WASHINGTON, March 14 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security will award research contracts to small businesses to foster innovation in homeland security technology.
The security and technology directorate of the Department of Homeland Security announced Tuesday the selection of 22 small businesses to receive funding through the department's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program.
"I am pleased to announce this sixth set of awards to small businesses to develop innovative technology that will help meet the department's mission to protect the homeland," said Under Secretary for Security and Technology Jay M. Cohen.
"We are already seeing excellent results from the first set of awards of April 2004, and I am confident that our SBIR program will continue to make great research contributions," Cohen said.
The program will fund 23 projects, providing individual firms with up to $100,000 for research for up to six months. Firms will define the scientific, technical and commercial merit of a particular concept in Phase I and may apply for a Phase II award if the initial concept proves successful. The Phase II awards will provide up to $750,000 for further development of the concept into a prototype.
The 22 small businesses will conduct research related to chemical and biological sensors, biological analysis devices, unattended ground sensors, 3-D visualization systems, and simulation-based training systems.
The security and technology directorate of Homeland Security is the department's primary research and development arm.
