Small Businesses Receive DOE Grants For Research

Compiled ByJill Jusko The U.S. Department of Energy is doing its part to stimulate innovation in the private sector. It has awarded 234 small businesses grants worth $102 million for proposals submitted under the DOE's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. Some 351 projects were selected from 1,450 submitted, the DOE said. "These research projects will help meet the department's energy, environmental, national security and science missions," states Secretary of Abraham. About two-thirds (237) of the proposals received Phase 1 grants averaging $100,000 each to explore the feasibility of their projects. (Companies may apply for Phase II grants the following year.) The DOE also selected 114 proposals to receive Phase II grants this year, either under the SBIR or STTR programs. Phase I proposals include a poplar tree created for biofuel production and transistor-like white light sources that last 100,000 hours, the DOE said. A list of winners is available at www.science.doe.gov/sbir