Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Longmont, Colorado-based CleanRobotics, Inc., will receive $400,000 in Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding to develop an artificial intelligence-powered TrashBot waste diversion technology for sorting and auditing waste at disposal. The company is among eight small businesses nationwide selected to receive a total of $3,169,239 in funding to further develop and commercialize their environmental technologies, delivering economic and environmental benefits to the communities they serve.
“Companies like CleanRobotics are demonstrating true leadership in developing innovative products that improve the environment and quality of life in our communities,” said EPA Regional Administrator K.C. Becker. “The commercialization of the company’s trash sorting and auditing system will enhance recycling efforts across a wide range of applications and customers.”
EPA issues an annual Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) solicitation for technology proposals for specific high priority environmental topics. Proposals are evaluated on their technical merit, potential for commercialization and impact in the given topic area. CleanRobotics and the companies being announced today have already received Phase I contracts from EPA of up to $100,000 for six months to prove the concept for their proposed technology. The companies are receiving Phase II awards of up to $400,000 to further develop and commercialize the technologies.
Additional small businesses are receiving SBIR Phase II awards include:
- Geometric Data Analytics (Chapel Hill, N.C.) – To develop a web-based application that uses mathematical and statistical techniques to provide highly localized and accurate forecasts to mitigate pesticide drift.
- Kebotix, Inc. (Cambridge, Mass.) – To develop an artificial intelligence platform to develop polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB)-free pigments.
- KLAW Industries LLC (Binghamton, N.Y.) – To develop a novel process to reuse wasted glass in high performance, low-carbon concrete.
- Ohio Lumex Company (Solon, Ohio) – To develop a sorbent trap for continuous emissions monitoring of metal hazardous air pollutant emissions.
- Sonata Scientific LLC (Danbury, Conn.) – To develop an air purifier that uses photocatalytic technology to destroy airborne pathogens.
- Triangle Environmental Health Initiative (Durham, N.C.) – To develop a compact, modular treatment system for non-potable reuse of residential and commercial greywater.
- Zabble Inc (Walnut Creek, Calif.) – To develop a zero-waste management platform that uses artificial intelligence.