Ann Arbor tech firms lock down $1M in federal grants
More than $1 million in seed capital is heading toward three Ann Arbor-based start-ups, all Ann Arbor SPARK clients, thanks to federal grants.Akervall Technologies took in $120,000 from the U.S. Dept. of Defense Small Business Innovation Research program to develop the second generation of the Protech Dent mouth guard. Arbor Photonics received a $44,000 Small Business Innovation Research grant for its development of high power, single-emitter fiber laser modules with exceptional beam quality and narrow line width. However, the biggest winner is OG Technologies, which received nearly $1 million from the U.S. Dept of Energy. The 12-year-old company will use the $933,000 for the development of an optical caliper, a measurement tool for hot objects. Put simply, it’s creating a camera that can take comprehensive pictures of extremely hot objects, such as newly made steel slabs. The new technology is expected to have primarily industrial uses. However, OG Technologies President Terry Liddy believes it has the potential for broader applications.”We should have beta sites in steel mills within two years,” Liddy says.He expects the grant, which should fund the rest of the technology’s development, will allow the company to add to its staff of 11 employees and a couple of summer interns. The hope is the company will hire a handful of new staff, including engineers, assemblers, and salespersons.Source: Ann Arbor SPARK and Terry Liddy, president of OG Technologies Writer: Jon Zemke
More than $1 million in seed capital is heading toward three Ann Arbor-based start-ups, all Ann Arbor SPARK clients, thanks to federal grants.
Akervall Technologies took in $120,000 from the U.S. Dept. of Defense Small Business Innovation Research program to develop the second generation of the Protech Dent mouth guard.
Arbor Photonics received a $44,000 Small Business Innovation Research grant for its development of high power, single-emitter fiber laser modules with exceptional beam quality and narrow line width.
However, the biggest winner is OG Technologies, which received nearly $1 million from the U.S. Dept of Energy. The 12-year-old company will use the $933,000 for the development of an optical caliper, a measurement tool for hot objects. Put simply, it’s creating a camera that can take comprehensive pictures of extremely hot objects, such as newly made steel slabs. The new technology is expected to have primarily industrial uses. However, OG Technologies President Terry Liddy believes it has the potential for broader applications.
“We should have beta sites in steel mills within two years,” Liddy says.
He expects the grant, which should fund the rest of the technology’s development, will allow the company to add to its staff of 11 employees and a couple of summer interns. The hope is the company will hire a handful of new staff, including engineers, assemblers, and salespersons.
Source: Ann Arbor SPARK and Terry Liddy, president of OG Technologies
Writer: Jon Zemke
Related Articles
Ypsi Township church has fed hundreds in twice-monthly food distributions for nearly 20 years
The food pantry at the Community Family Life Center, 1375 S. Harris Rd. in Ypsilanti Township, has been a family-feeding machine, distributing groceries twice a month to an average 300-400 families.
Washtenaw County officials say local elections are secure despite Trump calls to “nationalize” them
Washtenaw County elections officials say they’re well-prepared to protect against fraud in this year’s midterms and any other election. We interviewed them about their system and President Trump’s statement that elections should be “nationalize[d].”
Recast Leaders aim to revitalize local economies
Ypsilanti and six other Michigan communities are working on building their local economies in the Recast Leaders program. Here’s a look at how the program works.
