Two Pennsylvania Startups Receive Nanotech Funding

Filed in archive Investing on August 8, 2009

Two Pennsylvania-based startups have received grants from the Pennsylvania NanoMaterials Commercialization Center.

"Philadelphia-based Arkema Inc. is getting $275,000 of funding from the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), matched by Lehigh University, to develop and commercialize its block copolymer technology, called BlocBuilder, used to toughen epoxies for wind energy (e.g. more reliable wind blades) and strengthen electronic materials (e.g. higher resistance to crack formation)," according to Small Times. "They are also exploring applications for adhesives, coatings, and composites."

"Another Air Force Research Laboratory grant, for $200,000, was given to nanoGriptech, a spin-off of Carnegie Mellon University, for commercialization of an adhesive technology based on the foot hairs of geckos - which are known to be able to climb and hang on to seemingly impossible surfaces because of the hundreds of thousands of hairs on the bottoms of their feet," according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. "NanoGriptech, which is based in Pittsburgh, will design adhesives to be used in sportswear."

The press release is here.

Image above is from Impact Lab.