Several Triad companies are among 101 across North Carolina to receive state grants to help commercialize new technology, the North Carolina Board of Science, Technology and Innovation announced Thursday.
The grants are part of the One North Carolina Small Business Program. The state grants go to companies that have won or are pursuing federal awards through either the Small Business Innovation Research program or the Small Business Technology Transfer program. Together they award some $3.7 billion nationwide annually.
In North Carolina, there are two types of grants awarded: Incentive grants to offset some costs of developing proposals to federal agencies, and matching grants to companies who have already received a federal award in order to help fill gaps left by federal funding and to help attract other support sources.
The state Commerce Department said this year’s awardees represent 22 counties, more than ever, though the bulk are in the Research Triangle area of Wake, Durham and Orange counties.
Triad recipients work in areas from environmental protection to cancer treatment to beekeeping to drug abuse prevention.
Triad matching grant recipients
- AxNano LLC of Greensboro: $75,000 to develop a fluorescent-based optical detection method for detecting per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) substances in drinking water. This SBIR project is sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services.
- Deep Creek Pharma LLC of Yadkinville: $75,000 to develop a new polymer technology utilizing nanoparticle designs in the chemotherapy treatment of colorectal cancers. This STTR project is sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services.
- Minerva Lithium LLC of Greensboro: $75,000 to develop technology for extracting lithium from reserves in a manner that is more efficient, faster, and more cost-effective than traditional extraction operations. This SBIR project is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.
- Optera LLP of Greensboro: $75,000 to develop a technique for predicting honeybee colony disease and pest resistance, which will lead to reduced beekeeper costs and healthier honeybees. This STTR project is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.
- Prevention Strategies LLC of Greensboro: $75,000 to develop a video-game-based drug abuse prevention program designed to engage young people and teach decisionmaking, problem-solving, and social skills. This SBIR project is sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services.
- Vigilant Cyber Systems Inc. of Mount Airy: $75,000 to develop technology that will help prevent worker exposure to hazardous conditions by integrating data from wearable and area sensor systems. This SBIR project is sponsored by the United States Army, Department of Defense.
Incentive grant awardees from the Triad:
- Intermodal Logistics Consulting Inc. of Winston-Salem
- Vigilant Cyber Systems of Mount Airy
