Mikro Systems announced today that it has been awarded a two-year, $1 Million Department of Energy grant. Funds from the grant will be used to continue the development of Mikro’s proprietary manufacturing technology that improves the efficiency of gas turbine engines used in power generation and aircraft engines.
The company’s patented TOMOsm manufacturing technology allows the use of designs with complex geometries and special features that improve the cooling of turbine blades and other engine components. Cooler blades allow engines to operate at higher temperatures, resulting in reduced fuel consumption and lower emissions. TOMO can be used to make advanced, high-performance components in a wide variety of applications using materials such as metals, ceramics, polymers, and composites.
Mikro’s award is a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant, one of 201 awards from 38 states that were announced today. In a post on the White House blog, Kristina Johnson, the Under Secretary for Energy, noted, “These awards will be used to develop clean energy technologies that have the potential to be commercialized, thus continuing to allow the small businesses to create new jobs in their communities.”
In 2010, the Department of Energy’s SBIR efforts have incorporated a fast-track process for applications, in part to help small businesses grow. The process places increased emphasis on job creation and commercialization potential in the review and selection process. Congressman Tom Perriello, who visited Mikro earlier this year, said, “The products being developed at Mikro Systems will lead to the kind of high-tech, high-skill manufacturing jobs we need in Central Virginia. We can be a leader in new energy, and smart investments, like these DOE grants from the Recovery Act, put us one step closer to making that a reality.”
Mikro’s founder and CEO, Mike Appleby, said, “This award confirms both the merit of our technology and our plans to bring it to market. This funding will enable us to further develop the technology and demonstrate its ability to improve engine performance. We are delighted that this funding will allow us to immediately add high-skill jobs at Mikro and ultimately create many more jobs when the technology reaches commercialization.”
Mikro Systems, Inc. is a fast-growing technology company that partners with global, high- technology manufacturing companies, such as Siemens Energy, Analogic, GE, and Siemens Healthcare to apply its breakthrough TOMO process to new, high performance products and improve product development and manufacturing processes. TOMO’s versatility allows Mikro to work in areas as diverse as medical x-ray imaging and detection, airport baggage scanners, and turbine components. Founded in 2001, Mikro currently has 30 employees based in Charlottesville.