification
Contact
1246 SAXONBURG BLVD
Glenshaw, PA 15116--3216
NSF Award
2451147 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
06/01/2025 – 05/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Vincent Lee
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project lies in improving beekeeping efficiency through bio-acoustic technology, addressing a critical challenge in modern apiculture. Beekeepers struggle to locate queen bees within their hives, a process that is labor-intensive, time-consuming, and disruptive to colony health. The inability to efficiently locate and assess the condition of a queen bee contributes to hive losses, negatively impacting honey production and pollination-dependent agriculture. Given the essential role of honey bees in pollination, improving hive management has significant economic and ecological implications. By developing a novel bio-acoustic approach to attract queen bees to a predictable location within the hive, the technology will reduce labor costs, enhance hive monitoring, and increase productivity for commercial, sideline, and hobbyist beekeepers. The integration of advanced sensing and artificial intelligence into beekeeping practices will contribute to sustainable precision agriculture, with applications extending beyond honey bee management into broader agricultural and ecological monitoring systems. This project introduces an innovative bio-acoustic luring system that leverages queen bee communication signals to enable rapid and accurate queen localization within managed hives. The technical innovation lies in the application of bio-acoustic principles to mimic naturally occurring queen bee piping sounds, which trigger predictable responses from the resident queen. This approach has not been previously commercialized and represents a novel method of influencing honey bee behavior for practical hive management applications. The research will focus on refining the acoustic signal parameters, optimizing speaker placement, and evaluating queen bee movement in response to controlled stimuli. A series of field experiments will be conducted in controlled and real-world hive environments to quantify the effectiveness of the bio-acoustic luring system in reducing queen search time and minimizing colony disturbance. The study will also assess the impact of various environmental factors on signal propagation and queen bee responsiveness. This research will establish a foundation for precision beekeeping tools that enhance hive management efficiency while maintaining honey bee health and productivity. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
OPAL HTM INC
STTR Phase I: Novel Medical Equipment Utilization Tracking System for Improved Patient Safety and Hospital Efficiency
Contact
3827 FAWN LN
White Plains, MD 20695--3310
NSF Award
2321886 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$275,000
Start / end date
09/01/2023 – 02/28/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Directors
Mara Schindelholz
Peter Atherton
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project relates to the development of a novel system capable of measuring medical equipment utilization with high accuracy and scalability. This innovation will arm healthcare technology managers with the insights needed to optimize inventory size and composition according to actual patient needs, thereby saving hospitals an estimated $23.3 billion annually in equipment-related costs, in addition to making possible usage-based predictive maintenance that can effectively prevent dangerous equipment failures. Beyond these core value propositions, comprehensive medical equipment utilization insights may be leveraged to facilitate strategic resource management in public health emergencies, increase energy efficiency of healthcare facilities, and improve regulatory surveillance of emerging equipment safety issues. The results of this project will form the basis for a hardware-enabled service and clear the path towards development of deployable products, clinical pilots, and early sales. Through commercialization under a sustainable business model, the envisioned product will substantially increase the economic competitiveness of US hospitals, which comprises one of the largest sectors of the American economy. The project will also advance the health and welfare of the American public through improved medical device safety and management.
This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project will establish technical and commercial feasibility for an innovative, asset-agnostic, medical equipment utilization tracking system which will integrate state-of-the-art techniques for non-intrusive load monitoring, deep learning, and edge computing in order to overcome previously insurmountable asset monitoring challenges posed by the heterogeneity and churn of hospital equipment inventories. Key technical hurdles to be addressed relate to the capture and characterization of medical equipment electrical load data, real-time translation of this data into accurate usage statistics suitable for hospital decision-making, and distributed implementation of this process through non-invasive sensor modules that are broadly compatible with sundry medical equipment. The proposed research will overcome these hurdles through (i) systematic collection and analysis of power consumption data from a representative group of medical equipment under various operational states, (ii) formulation, training, and validation of adaptive artificial neural networks that predict usage from power data, (iii) construction of a proof-of-concept intelligent sensor module, and (iv) system performance testing in a simulated clinical environment. Through completion of these objectives, this project will advance knowledge in the fields of hospital asset management and industrial Internet-of-Things.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.OPTICALX, LLC
SBIR Phase I: Space-Time Projection Optical Tomography (SPOT)
Contact
20654 ALDER AVE
Tracy, CA 95304--8404
NSF Award
2404362 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$274,996
Start / end date
07/01/2024 – 12/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Anna Brady-Estevez
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) project is to understand how to harness the power of Graphical Processing Unit (GPU)-computing to detect and track small space debris. The last decade has seen rapid growth in satellite launches as well as space explosions which profoundly worsen the space debris environment, particularly in the Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Debris smaller than 5 cm is not detectable by current radar and optical techniques, remains in orbit for many years, travels at 5 miles per second and, therefore, poses serious collisional hazards to operational spacecraft and the inhabitants of the International Space Station (ISS). Ultimately, the concern is that the number of space objects beyond a certain threshold will trigger an unintended exponentially growing avalanche of fragments making LEO unusuable.The only option then is orbit maneuvering and it requires knowing the orbits of each of the debris pieces hours or days ahead of time. The proposed technology is a step toward a comprehensive space surveillance system to ensure sustainable use of the Earth?s orbits.
This SBIR Phase I project proposes to develop an optical solution for space debris detection using a small array of telescopes and algorithms implemented on GPU-based parallel computing platforms. If successful, the proposed technology transforms arrays of inexpensive small, wide field-of-view cameras into powerful computational telescopes with sensitivities enough to potentially detect objects smaller than 1 cm. Also known as synthetic tracking, the technology has been successfully utilized to detect large numbers of near-Earth asteroids for planetary protection. The same method is likely to benefit detection of small objects in LEO. However, it is computationally more challenging because the LEO objects move across the camera view much more rapidly. This requires taking 100x more picture frames per second, requiring the analysis of petabytes of data. More importantly, processing of these many frames is computationally more demanding. On the other hand, the sensitivity gain is significantly more, potentially allowing the detection of sub-cm objects. In contrast to building massive and expensive radar and optical telescopes, this project aims to provide a sustainable and low-cost solution to track millions of particles to provide protection for space assets now and eventually for human inhabitation of space.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.OSMOSES INC.
SBIR Phase I: Optimization and scaling of ladder polymers for membrane-based gas separations
Contact
750 MAIN ST
Cambridge, MA 02139--3544
NSF Award
2151444 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$253,815
Start / end date
08/15/2023 – 12/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Directors
Rajesh Mehta
Samir Iqbal
Errata
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Abstract
This broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to develop membrane solutions to address opportunities in the gas and vapor separation market. Today, this market is dominated by energy-intensive thermal processes that have large carbon footprints, such as distillation and absorption/stripping. The current membrane solutions often lack the flux, recovery, and stability required for many applications. The membranes that will be developed in this project are formed from novel polymeric materials that have the highest combinations of permeability and selectivity out of all polymers reported in the open literature. If deployed commercially for renewable and/or traditional natural gas purification, these membranes could reduce energy consumption and product loss by over 40% and over 80%, respectively, compared to current commercial membranes. In this way, the advanced membranes being developed could save up to $2 million per day in product loss that is currently flared from commercial membrane systems, resulting in both savings for the customer and a reduced environmental footprint. Related opportunities in other gas and vapor separation markets could also be enabled by this research.
The intellectual merit of this project is to develop gas separation membranes from a novel class of polymers with record performance. To this end, this effort aims to scale polymer synthesis, form thin films, test developed membranes using complex gas mixtures, and develop an optimized techno-economic model for market applications. These objectives are of practical importance for manufacturing and commercialization, but they are likewise important for scientific and technical innovation in polymer science and thin-film formation. Moreover, testing these materials in thin film form under complex gas mixtures will provide data on stability under relevant conditions. The research on polymer scaleup and thin film formation is critical for refining technoeconomic assumptions for capital costs, and the testing of complex gas mixtures is critical for refining assumptions on process energy costs and cost savings from product recovery. Accomplishment of these objectives will enable new innovations related to the formation of membrane modules that can be tested and evaluated with industrial gas mixtures.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.PALENA THERAPEUTICS, INC.
SBIR Phase I: Novel Peptide Immunomodulators for Treatment of Autoimmune and Inflammatory Disorders
Contact
500 W BOYLSTON ST STE 7
Worcester, MA 01606--2058
NSF Award
2451399 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
03/01/2025 – 02/28/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Henry Ahn
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is in developing a novel class of compounds capable of treating autoimmune and inflammatory conditions safely and effectively. With the constant threat of new COVID variants, influenza, and RSV, there is an unmet medical need for therapeutics that can effectively treat autoimmune diseases especially in pediatric patients without compromising the immune system to respond to infections. This problem has been overcome with the discovery of novel compositions that demonstrate efficacy equal or superior to many of the first line therapies used to treat immune diseases. The improved safety, efficacy and lower cost of these therapeutics should provide a significant benefit to patients by overall contributing to their quality of life as compared to current medications, as well as marketing and partnering advantage in its commercialization efforts, which will focus on rare diseases, such as juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis and pediatric Crohn?s disease among others. In the era of socio-economic disparities, these affordable drugs will become available to the historically neglected low-income communities. If executed successfully, this proposal would validate the platform technology and demonstrate the feasibility of identifying candidates for further development into life-changing treatments. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will demonstrate the unique design of novel compounds to augment and re-program the immune responses from pro- to anti-inflammatory, based on the binding to MHC class II molecules that leads to immunomodulation. The technical complexities of understanding the effects of peptide sequences on the outcomes of cellular interactions present challenges related to selecting the appropriate amino acids both for the random and specific components of these compositions. These hurdles will be addressed by design of several candidate compounds for each target condition, juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis and pediatric Crohn?s disease, that will take into account the structure of autoantigenic peptides known to interact with both the MHC class II and T cell receptor (TCR). These candidate compounds will be initially tested in vitro in human macrophages to assess their potential to inhibit secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Of these compounds, the most efficient ones will be tested for activity in relevant animal models. This approach will allow identifying and selecting the best drug candidates for further development into therapies for pediatric conditions as outlined above. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
PANGEA LLC
SBIR Phase I: Cloud-Based Platform for Comprehensive AI Robustness Assessment with Dual Optimization for Accuracy and Robustness
Contact
712 WARMSTONE CT
Nashville, TN 37209--5032
NSF Award
2505703 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,997
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 05/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Directors
Parvathi Chundi
Peter Atherton
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is the development of a cloud-based platform that improves the robustness of artificial intelligence (AI) models used in critical applications such as smart transportation systems, healthcare, aerospace, and defense. Ensuring AI robustness is essential for the safety, security, and reliability of systems where model failures can cause significant societal harm. This project addresses the need for AI models that perform consistently even under adversarial conditions and input variability. By providing robustness assessment and retraining capabilities, the platform will support the creation of safer and more reliable AI systems. Additionally, the platform is designed to expand beyond robustness evaluation, offering comprehensive AI model health assessments that incorporate generalization, explainability, and security metrics. By establishing standardized quality assurance protocols, this technology has the potential to support the development of global governance and safety standards for AI, ultimately enhancing public trust and promoting the responsible adoption of AI systems across multiple sectors. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project addresses critical challenges in developing robust AI (artificial intelligence) models, particularly for safety-critical sectors. The intellectual merit lies in the novel integration of both white-box and black-box robustness evaluation methods into a cloud-based platform designed to assess and improve AI model robustness. A key technical hurdle is balancing model accuracy with robustness, especially in the face of adversarial attacks and input variations. While white-box methods, such as gradient-based evaluations, adversarial attacks, and perturbation analysis, will be used when model internals are accessible, the core innovation of this project is a black-box robustness technique based on manifold curvature estimation. This method evaluates robustness without requiring access to a model?s internal structure, relying solely on input-output relationships. This innovation is crucial for industries where model internals may not be transparent or accessible. The research objectives include developing and validating the platform and implementing a dual optimization method to retrain AI models for both accuracy and robustness, ensuring greater resilience against adversarial attacks. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
PARTICLE4X, INC.
SBIR Phase I: Inline Monitoring of Particulate Matter and Sterility for Continuous Manufacturing
Contact
6275 COUNTRY RD
Eden Prairie, MN 55346--1342
NSF Award
2507422 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,972
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 09/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Ben Schrag
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will be focused on a transformational approach to real-time quality assurance in injectable drug manufacturing by introducing a compact, low-cost and scalable sensor capable of detecting both particulate matter (PM) and microbial contaminants inline. Leveraging recent advances in imaging and machine learning, the system delivers automated, label-free particle analysis with high sensitivity and throughput. While standard quality tests are typically conducted offline and manually, this new technology fills a critical gap by enabling continuous, inline monitoring, supporting the industry?s shift from batch to continuous manufacturing. Real-time monitoring allows earlier identification of contaminants, reducing production downtime, minimizing waste, and improving product safety. Specific broader impacts of the research include strengthening U.S. competitiveness in smart manufacturing and quality assurance through advanced sensor integration and real-time analytics. The project is expected to cut recall and quality control costs by as much as 20%, potentially saving large manufacturers hundreds of millions annually. Its broader applicability spans food safety, environmental monitoring, and biodefense, offering scalable benefits for public health, ecological protection, and national security. The intellectual merit of this project lies in the development of a real-time, inline sensor system which integrates Digital Inline Holography (DIH) and deep learning for dual-function analysis of particulate matter (PM) and sterility in liquid production environments. Key innovations include high-throughput, label-free imaging; low false-positive detection of viable microbes; and robust PM classification with real-time visualization. DIH employs a low-power laser to illuminate particles in flow, generating interference patterns (holograms) captured by a high-resolution camera. These holograms are reconstructed into three-dimensional optical fields from which particle morphology, phase, and optical characteristics are extracted. A customized deep learning model, trained on those features using a diverse database of PM and biocontaminants, classifies contaminants at the single-particle level. The system also integrates a high-throughput preconcentration module to enhance detection sensitivity, achieving limits below 0.1 colony-forming units per milliliter (CFU/mL) at throughputs exceeding 1 mL/min. The modular, compact system design enables deployment at multiple stages of production. The deep learning model leverages transfer learning techniques, allowing efficient adaptation to new products and contamination types. This research will address key challenges in deploying optical sensors in industrial settings, including integration with fluid systems for robust, reliable operation under real-world conditions. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
PIEZO THERAPEUTICS, INC.
SBIR Phase I: A Novel Low Cost Intradermal Delivery Platform For Nucleic Acid Vaccines
Contact
4250 HARRISON PARK DR
Cumming, GA 30041--8492
NSF Award
2437939 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,742
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 09/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Ed Chinchoy
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is a new portable low cost vaccine delivery platform for nucleic acid vaccines, commonly used to treat infectious diseases and cancer. Current vaccines are delivered using lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) which are generally considered complex and generally more costly to produce. Furthermore they can exhibit undesirable side effects. These challenges have caused a steady decline in actual adoption despite their demonstrated efficacy. This project aims to develop a new technology to deliver nucleic acid vaccines without LNPs or carriers in general, using a simpler scalable approach leveraging electroporation. If successful, this platform could expand access to vaccine delivery with fewer side effects, improve their tolerability/acceptability, and support ultra-rapid deployment for biosecurity threats, to provide a new delivery method for vaccinations. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will demonstrate the feasibility of delivering naked nucleic acid vaccines without lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) using a simple handheld pen design. The device delivers electrical pulses through microelectrodes to create temporary pores in skin cells allowing direct vaccine delivery to immune cells without systemic exposure. In this project, the pen will be: 1) optimized in vivo to maximize gene delivery and protein expression by varying electric pulse voltage, duration, and mechanical micro needle configurations and 2) benchmarked for their vaccine delivery effectiveness against an FDA-approved vaccine with the goal of showing superior or comparable immune responses despite eliminating lipid nanoparticles, in a mouse model. These result will demonstrate preclinical feasibility of a novel delivery platform to match LNP efficacy for vaccines while reducing cost, complexity, and side effects compared to existing systems. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
PINWHEEL SOLAR LLC
STTR Phase I: Perovskite Photovoltaic Cells with ALD Buffer Layers for Enhanced Durability
Contact
2433 HIGH AVE
Vestal, NY 13850--2711
NSF Award
2432832 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$275,000
Start / end date
04/01/2025 – 03/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Mara Schindelholz
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this SBIR Phase I project is to produce durable, flexible, and high-efficiency perovskite solar panels. These panels offer a power conversion efficiency of 20% and lower manufacturing costs compared to existing technologies. The global market for perovskite solar cells is expected to reach approximately $3 billion by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 56.5%. The key metric for the success of the perovskite solar market is its stability. With a projected lifespan exceeding 25 years, a global market share of at least 1% is projected in the short term, resulting in annual revenue of $30 million by 2030, which is expected to grow significantly. Investment in the manufacturing of this type of technology is important for achieving energy security and independence for the United States. The intellectual merit of this project lies in manufacturing high-performance mixed halide-based perovskite solar cells with long-term stability. To address the limitations of previous perovskite-based technologies, the focus is on improving stability by tackling both extrinsic factors (such as moisture and heat) and intrinsic factors (like halide ion movement within the perovskite material) that contribute to cell degradation. The more severe internal degradation is prevented through two-dimensional perovskites and ultra-thin atomic layer deposition (ALD) coated buffer layers, significantly mitigating ion migration. Additionally, the buffer layers serve as suitable moisture barriers, enhancing protection against extrinsic degradation factors. This technology is unique because it addresses instability challenges from the inside out, leveraging novel buffer layers and encapsulation methods to provide the superior durability needed for mainstream commercialization. Compared to conventional solar cells, perovskites can be manufactured using simple, solution-based, and low-temperature processing techniques (approximately 100-150°C versus around 1400°C for silicon), which reduces costs. Project objectives include: 1) Enhancing stability of the perovskite material to support a 30-year solar cell lifetime, 2) Constructing perovskite-based cells on flexible substrates, enabling application across a broad range of markets, and 3) Demonstrating roll-to-roll manufacturability, validating ease of scaleup and implementation. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
PLANETTE ANALYTICS INC
SBIR Phase I: NIVA: A Multimodal Foundation Model for Actionable Earth System Intelligence
Contact
3534 PERALTA BLVD
Fremont, CA 94536--3738
NSF Award
2507255 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,943
Start / end date
05/15/2025 – 12/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Rajesh Mehta
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to provide businesses and governments with the essential environmental intelligence needed to navigate environmental volatility, including extreme weather (e.g. wildfires, floods, severe storms, heatwaves). The project develops and tests an AI-driven foundation modeling framework of the atmosphere and ocean, which can be used for long-range weather forecasting, extreme weather event alerts, local-scale environmental intelligence, and others. While AI methods have revolutionized weather forecasting, AI (Artificial Intelligence) foundation modeling has not yet been deployed for large-scale Earth system modeling beyond the atmosphere, which is necessary for environmental use cases beyond short-term weather. As such, developing an AI-driven atmosphere-ocean foundation model is a high-risk, high-reward scientific innovation, and brings the power of AI to a broad range of environmental intelligence applications. Success of this project would help fortify businesses, municipalities, and governments against environmental volatility, extreme weather, and uncertainty, ensuring continued economic vitality and resilience. Businesses in many industries, including energy, agriculture, insurance, forestry, real estate, infrastructure, logistics, and finance, would benefit from deploying this technology. The primary focus of this project is on the development of an advanced multimodal AI foundation model for environmental intelligence that actively learns the foundational knowledge of the Earth system components and their interactions. Incorporating the ocean and other components, all of which evolve over much longer time horizons than the atmosphere, will ensure the generalizability of the model to a range of present-day and future conditions. The model will be pretrained on the petabytes of Earth system model output, combined with decades of observational data (e.g. satellite data) and reanalyses, synthesizing the corpus of current physical knowledge of the Earth system. This will require parallel input/output optimization, distributed computing, and careful data chunking to avoid loss of information and minimize error compounding. The model will also be designed to be computationally efficient and fine-tunable for a variety of applications such as predicting environmental risk and extreme weather events, and sub-seasonal-to-seasonal forecasting. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
PLEXYMER, INC.
SBIR Phase I: AI-Directed Automation for Accelerated Bioformulation of Antibody Therapeutics
Contact
717 W 8TH ST
Plainfield, NJ 07060--2213
NSF Award
2449073 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
07/01/2025 – 06/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Erik Pierstorff
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact /commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to potentially turn hours-long hospital infusions of antibody medicines into self-administered at home injections. By pairing laboratory robotics with artificial intelligence, the project seeks to cut formulation time and material use by up to half potentially lowering the barriers of bringing new antibody medicines to patients and expanding access to self-administered therapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases. This project will serve biopharmaceutical firms developing antibody drugs, an addressable segment estimated at over two hundred million dollars annually. The technology offers a durable advantage through continuously improving artificial intelligence, while revenue will be generated via fee-for-service campaigns that scale efficiently with automation. First adopters are expected to be midsized-large biopharmaceutical companies seeking rapid, low-cost formulation. The technology?s commercial launch is planned within two years, with projected annual platform revenues of approximately three to five million dollars by the third year of production. Broadly, the work advances national health and prosperity by enabling and accelerating the delivery of next-generation biologic medicines. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will utilize a platform discovery pipeline using artificial intelligence to model and predict antibody formulation behavior with Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) excipients. Specifically, this project plans to use an artificial intelligence-driven search to formulate three therapeutic monoclonal antibody drugs that are candidates for subcutaneous administration. This project seeks to rapidly identify formulations enabling therapeutic dosing ([C] > 100 mg/mL), injectable viscosity levels (? < 30 cP), and colloidal stability (Monomer > 98%). To accomplish this, the projects aims to build and implement a platform discovery pipeline using artificial intelligence / machine learning to model and predict formulation behavior with GRAS excipients. These models aim to unlock (1) discovery campaign efficiency gains from a low number of experiments / data points, (2) Explainable artificial intelligence models to quantitatively map formulation-function behavior, and (3) predictive tools to optimize and enable classically challenging drugs for at home pre-filled autoinjectors. Successful and efficient Phase I outcomes would immediately enable advanced bioformulation for critically important medicines. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
POWER 3D, INC
SBIR Phase I: 3D Printed Electrodes for High Performance Microbatteries
Contact
4620 HENRY ST
Pittsburgh, PA 15213--3715
NSF Award
2451439 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$303,107
Start / end date
06/01/2025 – 02/28/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Mara Schindelholz
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will be the development of high energy dense, rechargeable lithium (Li)-ion microbatteries, with a significantly increased energy density per unit area. Such batteries will transform next-generation Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, and wearable devices, such as earbuds, watches and medical sensors. Current microbattery technologies show a critical limitation with regard to the energy, power and life cycle requirements of device makers. This innovation leverages three-dimensional (3D) printed microscale cathode electrodes, while also employing wafer-level processing to achieve superior manufacturing uniformity. The project will impact a Total Available Market (TAM) of $10 billion across the IoT and wearable devices markets. The technology will enable high density batteries that extend the usage of healthcare devices, while opening newer applications that require added computation and power. The project will lead to a robust, reliable, scalable, and commercially viable Li-ion microbattery platform that enables the next generation of microelectronic devices. The intellectual merit of this project includes utilization of rapid 3D printing to manufacture microlattice cathodes and semiconductor wafer-level manufacturing processes to build microbatteries at scale. The microlattice cathode will have thicknesses of >450 micrometers compared to the current 60-80 micrometers, increasing energy storing material from under 20% to greater than 60% of the battery volume and thus increasing energy storage. The wafer manufacturing process will decrease cost and increase yield to over 95%. The technical challenges to be solved include the printability of conventional and next-generation battery materials and understanding the electrochemical performance of the 3D printed structures and how the structures interact in the semiconductor manufacturing process. Specifically, scientific insights will be gained into the manufacturing process, such as understanding fluid dynamics for the printing process to rapidly build 3D microscale structures. Research objectives include demonstrating the 3D printability of lithium iron phosphate and lithium cobalt oxide cathodes, fabricating hermetically sealed microbattery cells, and proving the repeatability of the cell design and the semiconductor manufacturing process. The anticipated technical results will create a fundamental understanding of 3D printed electrodes and their integration with semiconductor processes, establishing a platform technology for next-generation energy storage solutions that overcome traditional microbattery limitations. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
PRICING SERVICE, INC.
SBIR Phase I: Scalable AI-Enabled Automated Pricing Tool for Service Industries
Contact
3005 HEIDELBERG DR
Boulder, CO 80305--7007
NSF Award
2451100 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$299,700
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 09/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Parvathi Chundi
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to empower organizations that are exposed to dynamic pricing ? such as in the transportation, retail and e-commerce sectors - with affordable, automated revenue management tools that enhance pricing decisions and improve financial performance. Organizations in these sectors often lack the resources, data infrastructure, and expertise needed to implement advanced pricing strategies. This project aims to provide access to smart pricing technology by developing an artificial intelligence-driven platform capable of operating effectively in data-scarce and competitive environments. The broader societal impacts include strengthening small businesses and supporting the economies surrounding dynamic pricing sectors. The innovations in forecasting, optimization, and competitive analysis have potential applications across a range of sectors experiencing dynamic pricing, thereby offering the potential for substantial commercial impact. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project addresses the challenge of optimizing pricing decisions in dynamically priced market sectors with limited historical data and intense price competition. The research objectives are to develop (1) novel demand forecasting methods that combine observational data with lightweight online experimentation; (2) an automated competitor analysis engine using econometric and machine learning tools; and (3) fast heuristic optimization algorithms to support real-time, network-wide pricing decisions. The project will implement and validate these innovations using real-world data and simulated operational settings. Anticipated technical results include accurate demand forecasts, robust pricing algorithms, and demonstrated revenue gains in pilot environments - laying the groundwork for scalable commercial deployment and continued innovation in dynamic pricing. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
PRIMARY BIOSCIENCE, INC.
STTR Phase I: Development of an Ultra-Low Concentration Amino Acid Sensor for Use in Protein Sequencing
Contact
7335 14TH AVE NW
Seattle, WA 98117--5312
NSF Award
2451102 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
07/15/2025 – 06/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Erik Pierstorff
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is an advancement to single-molecule biosensing technology. This innovation aims to enable accurate analysis of full-length proteins and identification of post-translational modifications (PTMs) at the individual molecular level independently without prior knowledge of the sample. The ability to sequence proteins and quantify protein abundance poses advances to biomarker discovery, diagnostics, and systems biology. The technology also enables accelerated drug development by identifying new targets and facilitating personalized medicine through precise proteomic profiling, enabling researchers the ability to design tailored therapies optimized for individual patients. By advancing ultrasensitive biosensors and proteomics tools, this technology has the potential to significantly advance molecular biosensing precision and accuracy, creating opportunities for growth in molecular biology research for addressing health care challenges. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to develop an ultra-sensitive biosensor capable of protein analysis at single-molecule resolution. The biosensor consists of a nanopatterned chip overlayed with a proprietary material that acts as a scaffold for amino acids and proteins. The scaffold binds and immobilizes molecular targets that are detected with surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The SERS detection signal is enhanced orders of magnitude by the chip nanopatterning, resulting in a biosensor capable of detecting single molecules. These components will enable the identification of low-abundance proteins, proteoforms, and co-occurring modifications that are inaccessible with existing technologies. The technology aims to eliminate the need for reference databases, protein fragmentation, and proxy sequencing methods, this approach will deliver direct, unbiased analysis of any protein sample, including full-length sequences. This ultrasensitive biosensor will transform proteomics research and applications in diagnostics, toxicology, microbiology, drug discovery, and personalized medicine while paving the way for scalable next-generation tools to advance biomedical research. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
PRIME PACIFIC ENTERPRISES LLC
SBIR Phase I: Autonomous Drone System for Predicting Erosion and Safeguarding Coastline Communities
Contact
476 KEOPUA ST
Honolulu, HI 96813-
NSF Award
2528376 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 09/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Elizabeth Mirowski
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this SBIR Phase I project is the development of a breakthrough autonomous Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) designed to monitor coastal erosion with high precision over time. This innovation addresses urgent needs in vulnerable coastal communities where rising sea levels and shoreline loss threaten homes, infrastructure, and ecosystems. The system enables faster, safer, and more consistent data collection than manual or satellite methods, helping decision-makers identify erosion patterns and plan effectively. This project supports the national interest by strengthening disaster resilience, reducing public costs, and improving safety through better geographic data for planning and response. Beyond monitoring, the technology has commercial potential in infrastructure inspection, land surveying, and emergency response. By lowering operational barriers and expanding access to high-quality aerial data, this innovation enables safer, smarter, and more sustainable monitoring. It offers communities a clearer view of coastal changes, supporting evidence-based decisions for long-term protection. This project addresses the high-risk challenge of developing an autonomous flight control system capable of guiding Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) through unpredictable and dynamic coastal environments. The innovation lies in combining three essential components?path planning, sensor-based position estimation, and onboard flight adjustment?into a single control system that operates continuously during flight. The system must maintain high accuracy despite wind, terrain changes, and sensor interference?factors that are difficult for others to replicate without deep integration and field experience. The goal of this Phase I effort is to test and validate the control system in a software-based simulation environment, proving its ability to carry out coastal monitoring missions more accurately and efficiently than current methods. The key technical contribution is the design of a flexible flight control framework that can adjust its course based on real-time environmental inputs. The system will use principles from advanced control theory to calculate efficient flight paths, while combining data from onboard sensors such as LiDAR, inertial motion units, and GPS to improve positioning and stability during each flight. The onboard system will make mid-course adjustments when conditions change, helping the UAS stay on track and gather reliable, repeatable data over time. By the end of Phase I, the project aims to show that this approach works through simulation testing, providing a strong basis for building and flying a working prototype in Phase II to support future coastal monitoring efforts. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
PRJCT B CO.
SBIR Phase I: End-to-End Platform to Generate Custom-Fitted Garments Via Body Scanning, Shape Analysis and Fit Algorithms, and On-Demand 3D Knitting
Contact
2 W LOOP RD
New York, NY 10044--1501
NSF Award
2451586 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
05/01/2025 – 04/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Vincent Lee
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to accelerate a novel AI-driven mass-customization technology for producing custom-fit garments. This project utilizes a proprietary AI-driven technology to translate phone-based body scans into 3D knitting instructions that can be individually produced. This technology is scalable and can be integrated into standard 3D knitting workflows, make use of knitting as a low-waste, additive manufacturing technique. Many markets and garments require customization including prosthetic interface garments, undergarments for breast cancer survivors or mastectomy patients, and post-surgical or custom compression-fitted pieces that form to the unique contours of a patient?s body. By offering an individualized custom-fit with full workflow from body-scan to 3D knit, this technology is well-positioned to bring manufacturing local and reduce waste and high rate of returns common in today?s garment and fashion e-commerce industries. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will develop a novel AI-driven technology to automate the generation of custom-fitted garments for superior fit. Phase I will streamline the translation of body scan data into 3D knitting instructions for an optimal fit while ensuring compatibility with industry-standard knitting machines for rapid prototype and acceleration to market. Objective 1 will focus on automating the process of translating body scans into ready-to-print instructions for the knitting machine. Objective 2 focuses on developing a user-friendly interface for seamless body scanning, including optimizing the capture and processing capabilities of the platform, precision tracking of 3D reconstruction, and improving instructions for the customer. The platform?s usability will be assessed through testing with a broad sample population, including those with garment fit challenges. In Objective 3, validation of the superior fit of custom-made garments will be assessed. Users will provide feedback on the scanning process and the fit of their custom-fabricated garments versus an off-the-shelf brand, and iterative refinements to the fit algorithm will be made based on both their feedback and insights from an expert fit consultant. Together, this work will de-risk the technological aspects critical to mass customization and the user experience priming the company for commercialization at scale. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
QUANTUM COPPER, INC.
SBIR Phase I: Polymer Based Current Collectors for Enhancing the Fire-Safety of Electric Vehicle Batteries
Contact
8400 W SUNSET RD
Las Vegas, NV 89113--2283
NSF Award
2414894 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$274,610
Start / end date
12/01/2024 – 12/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Vincent Lee
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is safer and greener batteries. Batteries have become one of the most essential tools in our daily life. Batteries are found in toys, cell phones, watches, machinery tools, portable gadgets and lights, e-bikes, electric energy storages, cars and not too far in the future airplanes. However, one of the biggest problems with batteries is fire and how to prevent it. Advances in research are progressing to find alternative materials for use in batteries to minimize and lower the possibility of fire to zero. This project is to develop and confirm a new material, which can be used outside and inside the battery to prevent fire and lower the possibility of fire. It can prevent a fire from starting or stop the fire from spreading. The material can be used outside, as a casing for the battery, and inside to replace some of the components inside the battery. A secondary characteristic of the material for this project is, it is also not hazardous but friendly to the environment. This is in line with providing a greener environment. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to develop a new material needed to increase the safety of lithium-ion batteries including replacing some components with fire extinguishing polymer and polymer composites. Due to their power density and reactive components, damaged and abused batteries can ignite and burn. These fires are difficult to extinguish. The proposed work will replace one of the battery components to decrease the weight of the battery and increase the fire safety of the battery. By replacing the metallic current collector with a metalized, thermally responsive, self-extinguishing, polymer based charge collector, a lighter weight battery will now have a fire retardant material inside the battery. With this thermally responsive material, the conductivity of the collector decreases as the battery temperature approaches the thermal runaway temperature, therefore decreasing discharge and heat generation. If this mechanism does not stop the thermal runaway, any fire will be suppressed by the collector?s flame retardant polymer core. The net result of this proposed work will be lighter and safer batteries. With these new safer and lighter batteries, the electric vehicle market can grow with the knowledge that there will be fewer fire and enhanced range. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
QUANTUM METROLOGY
SBIR Phase I: Quantum Metrology for Subsurface Defect Detection in Semiconductor Manufacturing
Contact
15885 NW RAYWOOD LN
Portland, OR 97229--7430
NSF Award
2507903 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
06/01/2025 – 02/28/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Directors
Elizabeth Mirowski
Samir Iqbal
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial impacts of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project lie in the development of a novel, non-destructive, in-line inspection technology to improve the quality and efficiency of semiconductor manufacturing. As semiconductor devices become smaller and more complex, defects hidden beneath surfaces can reduce production yields and product reliability. This project aims to address this challenge by using quantum-based sensing to detect these hidden defects during manufacturing. The technology is expected to reduce manufacturing waste, lower production costs, and enhance the competitiveness of the U.S. semiconductor industry. Commercialization of this innovation is anticipated to support semiconductor manufacturers and suppliers, with projected annual revenues exceeding $10 million by the third year of production. The project will also support workforce development by creating high-tech jobs and training opportunities. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project focuses on developing an advanced inspection tool that uses quantum effects to identify defects in semiconductor chips without damaging them. Current inspection methods struggle to detect certain types of defects in complex chip designs. This project will develop a non-destructive, in-line metrology system that leverages quantum sensing techniques to identify these hidden defects quickly and accurately during production. The research will focus on building and testing this new inspection tool, with the goal of improving quality control and production efficiency in semiconductor manufacturing. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
R7 INSTRUMENTS INC
SBIR Phase I: Acoustic Expander for Air-Cycle Flash Freezers and Ultra-Low Temperature Refrigerators
Contact
45 HEATH ST
Somerville, MA 02145--2428
NSF Award
2507737 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$303,669
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 09/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Mara Schindelholz
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact /commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is a new low temperature freezer system that does not use potentially harmful refrigerants. These freezers are used in flash freezing of food products, preservation of biological samples, and in the healthcare industry. The advantage of this technology over the current refrigeration solutions is that air can be used as the refrigerant instead of a synthetic refrigerant which may prevent ice build-up and improves technoeconomic performance. If this technology demonstration is successful, there will possibly be a joint partnership with an establish US manufacturer to commercialize the technology for the public. The unique patented acoustic based cooling system is the key enabler of this low temperature freezer concept. Initial market adoption is projected to be realized in the food processing space. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is focused on a novel air cycle -80C refrigeration system that uses an acoustic expander to provide the cooling effect. Air cycle systems offer advantages over traditional vapor-compression machines that use synthetic or flammable refrigerants. These advantages are single compressor architectures, non-hermetically sealed components, and low ice build-up in the freezer all while maintaining similar or higher Coefficients Of Performance to that of a vapor-compression machine at much lower capital cost and with fewer operational/regulatory restrictions. Previous air-cycle systems were limited by the expensive turbine-based compressors and expanders. This project improves on previous attempts with an off the shelf compressor and a mechanically simple acoustic expander. The acoustic expander is a fundamentally different expansion machine is a drop-in replacement for a turbine expander in a Brayton-style refrigeration architecture. This dramatically reduces capital cost and can leverage existing off-the-shelf heat exchangers and compressors to reach scale. This SBIR will aim to demonstrate a reliable, 1 kW acoustic expander-based cooling system at -80C. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
RAINBOW HOSPITALITY LLC
SBIR Phase I: Turmeric Assisted Pressure Sterilization
Contact
1127 MCINTYRE ST
Ann Arbor, MI 48105--2404
NSF Award
2507388 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$302,965
Start / end date
04/01/2025 – 03/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Rajesh Mehta
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impacts of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project would be two-fold: potential reduction of packaged Ready-to-Eat (RTE) food waste, and broader availability of packaged food in its original taste, flavor, and nutrients. The amount of food wasted in the U.S. annually is equivalent to 130 billion meals, with an approximate value of nearly $218 billion. A significant percentage of this food waste happens in the fresh/produce section of the supermarkets due to the shorter shelf-life of various food items from 10 to 30 days. These foods are typically processed via retort cooking at 250-degree F, or freezing, or making food acidic (below Ph 4.6). These technologies are energy consuming, expensive, and lead to loss of most of the nutrients. The proposed Turmeric Assisted Pressure Sterilization (TAPS) is aiming to be the first technology that can extend this shelf-life to over 180 days without compromising on original taste, flavor and nutrient of food items with the goal of bringing RTE food items from the colder sections of the supermarket (below 40-degree F) to the shelf-stable section (about 70-degree F). By doing so, the company aspires to reduce RTE food waste by 20% in the next 10 years. This SBIR Phase I project aims to lay the groundwork for establishing TAPS as a breakthrough pressure sterilization technology. Traditional pressure sterilization is carried out at pressures around 6000 bars and 40-degree F. This project intends to show that in the presence of natural antioxidants such as turmeric, the same level of sterilization can be achieved at pressures close to 3000 bar and 70-degree F. The project, therefore, will focus on preparing and testing a variety of RTE foods under the TAPS conditions and assessing their efficacy by third-party for shelf life, nutrient preservation, and risks to food safety and quality when challenged with common microorganisms. Besides turmeric, the experiments will also involve the use of other natural antioxidants, including a commercially available curcuminoid extract that has enhanced bioavailability and stability compared to standard curcumin and is colorless, odorless and tasteless, further expanding the potential applicability of TAPS to a much wider range of cuisines. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
REDPOINT ONCOLOGY, INC.
SBIR Phase I: Developing Next-Generation Payloads for Targeted Therapies
Contact
83 PARKER AVE
Holden, MA 01520--2423
NSF Award
2506212 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
06/01/2025 – 05/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Henry Ahn
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project includes addressing critical unmet medical needs by developing an innovative platform to create new cancer therapies specifically designed to target and destroy cancer cells for a broad range of different cancers. It is estimated that approximately 90% of cancer deaths occur due to cancers becoming resistant to current treatments. This project aims to significantly enhance the effectiveness of cancer therapies by providing novel strategies to overcome this resistance. The commercial potential of this platform is substantial, driven by the urgent need for effective treatments targeting therapy-resistant cancers, such as lung, breast, and prostate cancer. Given the large patient populations affected by these cancers, the estimated annual revenue potential for a single therapy addressing just one of these cancer types in the United States exceeds $5 billion. Successful development of this project could facilitate the rapid creation and deployment of multiple new treatments, substantially improving patient outcomes and creating significant economic impact. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to develop and validate a novel platform for targeted cancer therapies, which function similarly to guided missiles. In these targeted therapies, the payload is the core element responsible for destroying cancer cells upon delivery. The targeting component functions as a guidance system that directs the payload specifically to cancer cells by recognizing unique or abundant proteins on their surface. Traditional chemotherapy often fails because cancer cells evolve resistance mechanisms, rendering conventional treatments ineffective and often causing significant side effects. This project specifically targets an alternative cell-death pathway that cancer cells cannot easily evade. Research objectives include designing and synthesizing new payload candidates, testing their effectiveness and selectivity against therapy-resistant cancer cells, and verifying their performance in laboratory models. Anticipated results include identifying at least two promising payload candidates, demonstrating their selective anti-cancer properties, and establishing proof-of-concept for this innovative therapeutic approach, thus paving the way for broader applications in cancer treatment. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
REEF ARCHES, LLC
SBIR Phase I: Eco-engineered System for Coastal Protection
Contact
2200 CENTRE PARK WEST DR
West Palm Bch, FL 33409--6473
NSF Award
2528131 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$154,646
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 03/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Rajesh Mehta
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is in providing clear and measurable environmental benefits by restoring shorelines, enhancing benthic infauna, seagrass habitats, and federally protected mangrove areas. By potentially reducing wave energy by up to 70%, mitigating erosion and flood risks, it would protect local communities and could become the preferred first line of defense against beach erosion and marine life habitat destruction in the nation. The company?s proprietary honeycomb reef arch structures would allow for beach restoration in previously inaccessible areas including military bases, shallow water zones, areas far from staging sites, and more. Historically, riprap (layer of large boulders installed on the shoreline) has been the go-to solution wave attenuation, but its installation cost alone is quite high. In contrast, the installation cost of the proposed technology is estimated to be 10X lower and thus this technology provides a compelling value proposition. Since the annual coastal property loss caused by beach erosion is around $500M in the U.S., there is significant commercial potential for the proposed technology. The project is in alignment with National Science Foundation?s key priority of natural disaster prevention or mitigation. The intellectual merit of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project lies in the iterative development of material of construction for the company?s bio-inspired, large-scale, modular, stackable honeycombs units, called Reef Arches, a nature-based solution deployed on coastline for wave attenuation, shore protection and marine life restoration. Inshore oysters? reefs are proven to be effective methods of wave attenuation & oysters prefer calcium-rich substrate to grow. The final material composition of the proposed honeycomb arches must be such that the arches can function on many fronts: they must integrate seamlessly with the company?s manufacturing process to maintain the mold?s integrity over thousands of production cycles, support sensitive marine life- such as coral and oysters- without harming local aquatic ecosystems, withstand relentless marine forces exerted by waves, currents, and biofouling, and stay within local regulatory constraints. They should also be compatible with the company?s breakthrough method of installation, one that does not use any heavy machinery, without breakage during the process. Phase I R&D thus will involve materials development to meet a complex set of requirements ? mechanical, chemical, biological, legal, and logistical to find a balance that enables large scale production and installation of honeycomb reef arches for coastline resilience. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
REHABNETICS MEDICAL LLC
SBIR Phase I: A robotic system for the physical therapy of the wrist and hand.
Contact
2330 STINSON BLVD
Minneapolis, MN 55418--4041
NSF Award
2331128 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$275,000
Start / end date
10/01/2024 – 09/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Ed Chinchoy
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is a novel robotic technology training aid enabling restoration of impaired wrist and hand function. Diseases of the nervous system including stroke, traumatic brain injury, and Parkinson's disease often result in sensory and motor deficits. Nearly 50% of patients that suffer from stroke, and 70-90% from Parkinson?s disease, suffer motor deficits associated with dysfunction in body awareness (proprioception), impairing daily living activity. The technology proposed aims to enable prolonged and greater intensity restorative training to improve function and enable more rapid recovery for 1.6-1.8 million US patients each year that suffer from upper limb motor deficits.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to complete a prototype for a robotic wrist-hand exoskeleton device that provides tailored physical rehabilitative exercises based on quantified measures of therapeutic progress. The technical milestones to be completed include 1) developing objective diagnostic markers on human motor function of the wrist and hand, 2) developing an adaptive robot-aided rehabilitation therapy program based on individual patient?s rehabilitation plans and goals and 3) developing a therapist-friendly user interface for clinical use. Upon completion, a minimum viable prototype will be completed enabling patient use in the rehabilitation setting. The system will enable conducting large sample clinical trials to evaluate clinical efficacy at a future stage
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.RESET WATER LLC
STTR Phase I: Electrochemical Water Treatment Devices to Combat Harmful Algal Blooms
Contact
65 MAIN STREET
Potsdam, NY 13676--4039
NSF Award
2321315 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$275,000
Start / end date
09/01/2023 – 12/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Rajesh Mehta
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project is in the development of a harmful algal bloom (HAB) mitigation technology. HABs are cyanobacterial plumes that are often acutely toxic to aquatic organisms, animals, and humans because of the cyanotoxins released by them. HABs have become an emerging threat to the recreational use of lakes and drinking water supplies. It is challenging for conventional centralized water treatment processes to mitigate HAB events and cyanotoxins that occur frequently and irregularly due to increased nutrient discharge and global climate change. The direct economic impact of HABs in the U.S. is estimated to be $50 million per year. The proposed HAB mitigation technology aims to intercept of eliminate such blooms at the early stage. The technology is based on electrochemical oxidation and features faster removal of both cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins. The solution should also result in fewer disinfection byproducts compared with conventional chlorination and ozonation methods. The technology uses cheaper, locally sourced electrode materials thereby reducing capital costs and potential supply chain challenges. These improvements could make the technology accessible to larger customer base and as such, improve water quality for larger populations. In addition, energy consumption may be reduced significantly allowing for more effective treatment. The reduction in HABs would ensure the continued use of water resources for recreation, reducing health risks and increasing property values of lakeside residences.
The project is focused on the development of an innovative electrochemical technology to remove HABs safely and effectively from bodies of water. Removal of harmful algal blooms is accomplished through an electro-oxidation (EO) process that does not require the addition of any chemicals, is quick, and easy to use. Phase I research and development will include the development of new electrode materials aimed at reducing the electrode costs by up to 50% by substituting the base metal and the dopant in the coated electrode material. The team will also evaluate the environmental impact of the treatment process on non-algae model organisms.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.RESONANTIA DIAGNOSTICS, INC.
SBIR Phase I: Acoustic Sensor Based Point of Care Diagnostic Platform for Rapid Identification and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing
Contact
701 W MAIN ST STE 200
Durham, NC 27701--5012
NSF Award
2451554 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
03/01/2025 – 02/28/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Henry Ahn
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project lies in addressing the growing global burden of antibiotic-resistant urinary tract infections (UTIs), which affect an estimated 150 million people annually. Current diagnostic methods are slow, requiring days to deliver results, which delays effective treatment and contributes to antibiotic misuse. This project seeks to develop a transformative diagnostic platform capable of identifying pathogens and determining their antimicrobial susceptibility within 60 minutes directly from unprocessed patient samples. By enabling rapid, evidence-based treatment decisions at the point of care, this technology has the potential to improve patient outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and combat the rise of antibiotic resistance. Beyond healthcare, the platform?s adoption could enhance public health preparedness by providing scalable diagnostic solutions in various clinical settings. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project focuses on advancing a next-generation diagnostic platform that integrates novel acoustic sensing technology. The project will achieve three technical objectives: (1) demonstrate accurate antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) at pathogen loads as low as 10^3 colony-forming units per milliliter (CFU/mL), (2) validate AST against one antibiotic from six major classes, and (3) expand testing to include a diverse range of pathogens (Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungal species). Meeting these objectives will establish the technical feasibility of a point-of-care diagnostic capable of rapid and reliable pathogen identification and AST. This innovation aims to address a critical unmet need in diagnostics, providing actionable results within 60 minutes at the point-of-care. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
RIVALIA CHEMICAL CO
SBIR Phase I: Sustainable Rare Earth Element Production from Coal Combustion Byproducts
Contact
310 W. 112TH ST APT 2B
New York, NY 10026--3245
NSF Award
2335379 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$275,000
Start / end date
02/15/2024 – 01/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Directors
Rajesh Mehta
Samir Iqbal
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) project is to enable rare earth element (REE) production without mining, by harvesting REEs from coal combustion byproducts, namely coal fly ash. The U.S. produces over 100 million metric tons of coal fly ash each year through burning coal for power and has more than two billion metric tons in storage ponds across the country, estimated to contain up to 100 years? worth of U.S. demand of REEs. What is missing is a sustainable, scalable, and economic method of separation. REEs play critical roles in many different technologies, ranging from national defense applications to manufacturing and consumer electronics, to healthcare treatments, and much more. One particularly important industry is clean tech, where REEs are used in high-performance wind turbines and electric vehicles. Currently, the U.S. lacks a stable domestic supply of REEs and is reliant on mining efforts in foreign nations that lack similar labor and environmental protections. This dependence is a strategic vulnerability. Harvesting REEs from coal ash would build a sustainable, diverse, and resilient supply chain of materials needed to support the clean energy transition, as well as create new jobs and provide utilities with an economic pathway to better utilize ash and empty existing ash ponds.
This SBIR Phase I project will optimize a novel ionic-liquid-based recovery process to harvest rare earth elements (REEs) from coal fly ash. The ionic liquid in question has a high binding affinity for REEs and additionally displays unique thermomorphic behavior: upon heating, water and the ionic liquid form a single liquid phase, and REEs are leached from coal fly ash via a proton-exchange mechanism. Upon cooling, the water and IL separate, and leached elements partition between the two phases. The recovery strategy exploits this behavior in a new method that represents a breakthrough technology: the ionic liquid can extract the REEs directly from the solid ash without the need for digestion and separate the REEs from bulk elements. This dramatically lowers chemical consumption and waste generation and simplifies costly downstream processing. In Phase I of the project, efforts are focused on improving REE concentration in the IL phase, developing new processes for purifying REEs from ionic liquid concentrate, and validating the process for a variety of coal ash samples. The output of this project is expected to be comprehensively tested and validated recovery process ready for scaling.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.RT MICRODX INC.
SBIR Phase I: Development of a Molecular Diagnostic Platform for Use at Home without an Expensive Table-top Device
Contact
71 MASON TER
Brookline, MA 02446--2602
NSF Award
2423045 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$274,362
Start / end date
01/15/2025 – 12/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Ed Chinchoy
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is a novel molecular diagnostic platform for detecting respiratory diseases including strep throat. The innovation aims to provide the equivalent accuracy of laboratory-based tests for use by non-health care professionals in non-clinical settings. By enabling rapid and reliable pathogen detection at home, the platform aims to reduce the burden on healthcare facilities, offer convenience to patients, and improve timely access to treatment including rural or underserved areas where traditional healthcare access is limited. The anticipated technical outcomes include a disposable, user-friendly test that provides highly specific and sensitive results comparable to laboratory tests, thereby positioning this platform as a novel solution for in home-based molecular diagnostics for the total at-home molecular testing market, estimated to be worth $10B. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project focuses on developing a molecular diagnostic platform that leverages a novel combination of isothermal amplification and pH-sensitive polymers to detect specific bacterial DNA in saliva samples. The company?s molecular-based DNA test uses Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification successfully utilized for other diagnostic applications, with the company?s proprietary pH-sensitive polymer formulation to operate effectively under a variety of conditions. The specific technology development objectives include optimizing the diagnostic sensitivity of the platform's polymer-based detection mechanism and ensuring robust performance at room temperature and elevated temperatures necessary for the molecular reactions. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
SAKURA SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS, LLC
STTR Phase I: A digital engineering tool for integrated software and hardware reliability
Contact
828 HEATHERTON DR
Naperville, IL 60563--2221
NSF Award
2348264 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$274,880
Start / end date
10/01/2024 – 09/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Parvathi Chundi
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project aims to streamline system reliability analysis, catering to industries such as healthcare, telecommunications, and transportation, where system failures can be life-threatening. With a projected $20.8 billion software quality assurance market by 2030, the project's impact can be substantial. The proposed solution employs automation and advanced data analytics to revolutionize system reliability. It introduces data-driven reliability analysis, offering automated, collaborative, cloud-based, and visually intuitive tools to enhance system dependability. Positioned at the convergence of Software-as-a-Service, software quality assurance, and data analytics markets, the solution holds significant commercial potential. Given the critical role of system reliability across industries, the successful implementation of this project will be a key enabler for Industry 4.0.
This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project focuses on the domain of system quality assurance. In this domain, the state-of-the-art approach focuses on either hardware reliability or software reliability before deployment. However, in practice, the most critical part of the system lifecycle is during software operation, and failure depends on both software and hardware. Therefore, the project introduces a pioneering system-level reliability model to merge software and hardware reliability. It also aims to create advanced analytics algorithms for estimating failure intensity and pinpointing critical system flaws. Additionally, the project plans to design, implement, evaluate, and deploy quantitative models for system reliability within a cloud-based software-as-a-service platform. This platform will facilitate collaborative analysis, offering descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics on integrated software and hardware reliability. Through interactive reliability block diagrams, the platform democratizes system reliability assessment, lessening reliance on manual expertise for the first time.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.SCORPIDO PHOTONICS
SBIR Phase I: Instant non-invasive diagnostics of cancer with plasmonic nanobubbles
Contact
1536 W 25TH ST
San Pedro, CA 90732--4415
NSF Award
2417093 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$274,990
Start / end date
10/01/2024 – 09/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Ed Chinchoy
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to develop a novel optical method of detecting microscopic tumors for more rapid and accurate point of care cancer diagnoses. The system aims to improve cancer biopsy diagnostic procedures through a novel plasmonic nanobubble mode of action for detecting and destroying microscopic tumors that may otherwise remain undetectable using current direct access and iterative surgical means. By integrating the proposed photonic sensor diagnostic technology into current clinical tools including endoscopes, assessments can be performed without the need to physically extract the sample tissues in question and perform laboratory testing. The system aims to supplement existing invasive surgical diagnostic procedures to capture a portion of the $25.5 billion annual cancer biopsy market.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to develop a prototype endoscope diagnostic cancer sensor using laser-activated plasmonic nanobubbles (PNB). The project integrates plasmonic nanobubbles sensors into a component medical device platform and onto a standard sized clinical endoscope, for performing lung cancer diagnostic procedures. The objective to develop a universal tiny fiber optical probe, the critical component, for enabling a mininally invasive optically based diagnostic system. This flexible probe, administered to a patient through a standard endoscope, will noninvasively generate and detect plasmonic nanobubbles in the tissue, connected to an external system via optical fibers. The probe aims to achieve diagnostic sensitivity and speed sufficient for the instant direct detection of microscopic tumors in patients using a standard endoscope, matching invasive diagnostic performance measures for assessing lung cancer.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.SEA-GAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
SBIR Phase I: High Data-Rate Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) Underwater Acoustic Communications
Contact
4141 ROSS RD
Bethlehem, PA 18020--7685
NSF Award
2451589 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,999
Start / end date
04/15/2025 – 03/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Vincent Lee
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this SBIR Phase I project is on ocean technologies and the blue economy. From an environmental and societal perspective, the proposed high-frequency Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) acoustic communication technology minimizes noise pollution in marine environments, operating at frequencies outside the range of marine mammal communication, thus reducing the impact on ecosystems. The project will help develop new products that will enhance environmental monitoring capabilities, allowing researchers and agencies to gather real-time data from underwater ecosystems, improving our understanding and management of marine resources. Additionally, it will provide safer and more efficient communication for underwater rescue and military operations, reducing reliance on tethered systems. From a commercial perspective, the successful development and commercialization of this technology will position the U.S. as a leader in the underwater communication market. The innovation is expected to capture significant market share in sectors such as offshore energy, environmental monitoring, and scientific research, providing a robust alternative to existing communication systems. By reducing operational costs and improving efficiency, the product will address a growing market need and drive sustainable business growth with long-term potential for expansion into new applications and industries. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project seeks to address technical hurdles associated with real-time, high-data-rate wireless underwater communication. The current acoustic communication systems face significant limitations due to low data rates, high power consumption, and environmental impacts, particularly interference with marine life. The technical objective of this project is to develop a communication system that operates in frequencies at or above 200 kHz, enabling efficient data transmission while minimizing interference with marine mammals. The proposed acoustic communication system utilizes the MIMO technology and Turbo equalization to achieve high data rates, low power consumption, and scalable transmission over distances of up to 1 km. The research plan includes evaluating the prototypes developed in a lab setting through real-world ocean and lake experiments, reducing the computational complexity of the MIMO Turbo equalization algorithms, and validating their suitability for hardware implementation on Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs). This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
SEABIRD LIFESCIENCES LLC
SBIR Phase I: Microfluidic 3D Bioprinting of Dacron-Recombinant Human Collagen Double-Network Crosslinked Biomimetic Vascular Conduits
Contact
27 HORTON PL
Milton, MA 02186--4760
NSF Award
2507229 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,906
Start / end date
04/15/2025 – 10/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Henry Ahn
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project lies in the development of a next-generation vascular graft that improves outcomes for patients undergoing vascular surgeries. Vascular diseases are a leading cause of mortality worldwide, and there is a critical need for small-diameter vascular grafts that provide better durability, bioactivity, and mechanical compliance. Current graft options, including autologous vessels and synthetic alternatives, suffer from limitations such as poor long-term success rates, risk of blood clots, and mismatched mechanical properties that contribute to complications. This project addresses these challenges by developing a novel fabrication method that produces vascular grafts using a combination of synthetic and bioactive materials. The approach aims to enhance tissue integration, improve long-term performance, and reduce the need for repeat interventions. The potential commercial impact of this project is significant, as it aims to meet the growing demand for improved outcomes in both peripheral artery disease and coronary bypass procedures. Success in this work could lead to new medical solutions that lower healthcare costs, reduce patient complications, and provide a scalable alternative to current standards of care. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project focuses on developing an innovative bioprinting approach for creating vascular grafts that closely mimic the properties of natural blood vessels. The project seeks to overcome the limitations of current synthetic and biological grafts by utilizing a specialized bioprinting process that integrates a double-network hydrogel made from a Dacron synthetic polymer and recombinant human collagen. This combination allows for precise control over mechanical properties, including elasticity and compliance, while promoting cell adhesion and integration with native tissue. The research objectives include optimizing a custom bioprinting system for the Darcon blend, fine-tuning material compositions to achieve the desired mechanical properties, and evaluating the grafts for structural integrity and performance. The anticipated results include the successful production of vascular conduits with controlled dimensions, improved mechanical compatibility with native arteries, and enhanced biofunctionality for long-term graft success. If successful, this project will establish the foundation for a scalable, high-performance vascular graft technology that can address critical gaps in vascular and cardiovascular medicine. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
SEGMEDIX, CO.
SBIR Phase I: AI-Powered Prostate MRI Analysis Software
Contact
20 WICKFORD WAY
Fairport, NY 14450--3132
NSF Award
2528273 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
07/15/2025 – 12/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Alastair Monk
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact / commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to potentially improve the accuracy, consistency, and efficiency of prostate cancer diagnosis using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Today, MRI scans used in prostate cancer screening can vary significantly depending on the machine and manufacturer, which makes it challenging for radiologists and software to provide consistent assessments. This project aims to create a software system that standardizes these images and provides accurate, editable 3D outlines of the prostate to support diagnostic decisions. The technology will help ensure that patients, regardless of where or how they are scanned, receive the same high-quality analysis. By reducing unnecessary imaging, streamlining radiologist workflows, and enabling more consistent evaluations, this innovation has the potential to improve early detection and reduce disparities in care. If successful, the solution will become an essential part of the prostate imaging workflow, supporting a variety of downstream clinical tools and improving access to equitable and efficient prostate cancer care. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will develop a style-encoding generative adversarial network (GAN) to harmonize prostate MRI images from different scanner vendors and field strengths while preserving anatomical detail. A transformer-based UNETR segmentation model will then produce precise binary masks of the prostate and voxel-level uncertainty maps. The architecture includes a segmentation-aware loss function that ensures harmonized images maintain diagnostic utility when passed through a frozen segmentation model. Phase I will evaluate this pipeline using a diverse, multi-vendor prostate MRI dataset. Key performance indicators will include segmentation accuracy using the Dice similarity coefficient and Hausdorff distance, anatomical fidelity measured by structural similarity (SSIM), and radiologist editing time. Successful completion of this project will establish the technical feasibility of a scanner-agnostic, confidence-aware segmentation tool capable of supporting real-time, human-in-the-loop clinical workflows. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
SEIA BIO INC
SBIR Phase I: Protecting beneficial microbes from harmful stressors to enable their widespread use
Contact
24 PLYMOUTH ST
Cambridge, MA 02141--1914
NSF Award
2335482 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$275,000
Start / end date
11/01/2024 – 10/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Erik Pierstorff
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to enable the widespread adoption of beneficial microbes. Microbes are highly efficient, sustainable, and can replace chemical products when they?re able to be delivered in a live, viable form. In agriculture for example, switching from chemical fertilizers to biological fertilizers can reduce a significant amount (>500Mt) of CO2 emissions, while also reducing chemical fertilizer costs that can ultimately help reduce food prices to consumers. Beyond microbial fertilizers, there are many other applications ranging from cosmetics to healthcare that are ready to use either newly identified or already developed microbes, but only if they can be produced in a consistent and reliable manner. Unlocking microbial products will enable consumers to switch from chemically produced products to microbial products as a lower cost, more sustainable alternative.
The proposed project aims to address the problem of microbial stability when exposed to stressors through a fundamental understanding of how the ingredients form and how they contribute to increases in microbial survival. The proposed R&D work will advance the understanding of these formulations to be used generally across any microbe, while also pushing the boundaries of physical protection to understand protection against common stressors such as heat, UV-light, shock and humidity by simulating real-world conditions. This will be accomplished by measuring a variety of physicochemical properties as well as viability using both established and newly developed tests. Furthermore, this work will explore the formation properties both on the small and large-scale of production to understand the fundamental dynamics of coating assembly. This innovative work will result in 1) a generalized process for formulating any microbe for protection and 2) an understanding of engineering parameters required to scale-up microbial production to enable the widespread adoption of beneficial microbes.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.SELIGHT, LLC
STTR Phase I: Developing an optical metabolic flow cytometer to screen T cell fitness for Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell Therapy
Contact
50 WHITCOMB CIR UNIT 13
Madison, WI 53711--2659
NSF Award
2451768 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,733
Start / end date
07/01/2025 – 06/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Erik Pierstorff
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is a rapid diagnostic method for identifying patients that will benefit from Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cell therapy. Chimeric Antigen Receptor T cell therapy is an emerging clinical method of producing lasting remission in cancer patients by re engineering patient?s own T cells. The therapy also remains under active investigation for other emerging applications. The T cells in nearly half of cancer patients eligible for CAR T cell therapy are not sufficiently healthy to be successfully manufactured into viable and effective CAR T cells for use as intended. This leads to CAR T cell manufacturing failures for 15-69% of patients, resulting in a significant burden to the health care system with an estimated cost of $375k per patient along with increased risks to patient morbidity and severe adverse events. The system aims to be the first to correlate specific quantifiable energy measures with CAR T cell manufacturing failure risks. If successful this new screening method would provide a high throughput system capable of identifying patients at high risk for CAR T cell manufacturing failure with reduced time, labor for optimization and reagent validation than current methods. This would allow patients to pursue other clinical options sooner rather than undergoing ineffective CAR T therapy thereby enabling them to see alternative viable options sonner while reducing unnecessary health care resource utilization. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will develop a novel instrument for assessing the health of Chimeric Antigen Receptor T cells before undergoing the isolation and modification process for oncological therapeutic use. The novel technology monitors the energy production of T cells indicative of health and viability. The Phase I project aims to develop and validate a reproducible flow cell analyzer prototype capable of operating in a continual flow pass through manner. The first phase includes design engineering and development of optical components, algorithms and external components utilizing their proprietary approach. The second phase will provide prelininary experimental validation in human test samples. These results will demonstrate the feasibility of a clinical diagnostic prototype and serve as proof of concept for developing a human grade system at a future stage. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
SENSATE ROBOTICS INC.
SBIR Phase I: Tactile-enabled Robotic Quality Control Cell
Contact
329 N VAN NESS AVE
Los Angeles, CA 90004--1523
NSF Award
2526616 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,917
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 09/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Elizabeth Mirowski
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project addresses significant challenges in manufacturing and agriculture by enhancing the capabilities of robotic automation with tactile sensing. Tactile-enabled robotic cells will allow robots to perform complex tasks such as gauge checking in machining and quality sorting of agricultural products. Often in a robotic pick-and-place operation, an object needs to be moved from an assembly line to a quality assurance (QA) step prior to packaging (for example). Combining this pick-and-place operation and QA step inherently saves time ? creating a clear value proposition. By integrating advanced touch-based sensing technology into robotic grippers, this project promises substantial improvements in efficiency, accuracy, and safety in manufacturing quality control and agricultural sorting. Consequently, it supports national interests by strengthening U.S. competitiveness, reducing workplace injuries associated with repetitive manual tasks, and fostering job creation in advanced technical fields such as robotics and automation engineering. The technical objective of this project involves developing a novel robotic handling system integrated with advanced tactile sensing capabilities. This project seeks to overcome the limitations of traditional robotic systems, which rely heavily on visual sensing and struggle to manage delicate or irregular objects. The innovation will enable robots to perform complex handling and quality assessment tasks through tactile feedback. Unlike vision systems, where the camera passively collects data from an object without interacting with it, touch-based systems require object interaction. The data received from the tactile sensors is highly dependent on the movements made by the gripper fingers. Thus, the handling unit and sensors must be designed together in order to extract haptic properties like object stiffness. A primary high-risk factor lies in creating robust tactile sensors capable of accurately measuring object interaction properties under challenging real-world conditions. Existing tactile sensors often lack durability, have limited resolution, slow framerate and cannot reliably operate in harsh industrial environments. Furthermore, this project proposes a unique design featuring a limited number of physical sensors and a method to create virtual ?taxels? to greatly up-sample the resolution of the device. This technique seeks to significantly increase sensor resolution without increasing hardware complexity. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
SENSVITA INC.
STTR Phase I: Motion Tolerant Near-field Radio Frequency Sensors for Non-invasive Monitoring of Chronic Health Conditions
Contact
111 LENA ST APT 215
Ithaca, NY 14850--6901
NSF Award
2450958 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
03/01/2025 – 02/28/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Henry Ahn
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project lies in its potential to transform how chronic cardiopulmonary conditions are monitored and managed outside clinical settings. Chronic illnesses, such as heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, affect millions of people in the United States and account for significant healthcare costs due to frequent hospitalizations. Further, low-income Americans are more likely to suffer from chronic illnesses and often lack reliable access to healthcare. This project proposes a novel technology that enables cost-effective, continuous, and convenient monitoring of critical cardiopulmonary metrics in the home. By providing a low-cost, comfortable, and maintenance-free alternative to existing monitoring tools, this technology has the potential to reduce hospitalizations, improve quality of life, and decrease healthcare costs. The ability to offer a scalable remote patient monitoring solution to incentive value-based care and address the growing demand for innovative, patient-centric health technologies creates a novel commercial opportunity from the Phase I STTR work. This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project focuses on developing a non-invasive radiofrequency sensing technology for home-based monitoring of heart and lung function. The proposed system uses advanced sensing methods to measure critical physiological parameters without the need for skin contact or maintenance, improving the convenience, scalability, and accuracy of existing methods. The research objectives include designing improved antennas for ambulatory use, improving signal processing techniques to mitigate interference, and validating the system?s accuracy against clinical benchmarks. The anticipated results include a robust and reliable sensor design capable of delivering clinically relevant data in real-world conditions, bringing the current technology status closer to its commercial success. This work lays the foundation for next-generation health monitoring tools that can integrate seamlessly into existing remote patient monitoring programs and help manage chronic diseases more effectively. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
SENTEC, LLC
STTR Phase I: High Temperature Pressure Sensor for Process Monitoring
Contact
22 FORT DR
Simpsonville, SC 29681--8308
NSF Award
2507745 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
06/15/2025 – 05/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Directors
Elizabeth Mirowski
Samir Iqbal
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial impacts of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project is in a range of fields, which includes electric vehicle technology, advancing geolocation capability, and improving efficiency of industrial processes. A high temperature pressure sensor will be developed. The sensor?s material layers will be designed to optimize sensitivity, refine the device and manufacturing process to enhance performance, and develop a durable package capable of withstanding high temperatures. Once fabricated, the sensors will undergo rigorous testing under varying pressure and temperature conditions to ensure reliability and effectiveness. This design can directly replace current silicon-based sensors. These new sensors will be packaged and tested at industrial partner?s high-temperature facility. The project activities will create extensive training opportunities for PhD students and internship opportunities for students visiting from the university partner and other nearby colleges/ universities. This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project focuses on the unmet market need for reliable pressure sensors operating at high temperatures, where traditional silicon (Si) piezoresistive pressure sensors are unsuitable. To meet this market need, a circular membrane-based pressure sensor made of wide bandgap semiconductors, will be developed, which can operate at high temperature due to their wide bandgap suppressing thermal carrier generation. This will enable the realization of a highly sensitive deflection transducer that can be integrated at the periphery of the pressure sensor element. The intellectual merit of the proposed project is in the development of novel wide bandgap based high temperature pressure sensors with much improved device performance compared to the state-of-the-art Si based piezoresistive sensors, due to several unique design aspects that include: (i) usage of wide bandgap and inert semiconductors that are capable of operating at high temperature and harsh environment, (ii) usage of a novel sensor element with depleted carrier density to maximize deflection sensitivity, (iii) usage of optimized surface passivation layer to reduce charge instability and (iv) usage of bridge network of sensors to reduce instability due to temperature changes or vibrational noise in the sensor output. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
SITKANA INC
STTR Phase I: Modular Tidal Energy Systems for Power Generation in Remote Coastal Communities
Contact
2917 SIMPSON AVE
Juneau, AK 99801--2046
NSF Award
2507857 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 03/31/2027 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Rajesh Mehta
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project is to enable remote coastal communities to lower their electricity rates by providing them with a locally deployable marine energy technology that harnesses energy from ocean tidal currents. Many coastal communities in the United States lack reliable access to grid electricity and instead rely on diesel generators that are expensive to operate logistically due to the need for constant resupply of fuel. This project supports the development of a modular energy system that captures the predictable motion of tidal currents to produce emission-free and reliable electricity. If successful, this innovation could provide a more affordable and more resilient source of electricity than diesel generators for many communities across Alaska and other coastal regions around the world. This project also has the potential to create high-skill jobs in engineering, manufacturing, and utility operations upon scale-up and broad adoption. The technology aligns with the National Science Foundation's mission to advance science and promote the progress of science for societal benefit and economic growth. Its long-term commercial potential could support domestic job creation and tax revenue by developing a new industry centered on modular scalable marine energy systems. The intellectual merit of this STTR project lies in the development of a novel power take-off system for the company's modular tidal energy technology. One core technical innovation is the use of a drag-based shrouded rotor, which minimizes material usage while maximizing structural rigidity. The rotor also has the property of shedding thrust force as rotational tip speed increases, which could allow for drag-based rotors to operate in higher-velocity currents while shedding the high thrust forces. An issue with designing a power control system around this rotor is this requirement that the rotor operates at a low rotational speed with high torque - a unique challenge for small-scale systems because voltage must be raised above battery voltage. This requires either (1) a high gear ratio gearbox or (2) a boost-type circuit. Both approaches are generally more expensive, which is a challenge for commercialization. The shaft seal also adds significant parasitic torque and must be optimized to accommodate dynamic forces in demanding marine environment. The goal of this Phase I project is to design a system capable of charging a battery in off-grid environments with a robust power controller. If successful, this work will help build the foundation of knowledge around drag-based rotors for power generation, supporting a path toward full commercialization in coastal communities. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
SOL ROBOTICS, INC.
SBIR Phase I: A Robotic Arm Architecture for Affordable Robots with Enhanced Reach and Payload
Contact
2424 HASTINGS DR
Belmont, CA 94002--3320
NSF Award
2449557 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,952
Start / end date
04/01/2025 – 03/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Elizabeth Mirowski
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project lies in its potential to revolutionize automation in critical U.S. industries, including agriculture, construction, and warehousing. Traditional robot arms are often prohibitively expensive and lack the performance capabilities required for many real-world applications, such as tasks involving high reach and heavy payloads, including fruit picking, painting, and shelf loading. This project will result in a novel robotic arm technology designed to overcome these limitations by providing significantly improved reach, payload capacity, and affordability. By enabling automation of physically demanding and hazardous tasks, this innovation aims to reduce workplace injuries, lower insurance costs, and enhance worker safety. Moreover, automating these roles will create opportunities for higher-paying, skilled positions, fostering economic growth and improving job quality. The resulting advancements in automation will also help lower costs associated with food production, construction, and consumer goods, benefiting the broader U.S. economy. Additionally, the novel robotic arm technology will open new avenues for research and innovation, enabling robotics educators and researchers to explore applications previously constrained by the limitations of existing technology. This project will develop a robotic arm architecture featuring proprietary linear actuation technology to achieve commercial performance in reach, payload, and cost-efficiency. The technology innovates on lightweight, high-extension actuators in a parallel truss configuration to reduce bending stress and maintain precision over extended distances. Research tasks include developing simulation tools to model robot dynamics and environmental interactions, and integrating sensory modules for real-time feedback and collision detection. The project will deliver a fully integrated prototype capable of demonstrating its performance in industrial conditions. This work addresses limitations of traditional robot architectures and provides a scalable, cost-effective automation solution for industries such as agriculture, construction, and warehousing. The resulting technology will support increased commercial adoption of robotics in these fields and offer a high-performance platform for further research and development. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
SORCERER CORPORATION
SBIR Phase I: Constellation of Small, High-Altitude Balloons for Atmospheric Data Collection
Contact
466 BRANNAN ST
San Francisco, CA 94107--1713
NSF Award
2528394 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,963
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 09/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Rajesh Mehta
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project lies in addressing the critical challenge of inadequate weather forecasting due to the scarcity of in-situ atmospheric data over oceans and under-sampled regions. Improved forecasting can lead to better preparation for weather-related disasters, saving lives and property and aiding in climate adaptation efforts. The proposed project has significant potential impacts on society and the environment by enhancing the accuracy of weather forecasts globally. Accurate weather forecasting is critical for sectors such as agriculture, logistics, insurance, and renewable energy, and this project can contribute meaningfully to meet those needs. In agriculture, farmers may use hyper-local, high-accuracy forecasts to optimize planting, irrigation, and harvesting, potentially boosting agricultural output and improving food security in disaster-prone regions. Logistics companies could streamline shipping routes and reduce fuel costs by anticipating weather disruptions with greater accuracy. The insurance industry may leverage detailed weather data to better assess risks and offer more targeted coverage, saving billions in payouts due to inaccurate predictions. With days, not hours, of advance warning for hurricanes, floods, and other extreme events, thousands of lives can be saved each year, and economic losses reduced by billions. Governments and military agencies may gain unprecedented access to detailed weather data, crucial for strategic planning and operations. The intellectual merit of this project is in developing a global network of long-duration, low-cost, lightweight weather balloons to significantly reduce or eliminate weather forecast uncertainty by filling data gaps over oceans and developing countries. The project aims to deploy a constellation of balloons capable of remaining aloft for 60+ days, collecting atmospheric data. The goals of the proposed R&D are to deploy an initial constellation of systems capable of atmospheric sensing and real-time communication and to develop data assimilation partnerships with industry and government to use this new data effectively. The plan involves iterative testing of the balloon systems, validation of their performance in real-world conditions, development of fleet management and mission control software, and deployment of a pilot-scale constellation. Each balloon carries a sophisticated payload, including miniaturized sensors, satellite communication, and a unique non-consumable altitude control system. This patented technology aims to allow the balloons to transition vertically between sea level and the stratosphere, collecting detailed atmospheric profiles and even "station-seeking" over specific regions of interest. This would translate to dramatically increasing the resolution and frequency of weather data compared to sporadic radiosonde launches. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
SOSTOS LLC
SBIR Phase I: AI-Enabled Discovery of Multi-Omics Biomarkers Applicable to Broad Cancer Populations
Contact
591 HERMAN AVE
Morgantown, WV 26505--2031
NSF Award
2434965 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
06/01/2025 – 05/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Directors
Parvathi Chundi
Peter Atherton
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to deliver a novel software product for oncologists to browse biomarkers potentially applicable to large patient populations. The proposed software discovers novel biomarkers predictive of therapeutic responses for improved personalized cancer treatment and patient survival. This software will also facilitate the development of gene assays by biotech companies with reduced research and development costs which can lead to lower healthcare costs. Many drugs failed in clinical trials because patient responders were not well characterized. The proposed technology can identify biomarker-based patient sub-populations responding to a drug in clinical trials so that it can have a successful market entry. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to develop a cloud-based software platform to identify multi-omics biomarkers critical for guiding non-small cell lung cancer treatment decisions that can be applied to broad patient populations. The proposed technology is based on the prediction logic Boolean implication networks which can better integrate disparate data, model the cyclic molecular interactions and genome-scale gene regulatory networks efficiently, and model multinary data with robust statistical tests. The project will deliver a software solution featuring a cloud-based data portal that provides access to validated biomarkers for prediction of tumor recurrence/metastasis and drug response to 21 National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recommended treatments leveraging national cancer registries. A user-friendly web-based graphical interface will enable oncologists to select optimal treatments and assess biomarker applicability across broad populations. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
STEADI SYSTEMS, LLC
SBIR Phase I: Steadi-scores: Translating Balance Science into Clinical Action for Proactive Balance Training
Contact
28349 DOUGLAS PARK RD
Evergreen, CO 80439--8381
NSF Award
2450981 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
01/01/2025 – 03/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Lindsay Portnoy
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this SBIR Phase I project is to improve balance health across the population through the development of an innovative and accessible solution for balance training and assessment. Balance declines naturally with age, often beginning around 40, and can go unnoticed until a fall highlights the issue. Falls frequently result in significant physical, emotional, and social challenges, underscoring the need for proactive tools to address balance health. This project aims to design a portable and affordable platform that individuals of all ages could use at home or in clinics to practice and improve their balance. The platform would offer engaging exercises while providing insights on balance progress that could help individuals better understand their balance health and take steps to mitigate fall risks. This innovation has the potential to fill a critical gap in the market by offering an accessible, cost-effective, and scalable approach to balance health. It could enhance scientific and technological understanding by leveraging new methods to measure and support balance. By addressing a widespread issue, this platform could meet a large market need in home and clinic-based healthcare, establishing a foundation for future commercial success while advancing health, mobility, and independence for a diverse population. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project addresses the challenge of integrating biomechanical balance metrics, such as center-of-pressure and sway data, with functional clinical assessments like the Mini-BESTest, which are commonly used to evaluate balance capabilities. Clinical assessments often rely on subjective ratings that can introduce bias and may fail to capture subtle improvements in individuals with higher balance abilities. On the other hand, biomechanical metrics provide objective, quantitative measures but lack a direct, clinically validated connection to functional outcomes. This project seeks to bridge this gap by investigating how biomechanical data from interactive balance activities can be aligned with clinically relevant measures. Using advanced machine learning techniques, the project will develop models to map biomechanical metrics to outcomes derived from the Mini-BESTest framework. These models will enable the creation of a clinically grounded balance score that reflects patient progress with greater specificity and sensitivity. The anticipated results include a robust framework for integrating biomechanical and clinical approaches, advancing balance assessment methodologies, and enhancing the accuracy of balance evaluations through data-driven tools. This work could provide clinicians with a scientifically validated method for tracking balance improvement and guiding interventions with greater precision. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
STELLAR ENGIINE
SBIR Phase I: Advanced PEALD Processing Technology using Nanosecond Pulse Power
Contact
439 KNOLL DR
Los Altos, CA 94024--4732
NSF Award
2451318 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
04/01/2025 – 09/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Directors
Elizabeth Mirowski
Samir Iqbal
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial impacts of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) phase I project is in advancing semiconductor processing by providing cutting-edge technology to produce super thin coatings for advanced chips manufacturing. This technology uses tiniest controlled bursts of electricity to significantly enhance coating quality, eliminate processing steps, lowering costs, and reducing energy usage. The product will consist of a unique type of power generator, new to semiconductor processing, integrated to an applicator for energizing the gases used in the coating process. The product protected by strong patents and trade secrets will be sold to leading semiconductor process equipment companies for use on their existing systems, with company?s product market opportunity projected to be $200 million in year three of production. Beyond this first thin coating application, the technology can be extended to other advanced semiconductor applications, further growing company?s market opportunity to over $500M. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project addresses the limitations of current plasma enhanced atomic layer deposition to cost-effectively deposit hydrogen free, conformal oxide and nitride films. A new solution to semiconductor plasma processing is proposed using an array of micro-plasma dielectric barrier discharge applicators, powered by nanosecond scale high voltage pulses, capable of breaking down non-hydrogen containing reactants such as nitrogen thus avoiding hydrogen containing reactants such as ammonia, and achieve improved film conformality by eliminating ion bias induced anisotropic deposition. Research objectives are, firstly, characterize set of 5 applicators over a range of physical electrode configurations, gas types, flow rates and pressure, and electrical pulse parameters, to determine optimum conditions for producing desired radicals and active species, whilst avoiding undesirable plasma breakdown regimes. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and spectrometry will be used to measure gas breakdown effectiveness, with photoresist removal by oxygen used to determine surface reaction rates. Secondly, data gathered from an existing nanosecond high voltage pulsed generator will define Phase 2 generator specifications. Thirdly, 75 mm diameter ceramic-metal arrays containing multiple applicators, capable of scale up to 300 mm wafer processing size, will be tested. Data will be basis of seeking PEALD demonstration on customer?s test chambers. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
SUBMARINE SCIENTIFIC LLC
SBIR Phase I: Automatically Configurable Graphical Processing Unit Optimized Ocean Carbon Modeling Platform
Contact
4184 CESAR CHAVEZ ST
San Francisco, CA 94131--1921
NSF Award
2507717 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$294,759
Start / end date
05/01/2025 – 04/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Rajesh Mehta
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to enhance trust, transparency, and accuracy in the emerging marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR) industry by developing a scientifically rigorous ocean modeling platform that is easy to use. Accurate verification of carbon removal is critical for generating high-integrity carbon credits, which are essential for building a credible carbon market. This project will help standardize and automate the verification process, reducing costs for project developers and lowering barriers to entry across the mCDR sector. By ensuring that carbon credit reflects true, measurable carbon removal, the platform will foster confidence among investors, verifiers, and policymakers, encouraging greater market participation and sustainable growth. As the mCDR sector scales, this project has the potential to drive job creation in environmental science, data technology, and sustainable marine industries, contributing to U.S. tax revenue and economic resilience. In addition to supporting the development of a trustworthy and effective carbon removal industry, this project will help protect marine ecosystems, and strengthen coastal economies, contributing to long-term societal and environmental well-being. This project proposes the development of an advanced ocean modeling platform that integrates Graphical Processing Unit (GPU)-optimized modeling software with artificial intelligence (AI) tools to automate the configuration, validation, and analysis of regional ocean models for marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR). The core innovation lies in leveraging Oceananigans, a cutting-edge ocean simulation framework, and integrating it with AI-driven automation to streamline traditionally complex modeling workflows. This approach aims to make high-resolution, scientifically rigorous ocean modeling easy to use by non-expert users. Key research objectives include automating the retrieval and processing of ocean data, developing tools for automated model validation, and testing the feasibility of real-time adaptive domain boundaries to enhance computational efficiency. The project will also explore using large language models (LLMs) to simplify model setup and gradient-based methods for optimizing mCDR project parameters and uncertainty quantification. If successful, this work will significantly reduce the cost and complexity of ocean modeling, providing a scalable solution to support the verification and reporting of carbon removal in the emerging mCDR sector. The outcome will be a more efficient, user-friendly modeling platform that can be applied to a wide range of marine environmental challenges. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
SURGICAL VISION SYSTEMS, INC.
SBIR Phase I: Semi-autonomous Image-guided Robotic Suturing System
Contact
300 W PRATT ST
Baltimore, MD 21201--6512
NSF Award
2423546 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$264,016
Start / end date
06/01/2025 – 05/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Ed Chinchoy
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will be a novel robotic technology for improving and automating vascular surgical procedures. A persistently high failure rate exists in microvascular surgery with anastomotic thromboses adversely affecting some of the most vulnerable populations. The system aims to define a new paradigm by creating a novel system leveraging state-of-the-art imaging, machine learning, and advanced robotics to exceed the capabilities of human performance. The system aims to semi automate these procedures to improve the rates of microvascular anastomotic success, reducing hospital lengths of stay, decreasing re-operations, diminish pain and suffering, and improve longevity of at-risk populations. The technology presents a novel technological platform for the $6 billion market robotic surgery growing at 15% each year. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will design and develop a novel robotic surgery system reducing the rates of anastomotic thrombosis in microsurgery. The first objective is to develop a novel optical coherence tomography imaging system integrated with a robotic microvascular suturing tool for microvascular surgery. The second objective will be to test the accuracy of an optical coherence tomography imaging for needle placement in microvascular anastomosis, using synthetic and explanted biologic blood vessels of the images. Optical coherence tomography images will be compared to electron micrographs for detection of vascular intima, media, and adventitia. The third objective will be to develop machine learning algorithms for accurate image interpretation to guide needle placement using a series of experimental acquired data to achieve the level of control precision needed for micro-anastomosis. The end result of this project will be to demonstrate technical feasibility for the prototype system. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
SYNTOPA INC.
SBIR Phase I: Enhanced Rock Weathering through Gene Editing of Soil Microorganisms
Contact
5421 SOBRANTE AVE
El Sobrante, CA 94803--1435
NSF Award
2507231 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,748
Start / end date
05/15/2025 – 04/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Rajesh Mehta
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to develop a new biological input for agriculture that offers farmers improved economics through improved soil fertility, reduced reliance on chemical inputs, and enhanced crop resilience. By generating additional revenue through carbon credits, this technology also enables a viable financial pathway for large-scale adoption and increased competitiveness of U.S. agriculture. The problem to be studied is how soil microbes can be optimized to accelerate the process of mineral rock weathering to naturally build healthier and more nutrient rich soils, while reducing unwanted acidity and capturing atmospheric CO2. The net commercial impact of this project will be the development of ameliorated mineral rock dust as an efficient agricultural input, additional revenue and cost savings for American farmers, mining and distribution jobs across America?s farmlands, and the expansion of US biotechnology in the agricultural industry. This scientific innovation will deliver nutrients to crops, put money in farmers? pockets, and increase national food security. The net effect will be to help American farmers thrive economically and to produce our food more efficiently. This SBIR Phase I project will deploy cutting-edge microbial strain engineering methods to strengthen the native capacity of selected beneficial soil microbes for breaking down silicate mineral rock in the process of soil formation. The aim is to support the creation of a product that doubles the native rate of mineral rock breakdown in target soils for one season. Strain engineering represents a broad set of techniques that have been highly successful when applied to domesticated industrial strains but has never been used to improve the mineral rock weathering behavior of wild bacterial isolates. This project will characterize a unique library of candidate microbial soil isolates according to their capacity for mineral rock weathering and their engineerability. A selected bacterial isolate will serve as a host for a series of novel gene edits, each of which has the potential to enhance one or more biological mechanisms that lead to rock weathering. These gene edits will be built into the host using the techniques of DNA synthesis, bacterial transformation, and single crossover genomic integration. Additionally, this project will use traditional random mutagenesis methods to create variants of the isolated host. Engineered strains will then be assayed for improved ability to weather silicate rock rapidly and efficiently, establishing their eventual utility. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
T33 DENTAL, INC.
SBIR Phase I: A Platform for Penetrative Drug Delivery to Teeth
Contact
100 MEMORIAL DR APT 11-1C
Cambridge, MA 02142--1332
NSF Award
2423532 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$275,000
Start / end date
01/15/2025 – 12/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Ed Chinchoy
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is a novel medical device and dental approach for enabling rapid and more effective dental treatments by improving the permeability of pharmaceuticals and cosmetics into teeth. The system aims to augment the delivery of specific compounds for treating tooth decay resulting in over 175 million cavities drilled and filled and $45 billion costs per year in the US, with nearly 15 million requiring root canal therapy resulting in $15 billion costs to remove the underlying infection which topical or systemic antibiotics are unable to effectively treat. In the short term, the system aims to provide an augmentative method for the cosmetic dentistry market by improving teeth whitening treatments currently performed by nearly 80% of Americans, a $7 billion market when combining both the professional and over-the-counter whitening treatment markets. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project seeks to validate a novel device and approach for controlling electrically-mediated electrokinetic flow for enhancing the delivery of pharmaceuticals and cosmetics into whole human teeth. The novel system is based on experimental results demonstrating electrical voltage, current, time of application, pressure, with an additive for maintaining conductivity improves permeability of specific chemical formulations. These parameters will be validated on the speed and depth of delivery and their effects characterized using several commonly topically applied dental agents including fluoride and hydrogen peroxide bleach. Isolated invitro testing will then be completed to expand the potential for several relevant molecules including antimicrobial and regenerative agents. A prototype device will then be fabricated for enabling first in-human testing at a latter stage. The successful completion of this project therefore aims to demonstrate the technical feasibility of a novel approach for enabling deeper and more rapid delivery of several clinically relevant molecules into human teeth in an invitro setting, and completion of a prototype device suitable for experimental use. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
TACTORUM INC.
SBIR Phase I: Development of a system for automated pain behavior testing across preclinical disease models in rodents
Contact
185 CLAREMONT AVE APT 6A
New York, NY 10027--4020
NSF Award
2516905 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
01/15/2026 – 12/31/2027 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Erik Pierstorff
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will include fewer resources being needed for pain behavior studies, and fewer mice being needed. The system that results from this project may reduce the time necessary for experiment completion by 50% and training of researchers from 5-6 months to 1 hour, and reduce waste by producing cleaner data faster, saving money, and assisting in research animal use reduction efforts. The complete automation of the system?s operation could further benefit the ~$3.3B global preclinical pain research market while improving the translational viability by generating cleaner data, measuring pain, and not just stimulus sensitivity. By year 3 of production post-award, $1.85 million in revenue is expected from hardware and software products. In addition, this system lowers the impediments and reduces injury potential for researchers who traditionally could not perform pain behavior assays due to their high training requirements or physically demanding nature. This is expected to benefit trainees, spur innovation by allowing new labs to easily access these assays. The proposed project aims to assess the commercial feasibility of a new behavior testing and analysis system for use in preclinical pain research. Preclinical rodent pain research is a key part of the development of new pain-relieving therapies for the 20% of US adults currently living with undertreated chronic pain. Unfortunately, the current gold standard of von Frey testing has significant confounds due to manual aiming and stimulus delivery and suffers from limited behavioral readouts, hurting translatability. The new system eliminates these confounds by automating delivery and using machine learning to measure both high-speed reflexive and affective pain behaviors. This system has only been validated in inflammatory models, but new tools must demonstrate robust validation across various established models to be viable, as validation often makes or breaks new research tools. This project will address this challenge by testing it across three diverse rodent pain models for neuropathy, chemotherapy, and osteoarthritis, comparing it to von Frey. This project will then use the resulting data to determine if a new version of this automated analysis strategy, combining 3D tracking with machine learning behavior identification, can overcome previous accuracy limitations to create the groundwork for a commercially viable analysis software product. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
TALK COACHES INC
SBIR Phase I: AI-Enhanced Feedback to Accelerate Literacy, Creativity, and Student Engagement
Contact
515 CRYSTAL CREEK DR
Austin, TX 78746--4727
NSF Award
2507435 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
04/15/2025 – 03/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Lindsay Portnoy
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will significantly improve student literacy and creativity skills through our AI powered feedback system for creativity and ultimately prepare our students in the US for future job challenges. Inspire Reading will transform English language learning experience for students in grades 3-8, leading to greater impact on students' reading and writing skills. There are hundreds of products in the market but none of them have addressed the poor reading and writing outcomes we are seeing through national testing like NAEP with only 33% of students being proficient in 4th grade. Through providing immediate AI-powered feedback on reading comprehension, writing and creativity skills, Inspire Reading will help prepare students for future challenges and the workforce. Positioned at the intersection of educational technology, cognitive science, and AI-driven assessment, Inspire Reading targets the $8 billion reading intervention market. By year three we aim to reach 500,000 students. The AI Feedback for Creativity (AIFC) auto feedback system, alignment to state standards, and focus on creativity provide a durable competitive advantage, making it a key driver of commercial success in the fast-growing AI-powered learning market with the goal of improving literacy for the two-thirds of the nation's 4th- and 8th-grade students scoring below levels of proficiency. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project centers on the development of an AI-powered feedback system for creativity (AIFC) designed to enhance literacy and creative thinking skills within the context of ELA learning. This addresses the pressing need for improved reading and writing outcomes as highlighted by national assessments. The technical challenges lie in fine-tuning and prompt engineering Large Language Models (LLMs) to accurately evaluate and provide constructive feedback on creative writing across diverse ELA activities, age groups, and proficiency levels. The research objectives include developing and validating proprietary AI algorithms aligned to the unique literacy fluency, comprehension, and creativity-based project while ensuring data integrity and privacy and conducting field data collection and usability studies. The anticipated technical results include a robust AI feedback system capable of providing real-time, personalized feedback that fosters both creativity and literacy skills, thereby enhancing ELA education through improved literacy rates and improving long-term student outcomes. The primary technical risks stem from fine-tuning and prompt engineering challenges unique to maintaining educationally valid and reliable outcomes, to ensure model effectiveness across varying ELA standards, age groups, and proficiency levels. These risks will be mitigated through extensive research, iterative development, and rigorous evaluation to ensure the AI model's efficacy and reliability. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
TANDA BIOTECH CORPORATION
SBIR Phase I: High-capacity reusable filter technologies for large scale perfusion applications
Contact
1410 WINSTON DR
Buffalo Grove, IL 60089--6833
NSF Award
2413512 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$275,000
Start / end date
07/01/2024 – 10/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Erik Pierstorff
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will drive advancements in tubular membrane filter design, effectively tackling the critical bottleneck associated with capacity limitations. By doing so, it will contribute to reducing operational costs and minimizing plastic waste associated with polymer filters used in bioproduction, particularly in cell separations.
This SBIR Phase I project aims to validate an innovative filter flow channel design, enhancing resource efficiency, expediting cleaning and regeneration processes, and significantly boosting filtration system capacities by one or two orders of magnitude. Tubular membranes with rigid walls, such as ceramic membranes, offer higher flux rates and proven reusability but require high recirculation pump rates in tangential flow filtration systems, leading to bulkiness and substantial consumption of cleaning reagents. Through a combination of mathematical modeling and lab testing, the project will develop and validate innovative flow channel designs for tubular membrane filters. Upon completion, the project aims to reduce the cross-flow rate of tubular membrane filters, improve transmembrane pressure across all membrane surfaces, and mitigate membrane fouling while enhancing flux rates. These advancements in flow channel design are expected to extend processing time and capacity between regenerations, thus optimizing system performance.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.TAU OPTICS INC.
STTR Phase I: Development of Compact, High-Precision Volume Grating-Based Spectrometers
Contact
3139 CAMBRIA CT
Orlando, FL 32825--7114
NSF Award
2507882 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
04/15/2025 – 06/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Samir Iqbal
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial impacts of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project involve developing a new technology for analyzing light spectrum with small and affordable device. Traditional spectrometers, which are used to study light for applications like health monitoring and environmental testing, are often large, expensive, and shock sensitive. These typically rely on special components called surface gratings, which make it difficult to create compact and affordable spectrometers without sacrificing the accuracy. This project introduces a new spectrometer design with smaller size and lower complexity while maintaining high precision. By making light spectral analysis more accessible and portable, this technology could benefit many industries like healthcare and agriculture. This design can ultimately be built directly into semiconductor chips. This would bring highly precise light analysis to gadgets like smartphones, wearable health monitors, and other consumer electronics. This can create a wide range of new applications, from personal health tracking to food safety testing. This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project focuses on the development of a proof-of-principle prototype for a high-precision spectrometer based on rotated chirped Bragg gratings (r-CBGs). The project will focus on enhancing the performance of r-CBGs, including broadening the operational bandwidth and improving spectral resolution to match industry standards for color measurements and Raman spectroscopy. This entails enabling on-demand control over internal parameters of r-CBGs, such as refractive index contrast and chirp rate, to achieve target performance specifications, consequently, modifying the holographic recording mechanism to produce r-CBGs with desired specifications. The STTR project will develop a theoretical model to comprehensively study light diffraction within an r-CBG, which will be crucial for optimizing the design of the prototype, including the light coupling mechanism, placement geometry of the r-CBG and the placement of the detector. The anticipated technical results will serve as a validation of the r-CBG-based spectrometer? capabilities in both performance and compactness. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
TD POLYMERS LLC
SBIR Phase I: Nanostructured Bioplastic Films with Tunable Biodegradation
Contact
1001 W CLEVELAND ST
Tampa, FL 33606--1913
NSF Award
2507283 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,633
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 09/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Vincent Lee
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to provide an environmentally sustainable solution to plastic waste in packaging and agriculture. Traditional biodegradable plastics degrade unpredictably or too slowly under real-world conditions, making them impractical for applications with specific shelf-life or disposal requirements. This project addresses that gap by developing compostable multilayer structures with tunable biodegradation profiles, enabling materials that can disintegrate at desired rates depending on end-use. This approach allows for more reliable waste management, especially in composting and controlled disposal environments. The proposed innovation could significantly reduce plastic pollution and support circular economy models. The target initial market includes compostable produce packaging and mulch films for agriculture. The value proposition lies in programmability, performance comparable to conventional plastics, and compatibility with existing film-processing equipment. This innovation also supports the goals of enhancing public health and environmental stewardship, reducing landfill burden, and advancing materials science literacy. By aligning biodegradation rates with application needs, the project may set new benchmarks in the design and commercialization of bio-based plastics with a durable competitive advantage. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to develop and validate compostable multilayer polymer films with programmable biodegradation profiles by engineering structured morphologies through multilayer coextrusion. The technical problem addressed is the inability of current biodegradable materials to provide both performance and predictable, tunable degradation under industrial composting or environmental conditions. The core research objective is to demonstrate that specific polymer?polymer interfaces and layer arrangements can control degradation kinetics without compromising mechanical and barrier properties required in flexible films. The project will investigate blends of commercially available biopolymers such as polylactic acid, polyhydroxyalkanoates, and polybutylene succinate, structured into multilayers using coextrusion techniques. Characterization will include tensile testing, oxygen barrier analysis, and accelerated biodegradation assays under simulated composting environments. Metrics for success include achieving film mechanical properties and barrier properties comparable to polyethylene, and controlled mass loss over a defined timescale. The anticipated outcome is a proof-of-concept multilayer system with demonstrated tunability of biodegradation via layer design and polymer selection. This technical advancement lays the foundation for scalable, sustainable film packaging solutions and could open new research avenues in structured polymer degradation. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
TERRA WATTS INC.
STTR Phase I: Development of Earth-Based, Long-Range Wireless Power Transfer for Subsurface IoT Systems
Contact
1539 ZION ROAD
Cookeville, TN 38501--2919
NSF Award
2451016 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
07/15/2025 – 06/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Vincent Lee
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
This Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I project will develop technology to transmit wireless power and data through the subsurface. This technology will enhance subsurface characterization, a critical capability for industries advancing U.S. electrification, such as geothermal power and mining. Contemporary wireless power and communication techniques perform poorly underground, making it challenging to deploy autonomous subsurface devices. Additionally, changing or charging batteries at depth remains a significant challenge. The subsurface characterization market is valued at approximately $8 billion domestically and $14 billion globally per year, with projections reaching $25 billion worldwide within the next decade. Beyond the primary application, this wireless technology could transform multiple industries, including power transmission. The technology could expand electricity access and enhance U.S. energy security by significantly reducing power infrastructure costs. The underground design further enhances resilience, protecting against damage from disasters and wildfires. This innovation also bridges electrical engineering and geophysics, laying the foundation for future breakthroughs in the field. The intellectual merit of this project lies in its innovative approach to transmitting wireless power and data through the ground. The core innovation diverges from contemporary long-range wireless power solutions that rely on electromagnetic space-wave techniques through the air. The primary research objectives are to develop numerical models, conduct field testing, and perform environmental and safety studies. This research will involve scaling and testing the functional prototype, focusing on improving transmitter and receiver designs. Additionally, the research will focus on reducing surface voltage and assessing building and environmental safety. The anticipated technical results include field demonstrations that significantly scale the system?s capacity and a structured plan for safe scaling. This project is expected to advance the field of underground wireless power transfer and communications, providing a robust solution for subsurface characterization and potential uses in a host of other applications. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
TERRAFERMA FOODS, INC.
SBIR Phase I: A novel platform for accelerated strain development for precision fermentation
Contact
953 INDIANA ST
San Francisco, CA 94107--3007
NSF Award
2429344 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$275,000
Start / end date
01/15/2025 – 12/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Erik Pierstorff
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is a food protein production platform aimed at reducing the environmental impact of livestock farming. Current livestock farming practices have a significant negative impact on the environment, human health, and sustainability, contributing 15% of human-driven greenhouse gas emissions and consuming one-third of all agricultural water and land for livestock feed crops. Additional negative consequences of animal agriculture include pesticide runoff, eutrophication, water resource contamination, and the propagation of antibiotic resistance. This project seeks to mitigate these effects by enhancing an alternative means of food production, precision fermentation, or the process of using microbial hosts as cellular factories for the production of specific proteins. The platform proposed in this project will enhance precision fermentation methods by accelerating the development of new strains, enabling the high-yield production of a range of food proteins. The proposed project leverages machine learning and experimental biology to accelerate the industrial-scale production of animal protein in yeast. The current discovery and development process for yeast production strains is expensive (>$50 million) and slow (6-8 years), constrained by the limitations of existing technology in predicting strain performance. The proposed platform overcomes this limitation using a high-throughput approach for screening millions of signal sequences and target protein combinations, and a novel application of machine learning for the rapid prediction and design of signal sequences with high secretion potential. The insights derived from these analyses may guide genetic engineering efforts for the development of custom, optimized, and efficient strains for specific applications in precision fermentation. This project is aimed at demonstrating the feasibility of this approach by 1) developing a high-throughput sequence screen for high-expression proteins and signal peptides, 2) training an artificial intelligence model to predict high-performing signal peptides and signal peptide-target protein pairs, and 3) constructing high-yield strains. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
THERAPEUTIC BANDAGE PRODUCTS LLC
SBIR Phase I: Microneedle Bandage for Diabetic Foot Ulcers
Contact
7 GRANGE DR
Willington, CT 06279--2214
NSF Award
2451089 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
04/01/2025 – 03/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Henry Ahn
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is an advanced wound care product that speeds healing of diabetic foot ulcers. These ulcers afflict millions of Americans, causing pain, loss of mobility, amputations, and potentially life-threatening infections. The average annual expenditure for diabetic foot care is $8,659 per patient resulting in cumulative costs of $9 to $13 billion in the United States alone. Foot ulceration often progresses to chronic infection, osteitis, and severe gangrene, resulting in over 100,000 amputations per year. The patented microneedle technology to be developed has significant commercial potential as a low-cost alternative for treating stalled wounds. By rapidly clearing the infections that block proper wound healing, the product will garner significant market share based on its ability to speed healing. The initial target market will generate approximately $4.2 M per year and is expected to accelerate rapidly when implemented nationwide. This will further increase as the product is adopted into adjacent markets. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will develop an advanced wound care product that disinfects diabetic foot ulcers using a patented microneedle patch design that delivers three potent therapeutic agents, each of which participates in different aspects of wound healing. These agents are time-released to further enhance their function. Once the microneedle patch is applied to a recently debrided diabetic foot ulcer, a powerful antibiotic will be released to establish a bacterial killing zone in the dermal tissue of the wound. A second agent will prevent the re-formation of a bacterial biofilm, and a third agent known as a chemokine will attract and activate white blood cells to rapidly clean-up the infected area and kill any residual bacteria. Once the microneedle tips dissolve, a channel will open which facilitates wound drainage. Initial work will be performed using skin tissue cultures, followed by testing using diabetic pigs. The microneedles are expected to kill the bacteria including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). It will also prevent any surviving bacteria from forming biofilms, and mop-up any remaining bacteria by activating the innate immune system. Once these wounds have been disinfected the wound will resume normal healing over the ensuing weeks. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
TOPOLIGHT, INC.
SBIR Phase I: High-Power, Surface-Emitting, Single-Mode Laser Chips with Photonics Crystal Cavity Design
Contact
2010 5TH ST UNIT 470
Berkeley, CA 94710--1996
NSF Award
2528031 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 03/31/2027 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Samir Iqbal
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial impacts of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project are to advance the development of compact and scalable laser technology that can enable more precise and energy-efficient systems for applications such as remote sensing, environmental monitoring and mapping, satellite communication, and biomedical devices. Current high-performance lasers are either bulky and expensive or small and underpowered, limiting their use in space-constrained platforms like drones and satellites. This project aims to address these limitations by developing a new class of chip-scale lasers that deliver high power, low-divergence beams while maintaining a small footprint. These lasers have the potential to reduce energy consumption, improve sensing capabilities, and lower the cost of deploying advanced optical technologies in both public and private sectors. The initial target market will focus on compact sensor systems, with long-term diversification opportunities in manufacturing, communication, surgery and diagnostics, and defense. This project will enable foundational demonstration of this laser technology which if successful, could result in a suite of next-generation lasers that will be optimized for specific applications across multiple commercial sectors. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project focuses on the development of a new laser architecture that allows single-mode operation to be maintained over large emission areas. The central innovation is a cavity design that produces a uniform optical field across the entire surface of the gain material, allowing power to scale with area without degrading beam quality. This enables the laser to emit narrow-divergence, high-coherence light even at watt-level power outputs from a compact, surface-emitting chip. The research will involve optimizing the photonic crystal structure, investigating material platforms for different wavelengths, and testing prototype devices for beam quality and power output. The project will also evaluate the thermal and structural performance of these devices when bonded to substrates suitable for heat dissipation and packaging. The expected outcome is a fully characterized prototype laser capable of room-temperature operation, high beam quality, and integration into sensing systems. This research addresses fundamental challenges in photonic design and has the potential to advance both commercial and scientific laser applications. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
TREYSTA MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
SBIR Phase I: Development of a Burn Care Therapy to Prevent Fibrotic Pathologies
Contact
3733 NW 53RD LANE
Gainesville, FL 32653--0862
NSF Award
2528240 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,984
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 09/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Henry Ahn
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this small business innovation research (SBIR) Phase I project lies in its potential to transform outcomes for US burn injury survivors; a population burdened by disfigurement, physical limitation, and long-term psychological impacts. While current treatments focus primarily on survival, many patients face permanent reductions in quality of life due to scarring and contractures. This project aims to develop a novel burn care system that actively manages serious burn wounds to reduce scarring and provide better patient outcomes. If successful, the technology could reduce long-term complications, support social reintegration, enable return to work, and enhance quality of life. The economic burden on US health systems is also significant: the average cost of care for a serious burn injury requiring hospitalization exceeds $250,000 and may extend for months or even years. Globally, medical systems pay over $2.6 billion annually on the care and rehabilitation of individuals with serious burns. This project addresses a critical unmet need by aiming to improve patient healing outcomes, and as a consequence will also reduce the need for secondary surgical revision and therapy, thereby decreasing the cost burden on health systems across the country. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I Project seeks to validate a technology that integrates a three-part sequence of topical anti-scarring therapeutics with a purpose-built dressing designed specifically for the unique and challenging conditions present in serious burns. The project will address key technical risk factors of the combination product including infection prevention, biocompatibility, and dressing functionality. Finally, a capstone porcine study will demonstrate the ability of the complete technology to prevent scarring in vivo. This work will establish critical feasibility data necessary for regulatory filings and clinical development, with the ultimate goal of improving health outcomes for patients with severe burns. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
TUNABOTICS LLC
SBIR Phase I: Pneumatic Shell Grippers with Highly Tunable Adhesion for Compliant Manipulation
Contact
6413 CRICKLEWOOD GREEN LN
Jamesville, NY 13078--8408
NSF Award
2528233 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
07/15/2025 – 08/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Elizabeth Mirowski
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project is to create a new type of robotic gripper using soft shells. These shell grippers can gently pick up and release small, delicate, and curved items?things that current robots struggle to handle. These items are common in electronics, healthcare, and agriculture, where automation has not worked well due to a lack of suitable grippers. The new shell grippers will use air pressure and have highly tunable adhesion, so they can hold fragile objects without breaking them and let go without sticking. This technology could address labor shortages, speed up production, improve product quality, and make workplaces safer. It will also help turn university research into real products, train skilled workers, and support the U.S. in staying a global leader in robotics and automation. This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will significantly advance a soft robotic gripper technology based on the highly tunable adhesion of elastomeric shells toward commercialization. Existing grippers typically struggle to handle small, delicate, and curved objects. This project will develop shell grippers to overcome this limitation using a fundamentally different approach to gripping, which will enable automated manipulation of challenging objects such as those encountered in microelectronics assembly. These soft-shell grippers have the potential for highly tunable dry adhesion (~1000 times) with fast activation time (< 1 second), low activation pressure (~10 kPa), and high resistance to misalignment and surface contamination. Through this project, high risk technical challenges in developing such reliable shell grippers with low-pressure actuation will be addressed through a comprehensive research and development plan. These challenges include the optimization of shell geometry to improve activation speed, the judicious adoption of novel elastomeric composites to remove undesirable electrostatic effects, the characterization of the fatigue performance of the shells over many cycles in various operating environments, and the characterization of shell adhesion against surfaces with different levels of contamination. Successful completion of this project will further develop this soft robotic gripping technology towards real-world commercial products. This foundation will enable future integration of the soft-shell grippers with intelligent software systems that include computer vision and machine learning algorithms for further simplification of human-machine interactions during manipulation tasks. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
TURBO POWER SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
SBIR Phase I: Development of a Silicon Conductivity-Controlled Power Transistor
Contact
529 BRANDON WAY
Austin, TX 78733--3264
NSF Award
2451008 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
06/01/2025 – 05/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Directors
Elizabeth Mirowski
Samir Iqbal
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial impacts of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project are in the development of a semiconductor device for use in power systems. The device, called a switch, will have significantly lower power losses than existing systems. It has the potential to transform a wide range of power conversion systems. By reducing energy losses, this technology will directly lead to significant savings. Commercially manufacturing the proposed semiconductor device in the US is important to maintaining US competitiveness and creating jobs in the chips manufacturing areas. The global high voltage power semiconductor market was valued at USD 4.1 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach USD 5.9 billion by 2025. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to commercialize an innovative and patent-pending silicon Conductivity-Controlled Bipolar Transistor (CCBT) technology. This technology is designed to significantly reduce both conduction and switching losses in high-power electronics, addressing a critical need in the industry for more efficient and cost-effective solutions. The SBIR project will design and commercialize the 4.5kV-class Si-CCBT. Preliminary simulations demonstrate an 80% reduction in conduction loss, a 70% reduction in switching loss, and a 75% cost reduction compared to current Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) and Integrated Gate-Commutated Thyristor (IGCT) solutions. These advancements are expected to have a transformative impact on high-power electronics applications, including solar and battery storage systems, medium voltage motor drives, HVDC converters, solid-state circuit breakers, solid-state transformers, and pulse power systems. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
ULTINAT, INC.
SBIR Phase I: Biodegradable Microencapsulation for Agrochemicals
Contact
134 GRAHAM RD APT 2B6
Ithaca, NY 14850--1129
NSF Award
2449802 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
04/15/2025 – 03/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Vincent Lee
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to develop biodegradable microencapsulation technology for agrochemicals. Microencapsulation technology is used for dispersion and controlled-delivery in certain agrochemicals. However, traditional microencapsulation materials in these products made from non-biodegradable polymers can cause microplastic pollution, which has become a critical environmental concern. The agrochemical sector has an urgent need for new microencapsulation technology with biodegradable materials. This project explores using plant-based materials to replace the plastic-based materials in traditional process, and expands the capability to encapsulate a broader range of agrochemicals with different properties. Compared to other emerging solutions, the proposed technology provides competitive cost and environmentally-friendly procedure. In addition to meeting the regulatory requirement, it can benefit a large potential market by reducing the degradation and runoff of agrochemicals in the field to ensure high efficiency. By using microencapsulation to extend the retention time and enable the slow-release process, the proposed technology can make more effective use of agrochemicals while substantially mitigating their impact. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project involves creating microencapsulation methods with plant-based biodegradable materials to encapsulate both hydrophobic and hydrophilic agrochemical ingredients. Conventional technologies for encapsulating oil-based ingredients use interfacial polymerization mechanism. Given that a limited number of chemical reactions can form a polymer layer at water/oil interface, the resulting shell materials are prevalently non-biodegradable polymers. The proposed technology is based on a new mechanism with an amphiphilic polymer crosslinked in situ to form the shell. The materials are derived from natural materials such as polysaccharides and fatty acids that have intrinsic biodegradability. To encapsulate hydrophilic compounds, this project will explore bilayer shell structure and coacervation methods. The encapsulation will be based on the factors of electrical charge, polarity or steric effect of the molecules. In order to control the release profile, the thickness of the shell will be adjusted by tuning the materials ratio and polymer structure. The stability of the microcapsule materials will be studied to ensure adequate shelf life. This project provides new scientific insights to develop microencapsulation technology with natural materials, with direct impact to address critical challenges for current agrochemical industry. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
ULTRASONIUM INC
SBIR Phase I: Advancing Metal Additive Manufacturing with Novel Acoustic Molding Technology
Contact
5 WOODS HILL CIR
Woburn, MA 01801--3663
NSF Award
2506381 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 03/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Vincent Lee
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this SBIR Phase I project is to revolutionize metal additive manufacturing by developing innovative acoustic molding technology addressing supply chain vulnerabilities while enabling manufacturing capabilities. Current metal 3D printing processes require expensive equipment, materials, and extensive post-processing, limiting adoption to large enterprises creating foreign dependencies. This project targets the metal additive manufacturing market by offering a solution operating in standard electrical environments without high-powered lasers or metal powders. The innovation enhances scientific understanding by demonstrating contactless acoustic manipulation of molten metals, enabling multi-material printing capabilities like aluminum-copper hybrid components previously impossible to manufacture. The technology provides competitive advantages through material recyclability, performance with reflective materials challenging laser-based systems, and faster print speeds through molten metal deposition versus powder methods. The proposed business model focuses on direct sales with small machinist shops as the primary beachhead market, followed by research institutions and facilities including dental and medical device producers. This democratizes metal additive manufacturing while strengthening domestic production capabilities and reducing supply chain dependencies. The technology serves national interests by enabling prototyping, reducing material waste, and supporting manufacturing competitiveness in aerospace, automotive, and medical applications. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will investigate the feasibility of using ultrasonic phased arrays to control and solidify molten metals during additive manufacturing processes. The research addresses challenges in 3D printing, including supply chain disruptions, material waste, limited alloy compatibility, and post-processing requirements. The project objectives focus on establishing metallurgical dynamics under acoustic influence and evaluating acoustic field behavior across thermal conditions. The proposed research employs a hemispherical array of ultrasonic transducers to generate controlled acoustic fields capable of confining molten metals without physical contact. Initial experiments will utilize low-temperature eutectic alloys to characterize acoustic manipulation parameters, followed by high-temperature testing with aluminum and copper alloys. The research methodology includes implementing advanced control systems for phased array, developing computational models based on modified acoustic potential equations, and integrating feedback mechanisms. Anticipated technical results include achieving submillimeter spatial accuracy, maintaining material density exceeding 99%, demonstrating surface finish quality, and faster deposition rates through direct molten metal printing versus layer-by-layer powder methods. The approach overcomes reflectivity limitations of laser-based systems with reflective metals and enables multi-material deposition. Success will establish scientific principles for acoustic molding and provide foundation for next-generation additive manufacturing systems. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
VELLEX COMPUTING, INC.
SBIR Phase I: An Analog Hardware Accelerator for Power Systems Feasibility Studies
Contact
528 PASEO BELLA MONTANA
San Luis Obispo, CA 93405-
NSF Award
2527695 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 09/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Directors
Elizabeth Mirowski
Samir Iqbal
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impacts of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project are to enhance national energy security and maintain U.S. competitiveness in key technology areas including high-performance computing. Connecting new energy resources and loads, like advanced nuclear power plants and large-scale data centers, currently involves complex studies that can take years, creating a major bottleneck that increases costs and delays deployment. This project introduces a new type of hardware that can run these critical simulations thousands of times faster, reducing study times from months to days. This innovation will help utilities and energy developers bring new power projects online faster and at a lower cost. The technology provides a durable competitive advantage through its unique hardware design. The initial market will be utility companies and engineering firms, addressed through a cloud-based, pay-as-you-go service model. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will address the computational limitations of simulating modern power systems. The slow speed of conventional digital software makes it difficult to analyze the complex dynamics of today?s electric grids. The primary research objective is to advance a proven analog computing architecture from a circuit board prototype to a scalable, integrated circuit. The proposed research involves the complete design and verification of a custom system-on-chip using a standard semiconductor process. This analog processor is designed to solve the full AC optimal power flow problem, a highly complex and nonlinear challenge. The project will also develop a software interface to allow the hardware to be controlled by existing industry-standard simulation tools. The anticipated technical result is a finalized, manufacturable chip design capable of simulating a standard 118-bus network with an accuracy of less than one percent error compared to traditional methods. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
VIAT SERVICES LLC
SBIR Phase I: Immersive Virtual Reality-Based Assessment Tool for Spatial Orientation
Contact
896 SENECA RD
Venice, FL 34293--6648
NSF Award
2528215 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$304,998
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 03/31/2027 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Lindsay Portnoy
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to design the first scientifically valid, immersive virtual reality?based assessment tool for measuring spatial orientation. This ability is essential in fields such as aviation, healthcare, and public safety, where over 10 million Americans are assessed each year. Despite its importance, existing tools?relying on conventional computerized assessments?are not reliable and fail to activate the sensory systems involved in spatial orientation. The proposed project integrates insights from cognitive neuroscience and human-computer interaction to create a scientifically grounded, portable, and scalable solution for accurate spatial orientation assessment in personnel selection, training, and diagnostics. It will also advance scientific understanding of the processes involved in spatial orientation and how immersive virtual reality can support reliable assessment and training of this ability. The business model involves annual licensing to key industry sectors. By year three, the tool is expected to be deployed in at least three major industries, reaching thousands of users, with impact reflected in licensing uptake and institutional implementation. This technology will be a key driver of the company?s commercial success, marking the start of developing valid immersive virtual reality tools for assessing cognitive abilities. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will develop the first scientifically validated immersive virtual reality?based assessment tool for spatial orientation, the capacity to imagine a reoriented self or a change of perspective within an environment. Current spatial ability assessments primarily measure allocentric processing?object-to-object encoding from a fixed viewpoint?and fail to engage the multisensory systems essential for encoding egocentric spatial relations between the body and surrounding objects. The proposed assessment instrument integrates immersive virtual reality with unique design features that activate vestibular and proprioceptive input from the environment and systematically constrain allocentric strategies. The research will follow an iterative development process, combining behavioral testing, real-world navigation tasks, and EEG-based neurophysiological validation. Key parameters such as reorientation angles, pointing directions, and response dynamics will be optimized to isolate egocentric processing. Anticipated outcomes include a portable and scalable assessment tool with strong internal and predictive validity, and the establishment of a new psychometric framework for assessing spatial orientation. This project advances both cognitive neuroscience and applied assessment technologies, with high-impact applications across aviation, defense, healthcare, and STEM education. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
VIVOSPHERE LLC
STTR Phase I: A Novel Tissue-Engineered Platform for Cancer Modeling and Drug Screening
Contact
540 DEVALL DR STE 101
Auburn, AL 36832--5986
NSF Award
2432785 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$275,000
Start / end date
05/01/2025 – 04/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Erik Pierstorff
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I project lies primarily in providing more effective drug screening models to eliminate ineffective drug candidates at an early stage. This may expedite the anti-cancer drug development process and reduce excessive expenses during clinical trials, which may increase the R&D returns for pharmaceutical companies and reduce healthcare costs for the customers. Furthermore, the sooner that an efficacious anti-cancer drug can be brought to the market, the sooner that patients can directly experience improved health outcomes. Cancer has been one of the leading causes of death in the United States and worldwide. Development of safer and more effective anticancer drugs can provide patients the opportunity for both a longer and potentially better quality of life. The proposed technology may also have immense value for pharmaceutical companies. In drug development, researchers screen numerous compounds to understand drug efficacy and discard ineffective ones. 90% of drug candidates in the pipeline will fail, in part due to poor clinical translation. The product aims to help companies eliminate inefficacious drugs earlier before millions of dollars are spent on their development. The proposed project will develop a more physiologically relevant, consistent, and versatile high-throughput screening (HTS) model to improve the translation rate between preclinical and clinical testing. Current drug screening approaches, which rely on two-dimensional (2D) cell cultures and three-dimensional (3D) cell aggregates, fail to provide the necessary microenvironmental cues for accurately replicating human patient drug responses. Therefore, the proposed technology has been developed, aiming to strike a balance between throughput, which includes scalability and uniformity, and physiological relevance, such as the ability to modulate key attributes of the tumor microenvironment. Utilizing a tissue engineering toolset, the 3D hydrogel scaffold offers a more physiologically pertinent microenvironment for cell growth and drug response. Meanwhile, a patented microfluidic cell encapsulation platform allows for the rapid and consistent production of the products, which are essential for HTS applications. This project aims to 1) test additional cancer cell types to demonstrate the platform's broad applicability, 2) explore cryopreservation to reduce response time, and 3) transition to commercially available GMP-grade hydrogel precursors to improve reproducibility and scalability. These R&D efforts are crucial for developing assay-ready kits and services for more efficient drug screening. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
WAVE LUMINA LLC
SBIR Phase I: Development of a Portable Contaminant Field Screening Device for Rapid Measurement of PFAS in Water.
Contact
4820 SPRINGBROOK DR
Williamsburg, MI 49690--9236
NSF Award
2507556 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
05/15/2025 – 04/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Ben Schrag
Errata
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Abstract
This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project addresses the urgent need for affordable, real-time detection of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in environmental, industrial, and municipal water. PFAS are a class of persistent synthetic chemicals linked to adverse health effects and widespread environmental contamination, particularly near military bases, airports, and industrial facilities. Current laboratory-based detection methods are expensive, slow, and require specialized infrastructure, making them impractical for on-site monitoring. This project will develop a portable PFAS sensing device capable of detecting concentrations at or below regulatory thresholds directly in the field, enabling faster decision-making and more efficient remediation. The innovation will help environmental consultants, regulatory agencies, and municipalities accelerate site assessment, remediation, and compliance monitoring by improving access to rapid and reliable data. The estimated addressable market for PFAS field detection tools is expected to exceed $500 million over the next decade, driven by tightening regulations and increased public awareness. Broader impacts of the effort will include an enhancement of public health, a reduction in cleanup costs, and contributions to workforce development in environmental monitoring technologies. The intellectual merit of this project lies in the development of a novel sample preparation method and field-deployable sensor system that integrates surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) with artificial intelligence (AI)-enhanced signal processing. The core innovation is the complete field-ready analytical platform that enables rapid detection of PFAS at parts-per-trillion levels in complex water matrices without the need for laboratory analysis. Research objectives include optimizing nanostructured sensing substrates, developing a robust sample preparation technique for rapid PFAS enrichment in the field, and training AI models to correct for matrix interference and automate signal interpretation. The project will evaluate detection performance using PFAS reference standards and spiked field-relevant water samples, benchmarking the system against regulatory thresholds set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Anticipated results include the demonstration of a portable sensing device with a limit of detection below 4 parts per trillion, high reproducibility, and usability by non-specialist field personnel. The research will also advance the fields of portable spectroscopy and machine learning in environmental applications. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
WILD MICROBES CO
SBIR Phase I: Developing new bacterial hosts for productive secretion of difficult-to-express proteins by precision fermentation
Contact
750 MAIN STREET
Cambridge, MA 02139--3544
NSF Award
2432898 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$275,000
Start / end date
12/15/2024 – 11/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Erik Pierstorff
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to develop more cost-effective ways to produce proteins. By engineering improved bacterial strains to manufacture proteins like those found in detergents, personal care products and dairy, better products can be made with a lower environmental impact. Enzymes in detergents remove the need for petrochemical-based ingredients, proteins found in shampoos improve their quality also replacing chemical ingredients, and the direct production of dairy proteins by fermentation will reduce the carbon footprint of the food industry and our overreliance on industrial agriculture. This production of proteins by bacterial fermentation has gained significant market traction and momentum and it is expected to continue to grow at a CAGR of 44%, attaining an expected market size of $36B in 2030. The proposed project aims to identify superior bacterial protein production hosts and to develop the genetic tools and methodologies that will allow these bacterial hosts to be converted into efficient protein factories. It is an outstanding problem in the field of precision fermentation of proteins that yield, titers, and productivity are often much lower than would be necessary for the successful commercialization of many highly desired categories of protein. Identifying additional protein production strains will help to alleviate this industry challenge, allowing for the manufacture of more varied protein targets at competitive economics. The superior production hosts developed in this work will be fully characterized and matched to proteins for which they are well-suited production hosts. The advanced genetic engineering tools pioneered in this work will be later used to modify these bacteria to maximize their potential for producing proteins relevant to the dairy and personal care industries. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
WINDWARD ENGINEERING, L.C.
SBIR Phase I: Development of an ultra-low-cost distributed wind turbine
Contact
10768 S COVERED BRIDGE CYN
Spanish Fork, UT 84660--9207
NSF Award
2225406 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$272,019
Start / end date
10/01/2023 – 10/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Mara Schindelholz
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to address the declining U.S. distributed wind turbine (DWT) market and support the transition to renewable energy sources. The DWT market has experienced a decline since 2012, mostly due to low reliability and high levelized cost of energy. However, the deployment of DWTs is crucial to meet ambitious green energy goals set by utilities and governmental agencies. This project addresses these challenges by increasing the ease of manufacturing and using readily available materials. The project will also improve an ultra-efficient load path that yields a uniquely low-cost and low-mass structure. Additionally, the proposed design achieves a larger rotor-swept-area and increases overall power extraction efficiency, making the wind turbine more efficient, lighter, and inexpensive compared to typical horizontal-axis and vertical-axis wind turbines. The value proposition for consumers is a cost savings of approximately 40% or more with respect to DWT competitors.
This SBIR Phase I project proposes to develop a new wind power technology and provide a proof-of-concept for its viability. The project team includes experts in structural dynamics, control system design, turbine design, computer-aided engineering, power electronics and power transfer, and prototype and certification testing. In Phase I, a complete full-scale design of the DWT will be created, including detailed aeroelastic modeling, control development, and structural evaluation of the components. The research pillar of Phase I involves the creation of a rigorous aero-servo-elastic model, a detailed 3D solid model, and finite element analyses of the key components. The control system will be developed based on analytical analyses, and the team will work toward proper control specifications and constraints to be met by the dynamic system. The anticipated technical results include a refined estimate of the power coefficient, an optimized strategy for independent blade control and load reduction, improved design driving load values for the key components, decreased potential for aero-elastic instabilities and resonances, and the improved refined levelized costs of energy estimates.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.XN HEALTH INC.
STTR Phase I: Tracheal Phrenic Nerve Stimulation Device To Support Lung And DiaphrAgm Protective Ventilation
Contact
2 CEDAR ST FL 10
Newark, NJ 07102--3051
NSF Award
2432754 – STTR Phase I
Award amount to date
$274,841
Start / end date
07/15/2025 – 06/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Ed Chinchoy
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to advance the in-hospital care and health of patients who are critically ill due to respiratory issues requiring mechanical ventilation. This project aims to reduce one of the major issues driving the economic cost of hospitalizations ? length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU). An estimated 1.2 million Americans per year require mechanical ventilation while hospitalized. Although critical to a patient?s survival, ventilator use rapidly weakens a person?s respiratory muscles (the diaphragm) and can quickly lead to lung injuries. It is estimated ~40% of ventilator time, is time spent recovering and attempting to wean patients off the ventilator. Prolonged time on mechanical ventilation increases the risk of ventilator dependence, failed extubation, and other long-term complications. These risks impact a patient?s well-being with significant implications for healthcare resources as prolonged mechanical ventilation results in 3-4 fold costs versus short-term ventilator use. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project seeks to develop a novel transtracheal phrenic nerve stimulation device that reduces injury rates caused by mechanical ventilation. The system stimulates the phrenic nerves to induce diaphragmatic contractions thereby increasing the size of the chest cavity and allowing the lungs to inflate such as during normal breathing. In this project the stimulation parameters inducing natural diaphragm contractions will be optimized, an automated algorithm developed for prolonged use as intended, and the external system validated for chronic use using a large animal model study. It is expected this Phase project will result in a robust safe and automatic phrenic nerve stimulation prototype system. The successful completion of this project will be followed by integrating additional safety features, refine pacing parameters, and investigate the effect of varying treatment protocols on clinical outcomes in patients in the next subsequent phase. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
YEBOAH, AMY
SBIR Phase I: World of Hello: Using artificial intelligence (AI) for an interactive language-learning process designed for young children
Contact
12511 RUSTIC ROCK LN
Beltsville, MD 20705--1326
NSF Award
2451489 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$303,226
Start / end date
01/15/2025 – 09/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Lindsay Portnoy
Errata
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Abstract
The broader commercial impact of this SBIR Phase I project lies in its potential to revolutionize early speech development tools, addressing the critical need for accessible and personalized support for children with communication delays. This project aims to create an innovative platform that combines cutting-edge technology with user-friendly design to assist families and educators in fostering language growth. By tailoring learning activities to individual progress and incorporating adaptive learning models, this solution will empower caregivers to actively participate in their child's developmental journey, bridging the gap between therapy sessions and home practice. The anticipated commercial potential includes licensing to educational institutions and healthcare providers, as well as direct subscriptions for families, making the platform scalable and sustainable. In its third year, the platform is projected to serve over 500,000 users nationwide, improving outcomes for children and reducing the need for costly, resource-intensive interventions. This innovation aligns with NSF?s mission to advance national health and welfare by creating a durable, inclusive solution that enhances scientific understanding and promotes equitable access to educational resources. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project addresses the challenge of providing effective, scalable support for children with communication delays through advanced technology. The research aims to develop an adaptive AI-driven platform that personalizes language learning activities based on the phonetic and linguistic needs of each child. The core innovation lies in the integration of phoneme recognition algorithms and adaptive learning models to track, assess, and respond to language progress. The project will focus on developing a robust framework for speech pattern analysis using machine learning techniques, ensuring accurate and inclusive recognition across diverse linguistic and cultural contexts. Research objectives include achieving high accuracy in speech recognition, implementing real-time progress tracking, and designing intuitive user interfaces to maximize accessibility for caregivers and educators. Anticipated results include a fully functional prototype demonstrating 90% phoneme recognition accuracy and seamless integration of adaptive learning pathways. The outcomes of this research will lay the foundation for a transformative solution that bridges gaps in speech support services, ultimately contributing to the scientific understanding of language development while fostering practical, societal impact. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
YONA CARE LLC
SBIR Phase I: Novel Gynecological Speculum Instrument for Decreased Patient Pain and Enhanced Provider Functionality
Contact
760 GEARY ST APT 610
San Francisco, CA 94109--7352
NSF Award
2507662 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$305,000
Start / end date
10/01/2025 – 03/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Ed Chinchoy
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is a novel design approach for the gynecological speculum, a common instrument used for diagnostic exams and treatment procedures. Each year in the US, over 69.4 million speculum exams and procedures are performed with 40% of first-time patients reporting pain and 60% reporting anxiety. Common issues include pain, discomfort, and other factors that can result in potential trauma and stress. These factors deter patients from seeking out and adhering to care. This project utilizes human factors and ergonomic science for a differentiated form factor that aims to improve diagnostic accuracy, improve care processes and outcomes, and reduce barriers leading to long term care adherence for an instrument with a $462 million annual market. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project seeks to develop a 3-leafed gynecological speculum offering a broader, unencumbered field of view for the provider while reducing pressure on sensitive tissues for the patient. The novel instrument design redistributes and reduces pressure against the walls to enable better provider visualization of internal cavity organs and improving the patient?s exam experience. This project includes advancing the design engineering and iterative prototyping which will then be validated using a combination of a benchtop anatomical model, instrumented prototypes, and user feedback with objective human factors endpoints. The specific aspects are to 1) evaluate and optimize the opening angle and shape of the upper leaves to maximize field of view and evenly distribute applied pressure to the tissue walls upon dilation, 2) conduct testing on the integration of lighting and locking elements, and 3) optimize material selection and design of the silicone sheathing. The objective of Phase I is an optimized opening angle and form factor that addresses patient pain and provider field of view, ergonomically qualified locking and lighting for provider efficacy, and selection of most suitable materials for a final prototype. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
ZEBRAMD INC.
SBIR Phase I: A Clinical Decision Making tool to improve diagnosis, management and research in rare and genetic disease
Contact
423 TAFT FAMILY RD 1302
Quechee, VT 05059--3070
NSF Award
2403838 – SBIR Phase I
Award amount to date
$275,000
Start / end date
11/01/2024 – 10/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Alastair Monk
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to potentially improve the diagnosis and management of patients with rare diseases by developing an Electronic Health System integrated artificial intelligence Clinical Decision Support Tool. 1 in 10 people are affected by a rare disease worldwide, half of them are children, and 30% of them will die within the first 5 years of their life due to their disease. On average, it takes 12-15 years from the onset of symptoms to be diagnosed with one of the >10,000 currently known rare and genetic diseases, much longer for patients who reside in rural and underserved communities. Patients with a rare disease are seen by all medical specialties, but it is not possible for any physician, not even a specialist, to be and remain an expert in the over 10,000 currently known rare diseases, leading to preventable adverse patient outcomes. It costs approximately $28,000 more a year to treat a patient with a rare disease in comparison to a patient with a common chronic disease. 70% of this excess medical cost is carried by governmental single payors such as the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to develop an Electronic Health Record (EHR) integrated artificial intelligence system that can predict rare diseases in undiagnosed patients based on their patient data alone and give evidence-based, personalized treatment recommendations of already diagnosed patients relevant to the department specialty. With improved and earlier precision management this system can reduce diagnostic delays and prevent adverse outcomes while leading to significant cost savings per patient of up to $28,000 a year, totaling nearly $1 Billion dollars of direct medical cost savings in the US alone per year. The project utilizes diverse EHR data from various institutions across the US enriched by published data sources such as NIH databases to create predictive algorithms for undiagnosed patients and evidence-based management algorithms for already diagnosed patients using virtual pooling technology; This eliminates the need for patient-level data sharing across institutions and enables wide scalability to any rare disease. This point-of-care EHR-integrated app can be used in any setting worldwide with any patient population as it continuously self-updates locally and globally through bidirectional algorithm sharing.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.Company Profile
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