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Programs Connect NJ Startups with Amenities at NJ Universities & Federal Laboratories

TRENTON, N.J. (April 11, 2022) – The New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology (CSIT) today announced plans to open applications for the newly-created Catalyst Research & Development (R&D) Voucher Pilot Program and Round 2 of the state’s Clean Tech R&D Voucher Program. The programs are designed to connect early-stage New Jersey technology companies with access to laboratory facilities and specialized equipment statewide. CSIT expects to open applications for both programs on May 2, 2022 at http://www.njeda.gov/csit. The programs were developed in partnership with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU).

Both the Catalyst R&D and Clean Tech R&D Voucher programs will help the state’s startups accelerate development and transform new discoveries from research stage to commercially viable products and services. Eligible applicants can receive vouchers to defray the costs associated with the use of equipment and technicians for testing and development, and for training in preparation for independent use of the equipment from participating University Facilities or Government or non-profit labs.

“New Jersey’s universities and colleges are uniquely positioned to assist and support entrepreneurs that are developing innovative technologies,” said CSIT Executive Director Judith Sheft. “By harnessing the resources of these world-class higher education institutions and other facilities statewide, the programs announced today will help accelerate the growth of New Jersey startups and strengthen our innovation ecosystem as we continue to reclaim our status as a leader in innovation.”

CSIT will host an informational webinar on the programs on April 19 at 10:00 a.m. to offer tips and advice to potential applicants. Registration information can be found at http://tinyurl.com/CSIT-May2022. A recorded version of the webinar and copy of materials presented will be made available on the CSIT webpage following the event. Applications will be accepted beginning May 2 on a rolling basis until funding from both programs is allocated.

“New Jersey entrepreneurs are creating truly extraordinary things and developing technologies that will have a lasting impact,” said CSIT Acting Chair Debbie Hart. “The programs announced today will enable some of the best minds to leverage state resources as they continue to make their mark on their communities and the innovation ecosystem as a whole.”

Through the $275,000 in total funds provided by the Catalyst R&D Voucher Program, eligible applicants can apply for vouchers to defray the cost associated with eligible services or activities. The vouchers can also be used to hire technicians for testing and development as well as the use of participating facilities. A startup can apply for multiple vouchers, capped at $25,000, within any 12-month period. An approved voucher will be valid for a period of twelve months, starting from the date of the voucher reservation approval letter.

The following technology areas are eligible under the program: advanced manufacturing, advanced transportation and logistics, film and digital media, life sciences (therapeutic drug development and other), non-retail food and beverage, professional and financial services, and technology. Complete eligibility criteria and usage of funds can be found at https://www.njeda.gov/catalyst-voucher.

The Catalyst R&D Voucher Program is a complement to CSIT’s Catalyst R&D Seed Grant Program, which saw a high level of interest from New Jersey’s startup community. That program provided seed funding to approved applicants developing technologies in all industry sectors except clean tech (which has a separate dedicated funding pool).

CSIT also announced today that it will provide vouchers totaling up to $375,000 to eligible startups within the clean technology sector through Round 2 of the Clean Tech R&D Voucher Program. Eligible startups can apply for multiple vouchers up to a cap of $25,000 within any 12-month period. Each approved voucher will be valid for a period of six months, starting from the date of the voucher reservation approval.

The program is open to New Jersey companies with fewer than 25 full-time employees that are developing or testing clean technologies intended to avoid emissions of, or recapture, greenhouse gases and/or criteria pollutants, or to enable such avoidance or recapture in the following target areas: chemicals/advanced materials; energy distribution/storage; energy efficiency; energy generation; green buildings; transportation; waste processing; and water and agriculture. Complete eligibility criteria and usage of funds can be found at https://www.njeda.gov/cleantechvoucher.

Funding for the Clean Tech R&D Voucher Program is provided by NJBPU.

“Our support of these programs will help pave a path for New Jersey to reach Governor Murphy’s important goal of 100 percent clean energy by 2050,” said NJBPU President Joseph L. Fiordaliso. “Startups play an essential role in our state’s growth and success and supporting them will push us forward toward a sustainable future.”

About CSIT
In August 2018, Governor Murphy signed legislation re-establishing the former New Jersey Commission on Science and Technology as the CSIT. Comprised of representatives from the public and private sectors, as well as academia, the Commission is tasked with leading the way in promoting the state as a home for academic and technological research, development, and commercialization.

To learn more about state resources available to New Jersey entrepreneurs and early-stage companies,
visit http://www.njeda.gov/csit or follow @NewJerseyEDA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

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Please be advised that the New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation, and Technology meeting scheduled for Friday, February 18, 2022 @ 10:00 AM is cancelled.

The next regularly scheduled meeting will be the Annual Meeting held on Friday, April 1, 2022 @ 10AM. Members will meet to discuss and approve items via conference call only.

Members of the public whom wish to speak during the public comment segment of the meeting, pertaining to agenda items, may call into the meeting by using the following conference number:

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The agenda can be found 48 hours prior to the meeting at our website: www.njeda.gov/csit.

Program Provides Up to $75,000 to NJ Startups Furthering Clean Tech R&D in NJ

TRENTON, N.J. (January 24, 2022) – The New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology (CSIT) opened applications today for the $1.5 million Round 2 of its Clean Tech Seed Grant Pilot Program. The program is designed to help accelerate development and innovation of clean technologies by furthering research and development (R&D) within the Garden State’s clean technology startup community. CSIT developed the program in coordination with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA).

The application for Round 2 of the Clean Tech Seed Grant Pilot Program can be found at: https://www.njeda.gov/clean-tech-grant/. Applications will be accepted through March 21, 2022 at 5:00 p.m.

Similar to the inaugural round of the program, Round 2 of the Clean Tech Seed Grant Pilot Program will provide grants of up to $75,000 for R&D activities to very early-stage, New Jersey-based clean technology companies. These grants will help clean technology-focused businesses create proof-of-concepts and prototypes so the companies can more readily attract outside investors and, in some cases, begin to generate revenue. Specifically, the program will fund projects that are developing or testing clean technologies intended to recapture or avoid emissions of greenhouse gases and/or criteria pollutants, or to enable such avoidance or recapture. The following technology areas are eligible under the program: Chemicals/Advance Materials, Energy Distribution/Storage, Energy Efficiency, Energy Generation, Green Buildings, Transportation, Waste Processing, and Water and Agriculture.

CSIT will host an informational webinar, including a walk-through of the Clean Tech Seed Grant Program – Round 2 application on Wednesday, January 26, 2022. Registration information can be found here. A recorded version of the webinar and copy of materials presented will be made available on the CSIT webpage following the event.

This latest round offers double the amount of funding that was available in the initial round of the Clean Tech Seed Grant Pilot Program. CSIT awarded a total of nearly $750,000 to 10 companies statewide through the program’s first round last year.

All applicants for the Clean Tech Seed Grant Program should be between a minimum technology development level of Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 2 (applied research) and maximum of TRL 7 (full-scale, similar (prototypical) system demonstrated in relevant environment), based on the Department of Energy definitions. Applicants should use the tool included in the Technical Proposal attachment on the application portal to determine TRL score.

Additional eligibility criteria require that applicants:

Be authorized and in good standing to conduct business in New Jersey as evidenced by a New Jersey current New Jersey tax clearance certificate;
Have a minimum of one full-time equivalent employee (working 35 hrs. per week) including founders, with at least one employee working 50% of their time on the project being proposed;

Have 50 percent or more of the work of its employees, including founders and contractors conducted in NJ (calculated on a full-time equivalent basis – 35 hours per week);
Have 50 percent or more of employees including founders/contractors live or pay withholding taxes in NJ;
Have less than two million dollars ($2,000,000) in prior third-party funding over its lifetime (excluding government grants);
Have less than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) in previous calendar year sales revenue.

Applications from businesses located in an Opportunity Zone-eligible census tract, minority- or woman-owned businesses or businesses with technology coming out of New Jersey universities are all eligible for bonus points with respect to the scoring criteria. At least one award will be reserved for an applicant that is a women-owned company as certified by the State of NJ and one award will be reserved for an applicant that is minority-owned as certified by the state of NJ.

About CSIT

In August 2018, Governor Murphy signed legislation re-establishing the former New Jersey Commission on Science and Technology as the CSIT. Comprised of representatives from the public and private sectors, as well as academia, the Commission is tasked with leading the way in promoting the state as a home for academic and technological research, development, and commercialization.

To learn more about state resources available to New Jersey entrepreneurs and early-stage companies, visit http://www.njeda.gov/csit or follow @NewJerseyEDA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

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Latest Funding Round Will Make up to $75,000 Available
to Companies Furthering Clean Tech R&D in NJ

TRENTON, N.J. (January 10, 2022) – The New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology (CSIT) today announced that it will launch a $1.5 million Round 2 of its Clean Tech Seed Grant Pilot Program later this month. Funding awarded through the program helps accelerate development and innovation of clean technologies by furthering research and development (R&D) within the state’s clean technology startup community. CSIT developed the program in coordination with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA). The application will be available at http://www.njeda.gov/csit beginning on January 24, 2022.

The Clean Tech Seed Grant Pilot Program provides grants for R&D activities to very early-stage, New Jersey-based clean technology companies. These grants will help clean technology-focused businesses continue their work toward the proof of concept and prototyping stages, at which point they can more readily attract outside investors and, in some cases, begin to generate revenue. Specifically, the program will fund projects that are developing or testing clean technologies intended to recapture or avoid emissions of greenhouse gases and/or criteria pollutants, or to enable such avoidance or recapture. The following technology areas are eligible under the program: Chemicals/Advance Materials, Energy Distribution/Storage, Energy Efficiency, Energy Generation, Green Buildings, Transportation, Waste Processing, and Water and Agriculture.

This latest round offers double the amount of funding that was available in the initial round of the Clean Tech Seed Grant Pilot Program. CSIT awarded a total of nearly $750,000 to 10 companies statewide through the program’s first round last year.

“Startups within New Jersey’s clean technology industry are impacting the world in immeasurable ways,” said CSIT Executive Director Judith Sheft. “During the last round, we received applications from a broad range of companies throughout this crucial sector and we look forward to supporting even more young companies as they work toward commercialization and enter the global marketplace.”

CSIT will host an informational webinar, including a walk-through of the Clean Tech Seed Grant Program – Round 2 application, on January 26, 2022. Registration information can be found on the CSIT webpage. A recorded version of the webinar and copy of materials presented will be made available on the CSIT webpage following the event.

Applications can be submitted starting on January 24, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. and will be accepted through March 21, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. Similar to the inaugural round of the program, qualified applicants can receive up to $75,000 in grants through Round 2 Clean Tech Seed Grant Pilot Program. The funding is being provided through NJBPU’s Clean Energy Program.

“NJBPU is proud to work with our partners at CSIT and the NJEDA to place money into the hands of the small businesses statewide helping to pave the way toward a clean energy future,” said NJBPU President Joseph L. Fiordaliso. “By providing this very early-stage funding, we are setting the foundation for these companies to flourish in the Garden State and to help us meet Governor Murphy’s goal of 100 percent clean energy by 2050.”

Additional eligibility criteria require that applicants:

Be authorized and in good standing to conduct business in New Jersey as evidenced by a New Jersey current New Jersey tax clearance certificate;
Have a minimum of one full-time equivalent employee (working 35 hrs. per week) including founders, with at least one employee working 50% of their time on the project being proposed;

Have 50 percent or more of the work of its employees, including founders and contractors conducted in NJ (calculated on a full-time equivalent basis – 35 hours per week);
Have 50 percent or more of employees including founders/contractors live or pay withholding taxes in NJ;
Have less than two million dollars ($2,000,000) in prior third-party funding over its lifetime (excluding government grants);
Have less than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) in previous calendar year sales revenue.

Seventy percent of the awardees in the first round of the Clean Tech Seed Grant Program were businesses located in an Opportunity Zone-eligible census tract, minority- or woman-owned businesses, and/or businesses with technology coming out of New Jersey universities.

“Under Governor Murphy’s leadership, the state is taking a whole-of-government approach to creating an equitable green economy as we work toward his goal of making New Jersey 100 percent clean energy by 2050,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “Our robust suite of programs positions us to cultivate the growing number of clean technology companies within our state.”

In addition to the Clean Tech Seed Grant Program, Sullivan also cited New Jersey’s forthcoming Green Fund, the New Jersey Zero-Emission Incentive Program (NJZIP), and the Clean Tech R&D Voucher Program as initiatives designed to support early-stage companies in the clean technology sector.

In January 2020, Governor Murphy unveiled the state’s Energy Master Plan, which outlines key strategies to reach the Administration’s goal of 100 percent clean energy by 2050. In May 2018, Governor Murphy’s Executive Order No. 28 directed the NJBPU, in partnership with other state agencies, to develop this statewide clean energy plan and shift away from energy production that contributes to climate change. The Energy Master Plan laid out ways to fuel the clean technology economy through workforce training, investments in developing clean energy knowledge, and the growth of world-class R&D.

About CSIT

About NJEDA

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) serves as the State’s principal agency for driving economic growth. The NJEDA is committed to making New Jersey a national model for inclusive and sustainable economic development by focusing on key strategies to help build strong and dynamic communities, create good jobs for New Jersey residents, and provide pathways to a stronger and fairer economy. Through partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders, the NJEDA creates and implements initiatives to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life in the State and strengthen New Jersey’s long-term economic competitiveness.

About NJBPU

NJBPU is a state agency and regulatory authority mandated to ensure safe, adequate and proper utility services at reasonable rates for New Jersey customers. Critical services regulated by NJBPU include natural gas, electricity, water, wastewater, telecommunications and cable television. The Board has general oversight and responsibility for monitoring utility service, responding to consumer complaints, and investigating utility accidents. To find out more about NJBPU, visit our website at www.nj.gov/bpu.

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A meeting of the Commission of Science, Innovation and Technology (CSIT) Board has been scheduled for Friday, January 7, 2022 at 10:00 am

A copy of the proposed agenda can be found at https://www.njeda.gov/csit.

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Conference ID: 827 184 620##

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Program Will Offer up to $150,000 in grants to NJ Startups

TRENTON, N.J. (November 23, 2021) – The New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology (CSIT) today announced the creation of a $1.5 million Catalyst Seed Research and Development (R&D) Grant Program to help New Jersey-based startups accelerate development of technologies. The funding will help the companies transform new discoveries from the research stage into commercially viable products and services. The application, which opens on December 6, will be available at http://www.njeda.gov/csit.

The Catalyst Seed R&D Grant Program will be open to companies conducting R&D or testing technologies in the following areas that were identified as targeted industries in Governor Phil Murphy’s economic development plan, “The State of Innovation: Building a Stronger and Fairer Economy in New Jersey: Advanced Manufacturing, Transportation and Logistics, Film and Digital Media, Life Sciences (including, but not limited to: therapeutic drug development, diagnostics, and medical devices), Non-Retail Food and Beverage, Finance and Professional Services, and Technology.

“The new Catalyst Seed R&D Grant Program will vastly expand the scope of projects and companies that CSIT is able to support,” said CSIT Executive Director Judith Sheft. “Providing seed capital to businesses in high-wage, high growth sectors is both beneficial to the individual entities and important to the strength of our overall innovation economy.”

The program will offer two grant components:

Grants of up to $150,000 for projects that are developing life sciences therapeutics. It is anticipated that five awards will be made in this area.
Grants of up to $75,000 for other innovation projects – non–life sciences therapeutics drug R&D projects and projects that are not eligible for the Clean Tech Seed Grant. It is anticipated that 10 awards will be made in this area.

Sheft noted that the Catalyst Seed R&D Program is modeled after CSIT’s successful Clean Tech R&D Seed Grant Program, which awarded nearly $750,000 to startups statewide earlier this year. CSIT anticipates opening a second round of its Clean Tech Seed Grant program in early 2022. Therefore, companies that are working on research regarding the avoidance of emissions of, or recapture, greenhouse gases and/or criteria pollutants, or to enable such avoidance or recapture, will not be eligible to participate in the Catalyst Seed R&D Grant Program.

Applications for the Catalyst Seed R&D Grant Program will open on December 6, 2021. CSIT will host an information webinar on December 7, 2021 at 10:00 a.m., which will include a walk-through of the application. Anyone interested in attending can visit http://tinyurl.com/NJCSIT to register. A recording of the webinar will also be available on CSIT’s website. Entrepreneurs can also get information about this and other programs designed to help their early-stage companies grow during the NJEDA’s November 30 Innovation Economy Programs webinar. Attendees can register for the event at http://tinyurl.com/NJ-Innovation.

“Under Governor Murphy’s leadership, New Jersey is receiving national and international attention as an excellent place to locate and grow a startup,” NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan said. “The Catalyst Seed R&D Grant Program will be an important tool for helping us continue to foster an environment where these startups can succeed and thrive.”

Applicants for the Catalyst Seed R&D Grant Program will be required to demonstrate at least one of the following for their projects in order to be eligible for funding: description of the proof of concept results, published paper outlining results achieved, successful completion of a federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant or contract related to the project, and/or confirmation documentation from a university tech transfer office if the project relates to technology that has been developed at a university. Complete eligibility requirements can be found at http://www.njeda.gov/csit.

In support of CSIT’s mission to foster diversity and inclusion, one grant award will be reserved for an applicant meeting the minimum scoring criteria of 70 points that is women-owned as certified by the State of New Jersey and one grant award will be reserved for an applicant meeting the minimum scoring criteria of 70 points that is minority-owned as certified by the State of New Jersey. If there are no applicants that meet these criteria the funds may be allocated to other applicants.

In their roles on the CSIT Board, New Jersey State Senator Robert Singer and Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker have been vocal champions of creating resources such as the Catalyst Seed R&D Program to support New Jersey startups.

“Access to seed capital is among the most vital tools for very young companies that are often too early-stage to attract outside capital,” Senator Singer said. “Giving them that access now will pay dividends for our innovation ecosystem in the future.”

“New Jersey startups already have a tremendous number of assets available to them – including proximity to world-class universities, a top-notch talent pool, and a supportive innovation ecosystem,” Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker said. “Adding the Catalyst Seed R&D Grant Program to the suite of resources that CSIT offers startup companies will further Governor Murphy’s goal vision of making New Jersey the nation’s premier hub for innovative, science-and-technology focused entrepreneurism.”

About CSIT

To learn more about state resources available to New Jersey entrepreneurs and early-stage companies, visit https://www.njeda.gov/csit or follow @NewJerseyEDA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

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Six Startups Awarded Vouchers to Help Them to Access Amenities at World-Renowned NJ Universities

TRENTON, N.J. (September 27, 2021) – The Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology (CSIT) today announced that six startups have been approved, with more in the pipeline, to participate in its Clean Tech Research and Development (R&D) Voucher Program. The $435,000 program helps early-stage New Jersey clean technology companies more easily access resources such as specialized equipment at one of the state’s many world-class universities or federal laboratory facilities. CSIT continues to accept program applications on a rolling basis. The application is available at https://application.njeda.com/csit. The program was developed in coordination with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA).

“Through the Clean Tech R&D Voucher Program, we are able to support the cultivation of innovative technologies in our state’s earliest stage companies and showcase the breadth of amenities that our world-class universities offer to the innovation community,” said CSIT Chairman Gunjan Doshi. “We encourage all emerging companies to explore how this program can further their growth.”

Doshi noted that in addition to the six approvals announced today, another 10 applications are under review.

Through the Clean Tech R&D Voucher Program, eligible applicants receive vouchers to subsidize the costs associated with using equipment at a New Jersey university or federal laboratory for product testing and development. Each eligible applicant can apply for multiple vouchers up to a cap of $15,000 within any 12-month period. An approved voucher is valid for a period of three months.

The program specifically funds work on projects that are developing clean technologies that recapture or avoid emissions of greenhouse gases and/or criteria pollutants. The following technology areas are eligible under the program: chemicals/advance materials, energy distribution/storage, energy efficiency, energy generation, green buildings, transportation, waste processing, and water and agriculture. A New Jersey clean tech asset map listing university and federal laboratory resources in NJ is available on the CSIT website.

“The Clean Tech R&D Voucher Program is making it easier for startups around the state to leverage one of New Jersey’s greatest assets – its globally-recognized higher education network – as they work toward commercialization and beyond,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “This will have the dual benefit of supporting both technological advances and job creation as these young companies grow, a priority for Governor Phil Murphy and his entire administration.”

To be eligible for the Clean Tech R&D Voucher Program, applicants must be registered to conduct business in New Jersey and must have no more than 50 full-time employees at the time of application. Additionally, 100 percent of the project work for which the voucher is being sought must be conducted in New Jersey. Full eligibility requirements can be found at https://www.njeda.gov/csit.

“Governor Murphy has put forth an ambitious vision to achieve 100 percent clean energy by 2050 and we are helping carry out that vision through our robust offshore wind, solar, energy efficiency and vehicle electrification programs,” said NJBPU President Joseph L. Fiordaliso. “Our state’s vibrant startup community is also playing an instrumental role in helping us reach the Governor’s goal. Supporting these emerging companies through innovative programs such as the Clean Tech R&D Voucher Program will lead to long-term economic success, environmental sustainability and a vibrant clean energy economy.”

The following startups were each approved for vouchers totaling $15,000, unless otherwise noted:

Parsippany-based BRISEA Group Inc. has provided environmental and energy professional services, technology and know-how transfer from the United States to the developing nations for over two decades. With support from the Clean Tech R&D Voucher Program, the company is using equipment at the New Jersey Institute of Technology’s (NJIT’s) Otto York Center to develop technology that enables massive disinfection of personnel and medical equipment, material surfaces and waters that humans come in contact.

Eion NJ Corporation, located in Princeton, is developing a specialty fine-grained mineral product that rapidly captures and stores CO2 when applied to agricultural soils. Funding through the Clean Tech R&D Voucher Program will support Eion Corporation’s use of equipment at the Rutgers University’s School of Environmental and Biological Science’s Greenhouses to further its efforts. Eion NJ Corporation previously received funding through CSIT’s Clean Tech Seed Grant Program.

Bordentown-based HiT Nano Inc. develops next-generation, low-cost and high-performance lithium ion (Li-ion) battery materials and energy storage systems by using novel high temperature nanotechnologies. The company will use equipment at the Princeton University’s – Princeton Institute of Materials (Imaging and Analysis Center and Micro and Nano Fabrication Center) to further the R&D of its technologies. (HiT Nano Inc. has been approved for $11,250 in vouchers through the program).

Michrinik Technologies, LLC., located in Cedar Knolls, is a green technology company focused on creating new materials for energy storage application. Support from the Clean Tech R&D Voucher Program will help the company offset the cost of using equipment at the NJIT’s Maker Space and Otto York Centers it works toward commercialization of its products.

Nanosepex Inc., located in Newark, is an environmental research company that is developing what it considers to be the next generation desalination and water treatment technology. The company plans to use equipment at NJIT’s Laboratory for Analytical Chemistry and Nanotechnology to further its development of technologies to treat industrial wastewater (such as power plants and Fracking water) and ultimately reduce greenhouse gas emission.

RRTC, Inc., located in Bella Mead, is developing advanced composite materials for a myriad of uses based on Low Temperature Solidification (LTS) technology originally developed at Rutgers University. The company is using vouchers from the Clean Tech R&D Voucher Program to offset the costs of equipment at Rutgers University’s Materials Science and Engineering core facility as it produces materials for such applications as wind turbine blades, wood substitutes and capture media for a new solid-state carbon capture system.

About NJEDA
The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) serves as the State’s principal agency for driving economic growth. The NJEDA is committed to making New Jersey a national model for inclusive and sustainable economic development by focusing on key strategies to help build strong and dynamic communities, create good jobs for New Jersey residents, and provide pathways to a stronger and fairer economy. Through partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders, the NJEDA creates and implements initiatives to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life in the State and strengthen New Jersey’s long-term economic competitiveness.

About NJBPU
NJBPU is a state agency and regulatory authority mandated to ensure safe, adequate and proper utility services at reasonable rates for New Jersey customers. Critical services regulated by NJBPU include natural gas, electricity, water, wastewater, telecommunications and cable television. The Board has general oversight and responsibility for monitoring utility service, responding to consumer complaints, and investigating utility accidents. To find out more about NJBPU, visit our website at www.nj.gov/bpu.

To learn more about state resources available to New Jersey entrepreneurs and early-stage companies, visit https://www.njeda.gov/csit or follow @NewJerseyEDA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

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A meeting of the Commission of Science, Innovation and Technology (CSIT) Board has been scheduled for Friday, September 24, 2021 at 10:00 am

A copy of the proposed agenda can be found at https://www.njeda.gov/csit.

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Conference ID: 418 422 739#

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$1.25 Million Available to Support Startups Engaged with Federal SBIR/STTR Programs

TRENTON, N.J. (August 10, 2021) – The New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology today announced that it will open applications for a $1.25 million round of grant funding through its New Jersey Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer Program (STTR) Direct Financial Assistance Program on Monday, August 16, 2021. New Jersey startups can apply online at https://www.njeda.gov/csit. The program provides a $25,000 to $50,000 funding match to New Jersey-based companies that have received federal SBIR/STTR grants.

The federal SBIR and STTR grant programs provide more than $3 billion each year to small businesses in a variety of technology and life sciences areas that propose innovative ideas that meet specific federal research and development (R&D) needs. The SBIR program enables small businesses to explore their technological potential and provides the incentive to profit from its commercialization. The STTR program funds cooperative R&D partnerships between small businesses and research institutions such as universities, federal R&D centers, or non-profits. The programs are open to U.S.-based, for-profit small businesses with fewer than 500 employees.

“Under Governor Phil Murphy’s leadership, New Jersey is quickly recapturing its role as a leader in innovation thanks to startups such as those involved with the federal SBIR/STTR programs,” said CSIT Chairman Gunjan Doshi. “CSIT is committed to ensuring that our state’s entrepreneurs have access to every available resource to best position themselves for success. The New Jersey SBIR/STTR Direct Financial Support Program has a proven track record of doing just that.”

Doshi noted that, through two prior rounds of the New Jersey SBIR/STTR Direct Financial Assistance Program, CSIT has awarded a total of $825,000 to 29 New Jersey companies.

This third round of the program will offer $1.25 million in grants to New Jersey small businesses in two program components. The first component (Direct funding) will provide $25,000 grants to up to 30 small businesses that have received a federal SBIR/STTR Phase I, Fast-Track or Direct to Phase II award/contract. The grant is aimed at helping awardees increase intensity of research, strengthen commercialization plans, cover operational expenses, and become more competitive for Phase II funding. The second component (Bridge funding) will provide $50,000 grants to up to ten NJ small businesses that have successfully completed Phase I and have applied for Phase II of the federal SBIR/STTR program. The grant will enable the awardees to maintain operations while waiting on Phase II awards and cover general operational expenses directly related to the project/product for which a Federal Phase II award is being sought.

“We are pleased to be able to significantly increase the amount of funding we are providing through this latest round and look forward to welcoming new startups into the program as a result,” said CSIT Executive Director Judith Sheft.

Sheft encouraged entrepreneurs that are interested in applying to the New Jersey SBIR/STTR Direct Financial Assistance Program to attend an August 19 information webinar to learn about the application process. A link to the webinar can be found at ttps://www.njeda.gov/event/csit-round-3-sbir-sttr-grant-assistance-program/. A recording of the webinar will also be available on CSIT’s website.

The application, which will be available at https://application.njeda.com/CSIT, will be open until October 8, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. EST.

“Startups within the innovation ecosystem are important drivers of job creation and employment and their success is absolutely essential to the vibrancy of New Jersey’s economy,” said State Senator Paul Sarlo. “Funding these early-stage companies through programs like the New Jersey SBIR/STTR Direct Financial Assistance Program will not only benefit the individual entities, but also their communities, the state, and the global marketplace at large.”

In keeping with the Governor’s vision for inclusive economic growth, applications from businesses located in an Opportunity Zone-eligible census tract, minority- or woman-owned businesses or businesses with technology coming out of New Jersey universities are all eligible for bonus points with respect to the scoring criteria. Additionally, applicants who are winning a federal award for the first time will also receive a scoring bonus.

“New Jersey offers startups the full package when it comes to reasons to grow here – close proximity to numerous world-class universities, a diverse and highly-educated pool of talented workers, and an innovation ecosystem that supports them from the earliest stages through valuable programs such as this one,” said Assemblyman Christopher DePhillips.

To learn more about state resources available to New Jersey entrepreneurs and early-stage companies,
visit https://www.njeda.gov/csit or follow @NewJerseyEDA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

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TRENTON, N.J. (August 5, 2021) – The New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology (CSIT) today announced that it has awarded a total of $748,000 in seed grant funding to 10 New Jersey clean technology-focused startups through its Clean Tech Seed Grant Program. The program, which is funded by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU), is designed to help accelerate development and innovation of clean technologies by furthering research and development (R&D) within New Jersey’s startup economy. The Clean Tech Seed Grant Program was created in partnership with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA).

The awardees are each working on projects that involve developing or testing clean technologies intended to recapture or avoid emissions of greenhouse gases and/or criteria pollutants, or to enable such avoidance or recapture. Funding through the program will help the startups continue their work toward the proof of concept and prototyping stages, at which point they can more readily attract outside investors and, in some cases, begin to generate revenue. The funding is being provided through NJBPU’s Clean Energy Program.

“New Jersey’s innovation ecosystem stands at the forefront of the global transformation toward a clean energy future,” said CSIT Executive Director Gunjan Doshi. “Critical funding provided through the Clean Tech Seed Grant Program will help propel the projects created by these 10 startups toward commercialization and into the hands of consumers within the worldwide clean technology marketplace.”

The following startups were each awarded approximately $75,000. The exact grant sizes are noted in parentheses.

Andluca Technologies Inc., located in Princeton, is a spin-out of Princeton University that is developing solar-powered smart glass technology. ($74,969)
Arbela Laboratories, located in Randolph, is creating a methanol-fed Pichia platform designed to increase the scale and reduce the costs of biomanufacturing. ($73,000)
Eion NJ Corporation, located in Princeton, is developing a specialty fine-grained mineral material that rapidly captures and stores carbon dioxide when applied to agricultural soils. ($75,000)
Farm to Flame Energy, located in Kearny, provides scalable, end-to-end electricity generation systems using biomass for communities in underdeveloped countries. ($74,995)
Green Blu, located in Hamilton, is developing a solar thermal energy-powered brine separation technology for use in desalination, agriculture, and water industries. ($75,000)
NextGen Battery Technologies, LLC., located in Somerset, is developing a high-voltage, non-flammable solid-state electrolyte for lithium batteries. ($74,939)
Princeton NuEnergy, located in Bordentown, is developing a battery recycling technology to recycle and reuse used lithium-ion batteries from electric vehicles, portable electronics, and other energy storage devices. ($75,000)
RenewCO2, LLC., located in Cranford, is developing an electrochemical process that converts carbon dioxide to plastic precursors and other value-added chemicals conventionally sourced from fossil fuels. ($75,000)
SunRay Scientific, LLC., located in Eatontown, is commercializing an advanced material adhesive for use in electronics and semiconductor packaging. ($75,000)
WeSolar CSP Inc., located in Princeton, designs and builds scalable and modular Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plants for energy and heating solutions for government, utilities, corporations, industry and community/micro-grids. ($75,000)

Seventy percent of the awardees were businesses located in an Opportunity Zone-eligible census tract, minority- or woman-owned businesses, and/or businesses with technology coming out of New Jersey universities.

“Under Governor Murphy’s leadership, New Jersey is recapturing its role as a leader in innovation in a diverse, inclusive, and equitable manner,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “As we begin to see success stories that result from the funding announced today, we look forward to watching the impact these companies will have both on the international stage and here at home as they expand their footprint and create high-paying jobs.”

CSIT Executive Director Judith Sheft noted that the Commission received nearly two dozen applications for this inaugural round of funding and expects to launch a second round later this year with funding that has already been approved by the NJBPU.

“The high-level of interest we received during the inaugural round of our Clean Tech Seed Grant Program is indicative of both the vibrancy of our innovation ecosystem and the need for seed funding that all startups face,” Sheft said. “The NJBPU and the NJEDA have been tremendous partners to CSIT in helping to cultivate opportunities for very early-stage New Jersey companies in the clean energy space and we are pleased we will be able to reach even more young companies in the months ahead.”

In January 2020, Governor Murphy unveiled the state’s Energy Master Plan , which outlines key strategies to reach the Administration’s goal of 100 percent clean energy by 2050. In May 2018, Governor Murphy’s Executive Order No. 28 directed the NJBPU, in partnership with other state agencies, to develop this statewide clean energy plan and shift away from energy production that contributes to climate change. The Energy Master Plan laid out ways to fuel the clean technology economy through workforce training, investments in developing clean energy knowledge, and the growth of world-class R&D.

“Building and strengthening New Jersey’s clean energy economy has been a priority for Governor Murphy throughout his administration as we work to reduce the state’s dependence on fossil fuels,” said NJBPU President Joseph L. Fiordaliso. “NJBPU is proud to support the Clean Tech Seed Grant Program and to fund early-stage companies that are developing vital technologies to achieve this goal. Startups within our innovation economy play a key part in creating clean technologies that will enable us to reach the Governor’s goal of 100 percent clean energy by 2050.”

New Jersey State Senator Robert Singer and Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker are among the CSIT members who helped bring the Clean Tech Seed Grant Program to fruition.

“Through innovative programs like this one, we are reaffirming and upholding our commitment to ensuring that New Jersey entrepreneurs have every available resource to fuel the growth of their companies,” Senator Singer said. “By connecting these 10 startups with access to precious seed capital, we are helping them work toward commercialization and reach a point where they can attract outside investors and begin to compete in the global economy.”

“As both a scientist and the Chairman of the Assembly’s Science, Innovation & Technology committee, I know the value that seed funding brings to young, innovative startups” Zwicker said. “I applaud each of our awardees for the ground-breaking work they are doing and am pleased to play a role in furthering their success.”

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