DOE Awards $200K STTR Grant to MetalKraft Technologies and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, May 23, 2022

Editor's note: This news article was adapted from a news release that was distributed to STTR Grant Phase 1 awardees.

U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm announced on May 23, 2022 that MetalKraft Technologies and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory will receive $200,000 as part of 259 Department of Energy grants totaling $53 million to 210 small businesses in 38 states. The awards include projects relating to particle accelerators and fusion technology, applied nanoscience, quantum information applications, and dark matter research along with a wide range of other efforts.

“Supporting small businesses will ensure we are tapping into all of America's talent to develop clean energy technologies that will help us tackle the climate crisis," said Steve Binkley, Acting Director of the DOE's Office of Science. "DOE's investments will enable these economic engines to optimize and commercialize their breakthroughs, while developing the next generation of science leaders and ensuring U.S. scientific and economic competitiveness that will benefit all Americans.”

Through the SBIR/STTR program across the federal government, small business powers the U.S. economy and generates thousands of jobs, both directly and indirectly, the DOE notes. DOE Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) awards aim at transforming DOE-supported science and technology breakthroughs into viable products and services. The awards also support the development of specialized technologies and instruments that aid in scientific discovery.

MetalKraft Technologies and PNNL will receive $200,000 for research into developing and applying modeling and characterization tools to guide solid-phase processing of copper-graphene composite s with improved electrical properties.

More information about all the projects announced by DOE is available at the following link: https://science.osti.gov/sbir