Six small businesses have been awarded $1.8 million by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to develop technologies that provide solutions for environmental issues.

“Small businesses are not only essential to the American economy, but they also produce some of our best, cutting-edge technologies,” said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. “Through this funding, these companies will create jobs and create value in the marketplace, all while developing innovations that protect the environment and human health.”

How it works

The six companies are receiving Phase II contracts from EPA’s Small Business Innovation Research program, which awards contracts annually through a two-phase competition.

Companies compete for a Phase I award of $100,000 by submitting research that addresses key environmental issues. After receiving a Phase I award, companies are eligible to compete for a Phase II award of $300,000 to further develop and commercialize the technology. The recipients of these Phase II awards will now work to bring their products to market. 

SBIR Phase II recipients 

EPA is one of 11 federal agencies that participate in the SBIR program. Enacted in 1982, the SBIR program was developed to strengthen the role of small businesses in federal research and development, create jobs, and promote U.S. technologies. To be eligible to participate in the SBIR program, a company must be an organized, for-profit U.S. business and have fewer than 500 employees.

For more information on EPA’s SBIR Phase II recipients, visit:

https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncer_abstracts/index.cfm/fuseaction/recipients.display/rfa_id/638/records_per_page/ALL

Learn more about EPA’s SBIR program at http://www.epa.gov/sbir

Learn more about the federal SBIR program at http://www.sbir.gov/

Source: U.S. EPA