“Investing in research and development for remote sensing, radiation detection, and seismic detection will help the NNSA complete its mission to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction,” said NNSA Deputy Administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation William Tobey.  “In partnership with these small businesses, NNSA will continue to bolster our nation’s detection capabilities.”

NNSA is the principal U.S. government agency investing in long-term strategic and technical solutions to detect the proliferation of WMD.  The awards announced today will go to 16 U.S. small businesses in 10 states, all dedicated to cutting-edge technology research.  A list of recipients is below.

The funding was provided by NNSA’s Office of Nonproliferation Research and Development, which conducts basic and applied research and development, testing, and evaluation to produce technologies that lead to proliferation detection and nuclear detonation detection systems.  The office focuses on developing technologies, demonstrating and testing prototypes, and providing operational hardware and software. 

This year, projects selected under the nonproliferation R&D programs focused on technologies to develop imaging systems to identify WMDs and nuclear materials from the air and in space, and projects to develop new radiation detection materials for applications in national and homeland security inspection venues.  Awards also focused on research that will improve seismic detection systems for nuclear detonation detection.
 
The grants were awarded as part of the Department of Energy’s overall Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer Program.  SBIR helps ensure that the nation's small, high-tech, innovative businesses are a significant part of the federal government's research and development efforts. The Department of Energy is one of eleven federal departments participating in the SBIR program.

Established by Congress in 2000, NNSA is a separately organized agency within the U.S. Department of Energy responsible for enhancing national security through the military application of nuclear science.  NNSA maintains and enhances the safety, security, reliability, and performance of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile without nuclear testing; works to reduce global danger from weapons of mass destruction; provides the U.S. Navy with safe and effective nuclear propulsion; and responds to nuclear and radiological emergencies in the United States and abroad.

Grantee	City	State	Award
Nanosonic, Inc.	Blacksburg	VA	$99,988
New Span Opto-technology Inc.	Miami	FL	$99,996
Nova Photonics, Inc.	Princeton	NJ	$99,970
Optra, Inc.	Topsfield	MA	$99,744
Spectral Sciences, Inc.	Burlington	MA	$100,000
Boston Applied Technologies, Inc.	Woburn	MA	$99,987
Boston Applied Technologies, Inc.	Woburn	MA	$99,957
Physical Optics Corporation	Torrance	CA	$99,995
I Technology Applications	Ann Arbor	MI	$99,999
Polaris Sensor Technologies, Inc.	Huntsville	AL	$99,700
Capesym, Inc.	Natick	MA	$99,960
Radiation Monitoring Devices, Inc.	Watertown	MA	$99,999
Michigan Aerospace Corporation	Ann Arbor	MI	$99,628
Eentec	St. Louis	MO	$99,650
Agiltron, Inc.	Woburn	MA	$99,906
Silicon Audio, Llc	Atlanta	GA	$99,500
Symphony Acoustics, Inc.	Rio Rancho	NM	$100,000