KBIA Local
(2009-12-30)
Listen Now:
COLUMBIA, MO
(KBIA) -
A Columbia-based consortium dedicated to nanotechnology research and industry is set to receive its first major round of funding. KBIA's Janet Saidi has this story
null
Funds totaling around $4 million are expected to go to members of the Columbia-based Nanotechnology Enterprises, Inc - a nonprofit consortium of mainly state and regional nanotechnology research companies. The funding comes to consortium members for developing nanotechnology applications for the U.S. Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center, or ARDEC.
Five million dollars in funds from the 2010 Defense Appropriations bill recently signed by President Obama, is expected to go to the Picatinny, New Jersey-based ARDEC - which has partnered with the Enterprise Consortium to provide nanotechnology applications.
Consortium Executive Director Rob Monsees says the expected funds will provide the seed money needed to support research and nanotechnology development in Columbia - by partnering regional start-up companies with the US Department of Defense.
"The goal of the funding is to have larger, more traditional defense contractors teamed up with younger start-up companies that may not be as accustomed to doing business with the US Department of Defense. So, it's an exciting endeavor. It's one that we think is going to create jobs and economic opportunity in the state of Missouri, and Columbia in particular. And, it's a very exciting time."
Monsees says Consortium members will provide nanotechnology projects for ARDEC in four focus areas, including: nanoenergetics, codings, biosensors, and batteries.
ARDEC projects are expected to be funded in a range of $250,000 to a million dollars per project.
The Consortium is made up of nine nanotechnology companies, mostly from throughout Missouri, including the University of Missouri, The Boeing Company, EaglePicher Technologies in Joplin, Def Bar Systems in Lebanon, and the Columbia-based Nanos Technologies and NEMS/MEMS Works LLC.
Monsees says the group has plans to expand into agriculture, energy and commercial applications for nanotechnology.
"It's meant for dual-use purposes, there's a military component but also a commercial component to the technology. So it's meant to really stabilize this developing industry, this technology industry, that we hope to really have flourish here in Missouri and in the Midwest."
Consortium members expect to have access to the defense-appropriations funding in the Spring.
© Copyright 2012, KBIA
