NIST Announces $3.19M in SBIR Funding for Quantum, Semiconductor & Biotech R&D
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The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is investing $3.19 million in eight small businesses across seven states, bolstering innovation in critical fields like quantum technology, biotechnology, and semiconductors. Awarded through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program on February 10, 2026, these Phase II grants will fund 24-month research and development projects building on initial Phase I successes. These competitively selected projects aim to prototype innovative technologies addressing key NIST research needs, ranging from improved medical imaging to scalable quantum photonics. As one initiative highlights, the goal is to accelerate the development of crucial technologies, paving the way for advancements in healthcare, manufacturing, and beyond. $3.19 Million SBIR Program Funds AI, Biotech & Quantum Tech Department of Commerce initiative, announced February 10, 2026, will support eight small businesses across seven states, focusing on areas from artificial intelligence to quantum technologies. These awards follow a competitive selection process initiated in September 2025, targeting innovative proposals aligned with NIST’s research priorities. Each of the selected projects will receive funding for a 24-month period dedicated to research and development prototyping. Among the grantees, AMAG Consulting LLC (Schenectady, New York) will receive $400,000 to refine its SimuSEM software, adding capabilities to “model charging effects and magnetic interactions” within electron microscope simulations. Simultaneously, Applied Imaging Solutions LLC (Quincy, Massachusetts) is poised to develop an AI-powered imaging system for monitoring biopharmaceutical cell cultures, aiming to “allow contactless monitoring of cell viability, metabolite levels and other critical factors.” Calimetrix LLC (Madison, Wisconsin) is tackling medical imaging accuracy with a $399,998 project to create “imaging test objects…that mimic human anatomy,” specifically fatty liver tissue, to standardize scan comparisons. Further investment sees Icarus Quantum Inc. (Boulder, Colorado) building a “turnkey photon source based on semiconductor quantum dots technology,” and MyExposome Inc. (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) refining PFAS exposure monitoring using silicone wristbands, hoping to “expand the spectrum of detectable PFAS.” ObjectSecurity LLC (San Diego, California) will develop a cybersecurity evaluation tool, the OTAI-NCT, that uses data from sources such as the National Vulnerability Database to provide a “cyber-hygiene score” for consumers. Finally, Universal Schedule and Booking LLC (Harpers Ferry, West Virginia) is working on a system to estimate residential energy consumption without requiring costly hardware sensors. SimuSEM Charging Validation & SWIR-HSI/AI Cell Culture Monitoring Currently, accurately predicting electron microscope behavior requires complex modeling, and maintaining optimal conditions in biopharmaceutical cell cultures demands intensive, often manual, oversight. These processes are now being refined by small businesses awarded funding through the SBIR program. AMAG Consulting LLC, based in Schenectady, New York, is receiving $400,000 to enhance its SimuSEM software. This will “allow the software to add magnetic field and surface roughness effects to its simulations, resulting in more accurate and useful images,” according to the project description. Improved simulation capabilities are crucial for researchers analyzing materials at the nanoscale, reducing the need for costly and time-consuming physical experimentation. Meanwhile, Applied Imaging Solutions LLC of Quincy, Massachusetts, is developing a novel imaging system for biopharmaceutical manufacturing, backed by a $400,000 grant. The system will utilize short-wave infrared hyperspectral imaging combined with artificial intelligence to monitor NISTCHO cell cultures. The project aims to improve both the efficiency and safety of biopharmaceutical production, a critical area for public health. By allowing contactless monitoring of cell viability, metabolite levels and other critical factors, this technology will enable more precise control of bioreactors.Applied Imaging Solutions LLC PFAS Exposure Wristbands & OTAI-NCT Cybersecurity Assessment MyExposome Inc. of Philadelphia is pioneering a novel approach to environmental monitoring, leveraging silicone wristbands to track personal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). “Silicone wristbands are used as wearable monitoring devices that record a person’s exposure to environmental chemicals, including certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS),” explains the project’s focus, moving beyond current limitations with innovative extraction techniques. This development promises a cost-effective tool for both individual health assessments and broader environmental research, offering a passive sampling method to quantify exposure levels. Meanwhile, ObjectSecurity LLC, based in San Diego, is tackling a different kind of threat – cybersecurity vulnerabilities in operational technology. The company secured $399,908.58 to develop the Operational Technology Artificial Intelligence – NIST Compliance Tool (OTAI-NCT). This tool is designed to evaluate the cybersecurity practices of manufacturers, generating a “cyber-hygiene score” for consumers. Both projects, funded through NIST’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, highlight a growing emphasis on proactive monitoring – of both environmental contaminants and digital vulnerabilities. Source: https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2026/02/nist-allocates-over-3-million-small-businesses-advancing-ai-biotechnology Tags: