Orlando, FL, February 25, 2019
SynMatter LLC has been awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant for $224,993 to conduct research and development (R&D) work on next-generation durable, superhydrophobic anticorrosive coatings.
Corrosion of these metal structures is estimated to cost the world economy around $2.3 trillion in maintenance and replacement capital every year. This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will enable the development of a cost-effective, high-performance, durable, superhydrophobic, anticorrosive coating for protecting metal structures, including high-value assets that are essential parts of the US energy infrastructure, such as offshore oil and gas platforms, marine ships and wind turbines. This has the potential to significantly reduce both cost and waste by improving structural safety, reducing maintenance frequency and lengthening the operating lifetime of such vital assets, while at the same time reducing the environmental impact of corrosion protection systems by using less harmful materials, negating coating repainting needs and extending metal lifetime.
“The National Science Foundation supports startups and small businesses with the most innovative, cutting-edge ideas that have the potential to become great commercial successes and make huge societal impacts,” said Graciela Narcho, Acting Director of Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships at NSF. “We hope that seed funding will spark solutions to some of the most important challenges of our time across all areas of science and technology.”
“We are very excited and grateful to be receiving this grant from NSF. The funding will enable SynMatter, a Florida high-tech development company, to develop and commercialize a durable, superhydrophobic, anticorrosive coating that will protect metal structures in many environments and thereby extend their lifetime, reducing the environmental impact of repair, maintenance and replacement.” Xuejun Zhang, CEO & Chief Scientist, SynMatter LLC
Once a small business is awarded a Phase I SBIR/STTR grant (up to $225,000), it becomes eligible to apply for a Phase II grant (up to $750,000). Small businesses with Phase II grants are eligible to receive up to $500,000 in additional matching funds with qualifying third-party investment or sales.
NSF accepts Phase I proposals from small businesses twice annually in June and December. Small businesses with innovative science and technology solutions, and commercial potential are encouraged to apply. All proposals submitted to the NSF SBIR/STTR program undergo a rigorous merit-based review process.
To learn more about America’s Seed Fund powered by NSF, visit: https://seedfund.nsf.gov/
About the National Science Foundation’s Small Business Programs: America’s Seed Fund powered by NSF awards $200 million annually to startups and small businesses, transforming scientific discovery into products and services with commercial and societal impact. Startups working across almost all areas of science and technology can receive up to $1.5 million in non-dilutive funds to support research and development (R&D), helping de-risk technology for commercial success. America’s Seed Fund is congressionally mandated through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. The NSF is an independent federal agency with a budget of about $7.8 billion that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering.