Three Dayton-area companies to receive $600,000

Three Miami Valley companies have received a total of $600,000 from a state commission.

The Ohio Third Frontier Commission this week approved nearly $1.8 million in grants through the state. Of this $1.8 million, $600,000 will go to three companies in the Dayton region. These grants aim to accelerate the commercialization of health, science and military technologies in Ohio. 

The commission provides grants to Ohio companies aiming to license institution-owned technologies to accelerate commercialization through activities such as market research and further prototyping. This helps companies raise funds and get the licensed technology to the marketplace faster. 

Below are three of the grant recipients located in the Dayton area:

Advanced & Innovative Multifunctional Materials LLC (AIMM), located in Beavercreek, was awarded $200,000 to commercialize a platform technology that involves the scale-up of its sorbent, oil-absorbent material used for water treatment. The technology increases the lab scale of roughly five grams of product per day to 100 grams per day.

This increased production will enable AIMM to develop enough water treatment sorbent materials to enter into a pilot scale to replicate its performance into a commercially viable scale. Formed in 2019, AIMM is a small company of four employees.

AIMM was developed out of the University of Dayton Research Institute and works with the Entrepreneurs’ Center in Dayton.

Raider Technologies LLC, located in Dayton, was awarded $200,000 to commercialize a hybrid radar-communication system using the same frequency spectrum to serve both functions simultaneously. This approach leverages intellectual property from the Air Force Research Laboratory to transform Raiders' existing Continuous Wave radar technology into a multi-function system.

This integration addresses a multitude of issues that are crucial for supporting the launch of autonomous air and ground ecosystems. The project's intended outcome is a commercially viable solution that improves operational safety and efficiency in autonomous vehicles.

Raider Technologies develops techniques and hardware for low-cost and size, weight and power radar operations for the DoD, municipality and autonomous platform industries, according to their website.

Shark Rescue Systems LLC, located in Springfield, was awarded $200,000 to integrate optionally piloted autonomous capability systems into three personal watercraft designed specifically for Special Operation Forces (SOF). These enhanced units will serve as a pilot program, allowing SOF personnel to field-test the technology in operational environments and provide feedback in order to meet the needs and requirements of military operators before potentially committing to larger-scale procurement.

These organizations represent three of the nine grant recipients located throughout Ohio. The nine grants are focused on technology and tech-enabled products in advanced manufacturing, advanced materials, biomedical and life sciences, energy, sensors, and software and information technology.

“Ohioans are making strides in healthcare and military advancements, and the Department of Development is proud to support them,” said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development and chair of the Ohio Third Frontier commission. “The technologies we’re funding today have the opportunity to change lives and exemplify why Ohio is the heart of innovation.” 

The Ohio Third Frontier Commission is comprised of the director of the Ohio Department of Development, the chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education, the Governor’s science and technology advisor, the chief investment officer of JobsOhio, and six regional business or research representatives and one public-at-large representative appointed by the Governor.