Posted on: Wednesday, September 1, 2004
Research grants go to 6 companies in Hawai'i
By Sean Hao
Advertiser Staff Writer
Six high-tech local companies recently received more than $700,000 in federal grants plus an added $25,000 each in matching state money to fund research and development projects.
The Small Business Innovation Research grants come from 11 federal agencies, which are required to spend a small portion of their budgets on research and development with small businesses. The Hawaii Technology Development Corporation said it provided the following research grant winners with a maximum $25,000 in state-provided matching money:
• 'Aiea-based Hawaii Biotech received a $250,244 grant from the Department of Health and Human Services to research a vaccine for tick-borne encephalitis. • Honolulu-based Oceanit Laboratories received $99,900 from the National Science Foundation to develop an instrument to analyze and compare molecular characteristics of living cells without destroying their natural environment or the cells.
• Honolulu-based NovaSol received $99,857 from the Department of Defense to develop a device that allows remote steering and positioning of laser beams with increased accuracy.
• Kuehnle AgroSystems Co., based in the Manoa Innovation Center, received $92,850 from the National Science Foundation to demonstrate the feasibility of producing dietary supplements from natural sources such as microalgae.
• Lohea Audio, based in Kualapu'u, Molokai, received $80,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to develop agar food gels and other organic extracts from seaweed using chemical-free extraction techniques.
• Kailua, Kona-based High Health Aquaculture Inc. received an $80,000 USDA grant to breed a low-salinity-tolerant Pacific White Shrimp stock.
Hawaii Technology Development Corporation said 50 Hawai'i companies have received $43 million in federal small-business research grants to date, plus another $3.4 million in matching state money.
Reach Sean Hao at shao@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8093.
