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EPA awards $300,000 small business innovation grant to Westlake Village, Calif. entrepreneur to develop green polymers for water-based wood coatings

Release Date: 11/12/2014
Contact Information: Nahal Mogharabi, 213-244-1815, [email protected]

SAN FRANCISCO – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a $300,000 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant to Instrumental Polymer Technologies, LLC in Westlake Village, Calif. to produce low-cost, zero-emission polymers from sustainable materials into a water-based wood coating.

“Supporting the growth of environmental small businesses in California grows the economy and helps protect the health of our communities,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. “SBIR provides an avenue for entrepreneurs like Instrumental Polymer Technologies to create environmentally friendly products and bring them to the marketplace.”

Instrumental Polymer Technologies has developed a unique process to produce dendrimers (molecules which branch out from a central point to form a spherical shape) from sustainable raw materials such as soy. The unique property of the dendrimers allows them to be applied as 100% solids, but they can disperse in water for easy cleanup. They will create a smooth, high gloss finish reducing sanding and buffing. The company will develop the concept into a low-cost, high performance product that manufacturers of wood coatings can use as substitutes for typical polyurethane coatings derived from petroleum.

The SBIR program provides funding in two phases. In Phase I, companies submit proposals and, after undergoing a competitive selection process, can receive up to $100,000 for proof of concept. Successful Phase I companies can participate in Phase II through a second competitive process to receive up to $300,000 for two years.

More information on the SBIR Phase II awards: www.epa.gov/ncer/2014SBIRphase2awards
More information about the SBIR Program: www.epa.gov/ncer/sbir/
Sign up to receive email notices of EPA’s research funding opportunities at: www.epa.gov/ncer/listserv/

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