Small Business Innovation Research Program Provides Seed Funding for R&D
Federal Way, WA, May 11, 2020 – Boydston Chemical Innovations, Inc. has been awarded a competitive National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I grant for $225,000 to conduct research and development (R&D) work entitled: Metal- Free Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization (MF-ROMP) Making Advanced Materials for 3D Printing.
This Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I Project aims to open up a completely new materials space in 3D printing. The basis of the technology is new chemical reactivity that was recently discovered for producing high performance plastics and composites. This scientific advance creates the foundation for the platform of Metal-Free Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization (MF-ROMP)—a unique catalyst-resin system. This program will seize the opportunity to commercialize this platform for use in 3D printing of parts with outstanding properties. The technical work will include redesign of the photoredox catalyst to create efficient curing, within seconds per layer, without requiring solvents. The technical effort also includes formulating the resin system for rapid crosslinking, low volatility, and high-resolution 3D printing. Finally, the complete catalyst-resin combination will be integrated for use with commercial vat photopolymerization 3D printing equipment.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 “to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense…” NSF is vital because we support basic research and people to create knowledge that transforms the future.
“The National Science Foundation supports small businesses with the most innovative, cutting-edge ideas that have the potential to become great commercial successes and make huge societal impacts,” said Barry Johnson, Director of the NSF’s Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships. “We hope that this seed funding will spark solutions to some of the most important challenges of our time across all areas of science and technology.”
Boydston Chemical Innovations, Inc. (BCI) was co-founded in 2017 by Dr. AJ Boydston, Laura Pascual, and John Goldstone. The company has exclusive license to and uses US 10,273,327 B2 patent, from the University of Washington. The company is focused on making 3D printable resins and focused on materials for ballistic-resistant applications for the US military.
According to John Goldstone, President and CEO, “Boydston Chemical Innovations is delighted to work on this Phase I grant from NSF. We now have the opportunity to work with the University of Wisconsin, and to move this technology from the idea and lab bench stage toward scale-up and implementation. We plan to work with 3D Systems, a leader in the 3D printing field, to supply them with material for mechanical analyses testing and for them to evaluate our resins in their vat photopolymerization systems.
To learn more about the NSF SBIR/STTR program, visit: www.nsf.gov/SBIR.
About the National Science Foundation’s Small Business Programs: The National Science Foundation (NSF) awards roughly $200 million annually to startups and small businesses through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program, transforming scientific discovery into products and services with commercial and societal impact. The non-dilutive grants support research and development (R&D) across almost all areas of science and technology helping companies de-risk technology for commercial success. The NSF is an independent federal agency with a budget of about $7 billion that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering.