A partnership between Resonon, Inc., Impulse Accelerated Technologies, Inc. and the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at Montana State University will accelerate development of a proposed FPGA computational framework for Resonon's hyperspectral imagers. Application areas include real-time food sorting and cost-effective, high-resolution monitoring of vegetation.
Advanced Microcavity Sensors LLC and Montana State University Spectrum Lab aim to demonstrate the feasibility of a new highly configurable, high performance-cost ratio, light weight, compact and integrated hyperspectral imaging system. Applications for a spectral imaging system include biomedical imaging, studying geological samples in mining, and crop monitoring.
Microbion Corporation, a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company, is developing innovative bismuth thiol (BT) drug products for the treatment of antibiotic-resistant infections and control of microbial biofilms. This project funds a safety study required by FDA as part of the company's Phase 2 clinical development program.
Bridger Photonics, Inc. is a small Bozeman-based company specializing in lasers and optics. Bridger has an opportunity to bring its MEMS-based deformable mirror technology to market through an interaction with Carl Zeiss, a multi-billion dollar optics company. Bridger is using the Montana Microfabrication Facility at MSU to refine the fabrication processes to meet Zeiss' demands. The project has spun off the MEMS mirror technology into a dedicated company..
Montana Molecular is undergoing a project to advance its award-winning drug discovery technologies to market. The goal of the project is to package and commercialize the first of a new generation of live cell assays for drug discovery.
A joint project between Resonon, Inc. and Montana State University is evaluating the latest System-on-Chip (SoC) technology for use with Resonon's hyperspectral machine vision technology with the goal of large-scale commercialization potentially applied to the almond industry.
Montana State University-Spectrum Lab and AdvR are collaborating on an effort to improve the design of one of AdvR's commercial nonlinear products. The main application is as a signal converter for S2 Corporation's spatial-spectral holographic RF/MMW signal processing systems. AdvR is on track to establish itself as the leading USA designer and fabricator of waveguide and bulk "engineered nonlinear optical structures" with a broad customer base.
Researchers at Montana State University is working with industrial partner, Montana Emergent Technologies, Butte, to conduct research on enhancement of coal bed methane (SBM) production using a mixture of algal extracts and other nutrients.
A project to develop novel technology to determine the abundances and ratios of biologically important metabolites in live cells is based at Montana State University and relied heavily on the commercialization strengths of Resonon and Bacterin International. Additional research will be conducted before the technology is commercially viable. However, the project holds great promise for scientific application and commercial development.
The Spectrum Lab at Montana State University is advancing an innovative laser ranging technique called Compressive Laser Ranging (CLR). The project relies on the commercialization strengths of private R&D establishments - Resonon in advanced optics and Bacterin in stem cell R&D. Both of these companies have been increasingly successful in their commercial spaces and this project is an excellent fit for their technological strengths.
Bridger Photonics and Montana State University developed a novel mirror that is flexible and can be deformed into a curved shape to focus light simply by applying a voltage and without mechanical motion. Bridger Photonics is using the technology to make a compact zoom lens with no moving parts for cell phone cameras. The potential market for this technology is $1 billion per year.
S2 Corporation aims to commercialize its innovative approach to optical arbitrary waveform generation (OAWG) with a technique that is relatively simple and elegant in design and with the potential to exceed other competing approaches. S2 Corporation and its development partner, Montana State University Physics Department, filed a joint provisional patent on the technique.
Montana Molecular and Fluorescence Innovations joined forces on a project to validate an integrated drug discovery platform that combined high throughput instrumentation with genetically encoded fluorescence sensors in a cell-based format. The platform enabled extremely fast and specific assays for drug activity, which meets the pharmaceutical industry's urgent demand for efficient cost-effective drug discovery.
ILX Lightwave Corporation and Montana State University partnered on research, development, and commercialization of technology for high-accuracy optical output power measurement of high-power laser diodes. Success of this project allowed ILX Lightwave to establish a significant competitive advantage in the market.
Rural Community Innovations, in cooperation with Montana State University researchers, proposed to develop a hybrid solar power system that simultaneously produces electricity and hot water.
CTW Energy collaborated with Montana State University to research optimization of lipid production for conversion to biodiesel in a prototype of the proprietary Modular-CTW Energy Algal Photobioreactor (M-CAP) system. The system has the potential to produce algal lipids for use in a stand-alone algae-to-biodiesel facility.
Resonon partnered with Montana State University and Idaho National Laboratory to develop a system for monitoring leakage from carbon dixoide sequestration sites and pipelines. Based on Resonon's airborne spectral imaging technology, the system has various applications, including monitoring plant response due to underground exposure to carbon dioxide.
The Spectrum Lab at Montana State University and industrial partner, Bridger Photonics, developed technology representing a revolutionary breakthrough in laser based ranging. The technology is applicable to lucrative high accuracy applications such as industrial length metrology and coherent optical spectral analysis.
The Montana Microfabrication Facility at Montana State University and Bridger Photonics Inc. collaborated on the improvement and commercialization of an electronic focus control device that has the potential to out-perform any existing technology available today.
The Center for Biofilm Engineering and the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center, both at Montana State University, collaborated on the research and commercialization of the Comprehensive Biofilm Efficacy Test System (CBETS) by BioSurface Technologies Corporation.
S2 Corporation utilized interns at Montana State University to accomplish the research and development necessary to transition its' low vibration cryocooler technology to a mature prototype level, viable for commercialization.
The Center for Biofilm Engineering at Montana State University collaborated with Microbion Corporation to identify which of many compounds exhibit characteristics appropriate for formulation into a product that may be clinically tested and submitted to the FDA for approval in the context of chronic wounds in particular. Microbion has completed Phase 1 human clinical studies for its therapeutic gel to treat acute wounds.
A collaboration between Montana State University Computer and Electrical Engineering Department and Advanced Acoustics Concepts leveraged that relationship in addressing the extreme need and benefit to the U.S. Navy and commercial applications in possessing an effective, low cost data link antenna beamforming system.
Montana Molecular, Montana State University and Invitrogen Corporation collaborated to build the next generation of molecular biosensors suitable for cell-based drug discovery.
The addition of Oxford ICP etching capability being advanced by the Montana Microfabrication Facility at Montana State University has played a critical role in expanding AdvR's technological innovation to include ridge waveguide development.
Fluorescence Innovations, Inc. developed an advanced screening technology to aid in the discovery of drugs against the kinase family of proteins. Specifically, this funding further supports NIH Phase I SBIR funding to develop a fluorescence lifetime-based kinase assay for high-throughput screening in drug discovery.
Research conducted through the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at Montana State University took advantage of a working relationship with Bozeman-based Resonon to develop an unmanned aerial vehicle deployment of hyperspectral imaging spectrometers for noxious weed mapping and carbon sequestration site monitoring.
Researchers in the Department of Microbiology at Montana State University worked with Rasiris Inc., a Bozeman company, on a project to develop image-guided photodynamic therapy to sanitize breast cancer draining lymph nodes.
AdvR developed a high-power, fiber coupled, electro-optic amplitude modulator and took advantage of the services offered by the Montana Microfabrication Facility at Montana State University for this research.
A research project involving Fluorescence Innovations, Inc. and scientists at The University of Montana and Montana State University dealt with prion proteins which are implicated in various diseases including chronic wasting disease. This project further developed an instrument for academic use in looking at interactions between carbohydrate proteins and novel molecules.
The Montana State University Spectrum Lab explored a revolutionary means of digitizing broadband analog signals. The SSH material technology used in this research is Montana grown and developed in conjunction with Montana companies, Scientific Materials and S2 Corporation.
ILX Lightwave Corporation collaborated with the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at Montana State University to develop a high efficiency current source targeted toward applications in the industrial and medical high power laser diode market.
S2 Corporation's Spatial Spectral (S2) material-based Frequency Stable Laser (S2-FSL) technology emerged from several years of previously funded research and development in collaboration with Montana State University. The technology takes good, commercial lasers and makes them better by locking them to tunable atomic transitions in the S2 crystals.
BioPred, LLC collaborated with the NIH Center for Structural and Functional Neuroscience (CSFN) at the University of Montana. The expertise of BioPred in computational applications and CSFN in neurochemistry and molecular modeling provides an ideal arrangement to link research with commercialization opportunities. This resulted in a number of SBIR submissions.
The Center for Computational Biology at Montana State University partnered with Bridger Informatics, Inc. (a commercial database company headquartered in Bozeman) to help bring the Hierlogic software to market.
Montana State University worked with the Montana division of Advanced Acoustic Concepts Inc. (AAC), an industry leader that makes sensors and systems for government and commercial applications. The purpose of the project was to research and develop adaptive smart antennas for use in enabling reliable high-speed wireless communications in sparsely populated and remote regions.
Floating Island International, LLC, in Bozeman, designed and brought to market the BioHaven Wild Floating Island and collaborated with Shepherd Research Farm, Billings, Aquatic Design and Construction, Livingston, to demonstrate with quantitative data that the islands provide a highly effective, long-term, affordable alternative to existing competitive products. This information has established the islands in the water-treatment marketplace.
Montana State University partnered with AdvR Inc., Bozeman, and Resodyn, Inc., Butte, on a project to develop a novel acoustic-optic communication device.
AdvR Inc. and Scientific Materials Corporation have established relationships with the Spectrum Lab at Montana State University in the development of the S2 CHIP, a photonic device designed to serve as the foundation for new instruments and systems requiring intensive information processing capabilities. A previous MBRCT grant and matching funds funded continued S2 research and the preparation and filing of patent applications.
Resonon, Inc., Bozeman, and Zdye, Inc., Bozeman, collaborated with Montana State University to develop the foundation for commercialization of an innovative family of ultra-sensitive fluorescent detection dyes and a multiplex measurement system. Continuation projects funded by MBRCT will expand the capabilities of Zdye, Inc. to create a foundation for the development of a Montana presence in the new field of proteomic technology, including identification of candidate biomarkers for type 2 diabetes.
Montana State University collaborated with Scientific Materials Corporation to develop methods for obtaining advanced materials for optoelectronics and optical communication technologies using optical crystals such as lithium niobate and tantalate.
AdvR, Inc. worked closely with Montana State University to develop optical waveguide technology based on an electro-optical material called potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP). A continuation project will strive to produce lasers for commercial markets based on this core technology. Other collaborators include Wavelength Electronics, ILX Lightwave, Scientific Materials Corporation and Resonon, Inc., all of Bozeman.
A project to develop prototype computational software models to discover and accelerate commercialization of new pharmaceuticals was conducted by BioPred - Computational Bioactivity Prediction Company (formerly MedIntel) in collaboration with scientists at Rocky Mountain Laboratory, a NIH research facility in Hamilton.
Specialty BioPolymers Corporation, Bozeman, is a result of a project in collaboration with Montana State University to evaluate adhesives derived from polymers synthesized by bacteria as an alternative to synthetic chemical adhesives used by the wood products industry. The company is producing a product called Tough-Bond, an environmentally friendly wood and paper adhesive.
NanoValent, LLC and the NIH Center for Structural and Functional Neuroscience (CSFN) at the University of Montana in Missoula collaborated on a project to advance the commercialization of research discoveries coming out of the CSFN. Potential products include therapeutic agents, vaccines and diagnostic kits.
MPA Technologies collaborated with Montana State University on two projects to develop a drug for two-photon photodynamic therapy agents for the noninvasive treatment of breast cancer and lung cancer.
HyPerspectives partnered with Yellowstone Ecological Research Center and Montana State University to develop a graphical user interface to manage the workflow process for creating fuel maps from hyperspectral and synthetic aperture radar data. This project employed high-resolution, remotely sensed data to create fire fuel maps that show the location and character of combustible materials in wildlands and at the urban/wildland interface.
Nervonix, Inc. utilized Montana expertise and resources, including Montana State University, StrategixID, Bozeman, and S&K Electronics, Ronan, to pursue commercialization of its nerve stimulation system for use in regional anesthesia procedures.
Resonon, Inc. partnered with Montana Tech and Stillwater Mining Company, Nye, to deploy Resonon's imaging spectrometer in an industrial setting. The system provides real-time ore grading and quantifies the current technique to distinguish between ore and waste rock.
LigoCyte Pharmaceuticals Inc. (acquired by Takeda Pharmaceutical in 2012) collaborated with Montana State University in the development of a technology to enhance the human response to vaccines.
MPA Technologies worked with Montana State University on further development of a proprietary new class of two-photon absorbing chromophores for application in a novel optical information storage device.
SensoPath Technologies, Inc. collaborated with Montana State University in the development and commercialization of a new type of biosensor for the field detection and identification of bioterror pathogenic agents.
LigoCyte Pharmaceuticals, Inc. collaborated with Montana State University on a project to develop new vaccines for scours and E. coli O157:H7. This project used state-of-the-art technology to further work on new vaccines for diseases such as these.
BioSurface Technologies Corporation collaborated with Montana State University to produce unique, Montana-made biofilm reactors. The CDC Biofilm Reactor and the Drip Flow Reactor have been introduced into the marketplace and are generating sales. Another project developed a Rapid Biofilm Analysis Test Kit.
Scientific Materials Corporation partnered with Montana State University in developing hole burning materials for a project designed to investigate a new spectral hole laser stabilization technology.
RF Electronics and AdvR Inc. collaborated with the Spectrum Lab at Montana State University to develop and commercialize a first-of-its-kind spectral-domain storage device.
Phillips Environmental Products, Inc. worked with Montana State University to utilize a novel fungus to kill dangerous germs like E. coli and cholera in its portable toilets and to expand its availability to recreation, agriculture and the military. The fungus was also tested in animal waste remediation applications.
Scientific Materials Corporation collaborated with Montana State University on a project involving the synthesis of new materials to protect sensors from hostile or inadvertent exposure to large amounts of laser irradiation at selected frequencies.