Tiptek Awarded Competitive Grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation
September 15, 2024 – Tiptek has been awarded a U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) to conduct research and development (R&D) work on ultrasharp nanoprobes for semiconductor diagnostics.
This SBIR Phase I project aims to improve nanoprobing by enabling the technique to probe smaller and more complex electrical devices for longer periods of time. The improved semiconductor nanoprobes that are the focus of this project will greatly enable those who develop and apply the most advanced microelectronics for an array of products across the private commercial and federal government sectors. These include artificial intelligence, cutting-edge electronic and quantum computing devices, advanced control systems for power generation and refrigeration, advanced weapon systems, medical diagnostics, computer controlled surgical equipment, consumer electronic devices such as computers and mobile phone technology, among others. The commercial potential of this application will be realized via the sales of nanoprobes to fully integrated chip manufacturers, fabless semiconductor companies, and chip foundries. Annual worldwide sales of nanoprobers exceed $100 million.
“NSF accelerates the translation of emerging technologies into transformative new products and services,” said Erwin Gianchandani, NSF Assistant Director for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships. “We take great pride in funding deep-technology startups and small businesses that will shape science and engineering results into meaningful solutions for today and tomorrow.”
All proposals submitted to the NSF SBIR/STTR program, also known as America’s Seed Fund powered by NSF, undergo a rigorous merit-based review process. Once a small business is awarded a Phase I grant, it becomes eligible to apply for Phase II funding and additional supplements totaling up to $2 million. To get started, startups or entrepreneurs submit a written Project Pitch to see if their technology idea could be a good fit for the program. To learn more about America’s Seed Fund powered by NSF, visit: https://seedfund.nsf.gov/
About the U.S. National Science Foundation's Small Business Programs: America’s Seed Fund powered by NSF awards more than $200 million annually to startups and small businesses, transforming scientific discovery into products and services with commercial and societal impact. Startups working across almost all areas of science and technology can receive up to $2 million to support research and development, helping de-risk technology for commercial success. America’s Seed Fund is congressionally mandated through the Small Business Innovation Research program. The NSF is an independent federal agency with a budget of about $9.5 billion that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering.