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Commerce's
NIST Announces Seven New Advanced
Technology Program Awards
A possible cure for cystic
fibrosis, a
highly efficient method of producing biodegradable plastics, and an
integrated
circuit that could greatly reduce the costs of high-capacity data networks
are among the novel technologies to be developed by the private sector
with support from seven grants announced today by the Commerce Department's
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Advanced Technology
Program (ATP). The new awards represent a total of up to $12.8 million
in requested ATP funding and an industry share of $6 million.
Each of the seven
new projects will be led by a small company. Companies and their projects
selected for funding are:
- Agility Communications
(Santa Barbara, Calif.)
Develop a photonic integrated circuit that integrates a widely tunable
laser, an optical amplifier, and a high-speed optical modulator, dramatically
cutting costs for tunable transmitters widely used in Internet data
systems. Read
more.
- Chicago PT
Inc. (Evanston, Ill.)
Develop and demonstrate a prototype robotic tool, the kine-assist,
that will enable physical therapists to deliver more intensive and effective
rehabilitation therapy to stroke patients. Read
more.
- ISOGENIS Inc.
(Denver, Colo.)
Develop
gene therapy vectors that both cure disease and prevent harmful immune
response against the therapy, as well as develop a system to selectively
deliver the vectors to diseased tissues. Read
more.
- Metabolix Inc.
(Cambridge, Mass.)
Reengineer the central metabolism of E. coli bacteria and demonstrate
that the new strains efficiently convert renewable sugars into high-performance
biodegradable polymers. Read
more.
- Mobile Systems
Verification Corp. (Chicago, Ill.)
Develop next-generation automated testing technology to improve
mobile information system reliability. Read
more.
- RAPT Industries
Inc. (Livermore, Calif.)
Extend
the capabilities of reactive atom plasma (RAP) processing so that it
can be used to rapidly shape and polish delicate optical and semiconductor
materials without damaging them. Read
more.
- Valaran Corp.
(Princeton, N.J.)
Develop and test telecommunications software that enables secure
collaboration among multiple parties in impromptu groups using heterogeneous
mobile wireless devices. Read
more.
The ATP supports
projects that industry cannot fully fund on its own because of significant
technical risks. ATP awards are made on the basis of rigorous competitive
peer review considering scientific and technical merit of each proposal.
In addition, awards are based on the potential for broad-based economic
benefits; the need for ATP funding; and evidence of a clear commercialization
pathway and broad diffusion.
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Created: 05/05/03
Last updated: 09/13/2004
contact: inquiries@nist.gov
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