January 20, 2011 -Boca Raton, FL –The Institute for the Commercialization of Public Research (the Institute) announced today that two Phase I projects and eleven Phase II projects in ten cities across Florida will share nearly $3 million in grant funding through the Florida Research Commercialization Matching Grant Program (FRCMGP) for projects ranging from the life sciences to advanced materials to energy.
The winners include: Accelogic, LLC, Weston; ArchieMD, Inc., Boca Raton; ATGI, Stuart; Captozyme, Gainesville; Convergent Engineering, Gainesville; Eclipse Energy Systems, Inc., St. Petersburg; Keystone Synergistic Enterprises, Inc., Port St. Lucie; OptiGrate Corporation, Orlando; RINI Technologies, Inc., Oviedo; Self-Determined Health, Inc., Celebration; Sinmat, Inc., Gainesville; Structural Composites, Inc., Melbourne; and WiOptix, Inc., Gainesville. See FRCMGP Winners for a detailed listing.
The program was created by the Florida Legislature during the 2010 Legislative Session through Senate Bill 1752 (the Jobs Bill) which focuses on economic development. By matching federal research money received by small businesses in Florida through Phase I and Phase II awards from the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, this funding will enable companies to produce the kind of distinctive technologies and associated jobs that are driving today’s knowledge-based economy. The Institute received nearly 60 grant applications from across the state requesting more than $12 million.
“The FRCMGP leverages federal, state, and private-sector resources to help emerging companies overcome funding gaps and accelerate the innovation process,” said Jane Teague, Interim Executive Director of the Institute. “These grants will help to strengthen Florida’s economy, support the entrepreneurial ecosystem, and enable companies to create jobs while more efficiently transforming research results into new products in the marketplace.”
One company that will receive grant funding is RINI Technologies, based in Oviedo. RINI has developed a miniature cooling system technology that is yielding the following products: (a) Soldier Cooling System to keep soldier's bodies cool while in hot weather combat, (b) SCUBA Diver Heating system to warm Navy combat swimmers in cold water and (c ) a compact Laser Cooling System for military lasers.
"This program, and programs like it, can potentially have a dramatic economic impact in the State of Florida," said Dr. Dan Rini, president of RINI Technologies. "Designed specifically to fill key funding gaps that early-stage companies face as they move from the research and development phase into product development and commercialization, we anticipate that this program will go a long way towards building Florida's knowledge-based economy and look forward to its ongoing success."
For more information please visit www.florida-institute.com.
About the Institute:
Founded in 2007 as a non-profit organization, the Institute is Florida’s One-Stop-Shop for investors and entrepreneurs who seek to identify new opportunities based on technologies developed through publicly-funded research. The Institute facilitates new venture creation through commercially-viable technologies in major industries that are driving the global economy. The Institute also administers the Florida Research Commercialization Matching Grant Program. For more information, visit www.florida-institute.com.
CONTACT:
Jane Teague
Interim Executive Director
Institute for the Commercialization of Public Research
(561) 368-8889