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GAITHERSBURG, Maryland. — The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is awarding a total of $3.19 million in funding to eight small businesses in seven states under the Research on innovation in small businesses (SBIR). This funding will support research and development related to artificial intelligence, medical diagnostics, biotechnology, semiconductors, quantum and other key technologies.
Winning projects were competitively selected in September 2025 following a call for innovative proposals addressing technical needs related to NIST research areas.
These are SBIR Phase II grants, which fund research and development prototyping of innovative technologies proposed in Phase I. Phase II projects cover a period of 24 months from the date of the grant. Once Phase II is completed, selected grantees will move on to Phase III, which involves funding from non-SBIR sources.
SBIR Phase II 2025 Recipients
AMAG Consulting LLC (Schenectady, New York) – $400,000
Validation and improvements of the charge by simulation with a scanning electron microscope: AMAG sells SimuSEM, a software package that simulates how electron beams from electron microscopes interact with materials. To improve its product, AMAG will add the ability to model charging effects and magnetic interactions. This will allow the software to add magnetic field and surface roughness effects to its simulations, resulting in more accurate and useful images.
Applied Imaging Solutions LLC (Quincy, Massachusetts) – $400,000
Online Shortwave Infrared Hyperspectral Imaging System with Machine Learning (SWIR-HSI/AI) to measure quality attributes in NISTCHO cell cultures producing NISTmAb: This project will develop a novel imaging system that uses shortwave infrared hyperspectral imaging and AI machine learning to monitor cell cultures used in the production of biopharmaceuticals. By enabling contactless monitoring of cell viability, metabolite levels and other critical factors, this technology will enable more precise control of bioreactors. Developed using NISTCHO cell culturesThis project aims to advance the development of life-saving drugs while improving the efficiency and safety of biopharmaceutical manufacturing.
Calimetrix LLC (Madison, Wisconsin) – $399,998
Quantitative phantom for multimodal magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography measurements of steatotic tissues: Calimetrix will design and develop imaging test objects, called phantoms, that mimic human anatomy and are used to improve the accuracy of medical imaging tests like MRI and CT scans. These phantoms, which mimic the characteristics of fatty liver tissue, can facilitate medical research and help improve patient care by ensuring that scans taken at different times and using different vendor platforms can be meaningfully compared.
Optique HighRI Inc. (Oakland, CA) – $399,858.96
Binary Pseudo-Random Network (BPRA) for optical image enhancement: HighRI Optics is developing a commercial imaging system equipped with a calibration standard and specialized data reconstruction software. This innovation aims to significantly improve the resolution capabilities of virtually all imaging systems, including those used in healthcare, scientific research, manufacturing and defense.
Icare Quantum Inc. (Boulder, Colorado) – $400,000
Noiseless excitation of semiconductor quantum dots: This project will develop a turnkey photon source based on semiconductor quantum dot technology. The platform, designed to be scalable in both manufacturing and performance, can accommodate multiple high-efficiency photon sources on a single chip. As a plug-and-play solution, it will help researchers and developers integrate quantum interconnections into their systems, thereby accelerating the development of quantum technologies.
MonExposome Inc. (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) – $395,814.74
Using Silicone Wristbands as Personal PFAS Exposure Monitors: Silicone wristbands are used as wearable monitoring devices that record a person’s exposure to environmental chemicals, including certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). This project proposes to use bracelets combined with new solvent-free extraction methods to broaden the spectrum of detectable PFAS. Successful implementation of this project will support both research and consumer markets by providing a cost-effective tool for personal exposure monitoring.
ObjetSecurity LLC (San Diego, CA) – $399,908.58
Operational Technology Artificial Intelligence — NIST Compliance Tool (OTAI-NCT): The OTAI-NCT tool evaluates the cybersecurity practices of hardware and software manufacturers to produce a cyber hygiene score that consumers can use to make informed purchasing decisions. The tool, which uses authoritative data sources such as the National Vulnerability Database (NVD), CISA’s Catalog of Known Exploited Vulnerabilities and other publicly available data sets, will empower users while helping to safeguard national security and public safety.
Universal schedule and reservation LLC (Harpers Ferry, West Virginia) – $400,000
Optimizations of the energy load profile of phase II residential buildings house by house: Homeowners are facing rising energy costs due to increased demand for electricity. Energy sensors, if widely installed, can be used to optimize energy consumption. However, the cost and skill required to install them pose a barrier to their widespread use. This project addresses this challenge by developing a smart digital infrastructure that estimates energy consumption in homes without auxiliary hardware sensors. This will accelerate the adoption of new technologies, enabling a more efficient and resilient power grid that will benefit American manufacturers, businesses, and homeowners.