Oct 17, 2011 | |
Ocean Optics Awards Phase I Blue Ocean Grants |
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(Nanowerk News) Ocean Optics has named the Phase I winners of its first Blue Ocean Grants and Challenges (www.blueoceangrants.com), an open innovation program seeking novel ideas and technologies with the ultimate potential to change the world for the better and eventual market commercialization. The quantity of quality applications was so impressive that the company issued more grants than planned and created an additional category of developmental grants. | |
The Blue Ocean grants are divided into two phases. Phase I grants are issued to fund initial evaluation and development of ideas and technologies to the proof of concept phase. The company originally planned to award up to 10 Phase I grants of up to $10,000, but expanded that number to 13 grants in five different countries when the grant committee, made up of Ocean Optics Chief Technology Officer Jason M. Eichenholz and independent photonics experts, felt strongly compelled to find funding for an additional three worthy recipients. | |
In addition, another seven strong submissions were awarded development grants. Development grant recipients will be given or loaned Ocean Optics equipment to facilitate progression of their grant ideas, enabling them to be submitted for either Phase II of this year's program or next year's Phase I funding. Phase II grants will be issued to nurture a proposed technology through proof of concept in a way that enables the potential of market commercialization. Up to two Phase II grants of up to $100,000 each will be awarded in early 2012. | |
"We were very impressed with the response to the Blue Ocean Grant Program. We had over 100 submissions from multiple countries, with a diverse range of photonics technologies and applications, " said Eichenholz. "The submissions quality was spectacular and our winners demonstrate the power of optical sensing to change the world. We're excited and honored to help facilitate development of all of these amazing ideas and anticipate some game changing future products as a result." | |
Recipients were chosen based on ability to change the world for the better, out of the box thinking, technical merit and potential commercial viability. | |
Phase I grant winners are: | |
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Development grant winners are: | |
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Ocean Optics would like to thank the following grant committee members for their time and expertise in reviewing applications: Steve Anderson of SPIE, professor David Brady of Duke University, Dr. Daniel L. Farkas of Spectral Molecular Imaging, Dr. Thomas Giallorenzi of OSA and the Naval Research Labs, professor Bahaa E. A. Saleh of CREOL/The School of Optics at the University of Central Florida and professor Andreas T?nnermann of Fraunhofer IOF. | |
To see full abstracts of the award-winning ideas, visit www.blueoceangrants.com. |
Source: Ocean Optics (press release) |
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