EPA Announces $100,000 in Funding for Ohio Lumex in Solon, Ohio, to Develop Air Monitoring Technology
CHICAGO (December 16, 2021) - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced more than $3 million in funding to 30 American small businesses, including $99,950 for Ohio Lumex in Solon, Ohio, to develop novel technologies to address pressing environmental and public health problems.
“As emerging technologies continue to rapidly change the world, our nation’s small businesses are at the forefront of harnessing these technologies to address today’s environmental challenges,” said Wayne Cascio, Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator in EPA’s Office of Research and Development. “We are excited to watch these small companies bring innovative ideas to the marketplace and help revolutionize improving our environment, public health and the economy.”
EPA will partner with Ohio Lumex to investigate a new method for measuring toxic metals emitted into the air by certain industries such as power plants, incinerators and steel plants. In many cases, these facilities are located in areas with significant environmental justice concerns. The proposed technology involves the use of specially designed emissions monitoring systems called “sorbent traps,” which will enable facilities and regulators to measure the actual amount of multiple toxic metals at the same time. If the project is successful and the new air monitoring method is adopted by EPA, the method may be used by EPA’s state, local, tribal and industry partners to confirm facility compliance with Clean Air Act requirements that help protect people’s health.
EPA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program runs an annual, two-phase competition for funding. The 30 small businesses below are receiving up to $100,000 of Phase I funding for six months for “proof of concept” of their proposed technology. Companies that complete Phase I can then apply to receive Phase II funding of up to $400,000 to further develop and commercialize their technology.
EPA is one of 11 federal agencies that participate in the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program, a competitive program that supports small businesses in the development and commercialization of technological solutions. This program stimulates high-tech innovation while encouraging small businesses to meet the country’s research and development needs.
To learn more about EPA’s SBIR Phase I winners, please visit: https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncer_abstracts/index.cfm/fuseaction/recipients.display/rfa_id/689/records_per_page/ALL
To learn more about EPA’s SBIR program, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/sbir
Learn more about the Federal SBIR Program: www.SBIR.gov