Five Alaska Tech Companies Receive TREND Phase 0 Grants
Research done at Hexegy applies layered nanofabrication methods inspired by computer chip manufacturing to improve water and air quality measurement.
Alaska Small Business Development Center
A housing designer, a seafood e-commerce platform, a marine products maker, and two different types of sensing technologies. All are recipients of 2023 Technology Research and Development Center of Alaska (TREND) Phase 0 grants from the UAF Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) and Alaska Small Business Development Center (SBDC).
Five Awards
The TREND Phase 0 program, designed to bolster early-stage Alaskan innovators and forward-thinking companies with promising technologies, bestowed grants of up to $10,000 to deserving recipients. While participation remains optional, this program is a powerful catalyst, infusing Phase I and Phase II proposals with expert assessments and essential financial support.
Five companies have been awarded grants.
Alaska Adaptable Housing in Fairbanks aims to revolutionize housing design, construction, and deployment strategies. By developing standardized construction systems, a shared online housing design innovation platform, and community-led building initiatives, the company seeks to maximize the use of local materials, expertise, and labor.
Copper River Fish Market is a mission-driven e-commerce seafood shop. The company’s project focuses on improving economic resilience in remote coastal communities, amplifying the voices of independent small-boat fishers and expands market opportunities for their catch.
GRAYSTAR Pacific has been around since 1985. The company develops and commercializes technologies and products in hydration and nutrition, medical marine-based materials and compounds, and marine natural products.
Current Issue
April 2024
Hexegy utilizes layered nanofabrication methods inspired by computer chip manufacturing to improve water and air quality measurement. Through nanotechnology-enabled, next-generation spectroscopy platforms, the company reimagines analytical chemistry across industries and advances measurement capabilities in terms of sensitivity, speed, versatility, simplicity, and cost.
Integrated Robotics Imaging Systems aims to provide first responders with early wildfire detection capability, regardless of weather conditions. By offering precise geolocation of fires with just one sensor, this technology can significantly reduce response times and ultimately saves lives and property.
The Next Phases
Fairbanks-based Alaska Adaptable Housing develops standardized construction systems, a shared online housing design platform, and community-led building initiatives.
Alaska Small Business Development Center
“Congratulations to all the amazing Phase 0 grant recipients who have demonstrated exceptional expertise and innovation,” says Jon Bittner, state director of the Alaska SBDC. “Their dedication to pushing the boundaries of their respective industries is truly inspiring, and we are excited to support them on their journey towards success.”
TREND Phase 0 grants enable recipients to further develop their projects and secure Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase 1 grants from federal agencies. According to SBDC, proposals that embrace Phase 0 enjoy a 30 percent success rate, outshining the national average of 15 percent.
The TREND program serves to assist Alaska’s innovators and entrepreneurs in competing for and winning federal research grants to commercialize their scalable technology. It serves EPSCoR’s mission to advance science and engineering capabilities in states with untapped research resources. EPSCoR is a federal program administered through UAF to enhance the research capabilities of states that have historically received less research and development funding.
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