Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program provides seed funding for R&D.
Arlington, VA, July 1, 2016 – BEM Controls has been awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant for $224,673 to conduct research and development (R&D) work on BEMOSS™-Plus -- an agent-based self-learning system for efficient building operations and automated participation in electricity markets.
BEMOSS™-Plus offers self-learning functionalities to optimize the operation of major loads (i.e., HVAC and lighting loads) and sources of electricity (i.e., solar PV and energy storage units) in buildings in response to weather, electricity pricing and building occupancy which can change dynamically. BEMOSS™-Plus allows integration with a number of Internet of Things (IoT) devices and makes it possible for buildings to manage, buy and/or sell electricity, perform automated demand response during grid stress conditions and provide ancillary services when needed. BEM Controls' solution addresses several technical challenges including: interoperability, plug & play, self-learning, advanced analytics and notification, grid interaction, remote access and cost effectiveness.
“The National Science Foundation supports small businesses with the most innovative, cutting-edge ideas that have the potential to become great commercial successes and make huge societal impacts,” said Barry Johnson, Director of the NSF’s Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships. “We hope that this seed funding will spark solutions to some of the most important challenges of our time across all areas of science and technology.”
"Our solution will serve as a low-cost building automation system that is easy to deploy, use, configure and maintain. This will allow target buildings to operate more efficiently, reduce electricity consumption, reduce energy losses and allow participation in electricity markets without significant investments. Additionally, our solution is expected to promote awareness of the benefits of building automation to building operators, and provide them the ability to cross reference their buildings with best practices in building operations across USA," said Saifur Rahman, Founder of BEM Controls.
Once a small business is awarded a Phase I SBIR/STTR grant (up to $225,000), it becomes eligible to apply for a Phase II grant (up to $750,000). Small businesses with Phase II grants are eligible to receive up to $500,000 in additional matching funds with qualifying third-party investment or sales.
NSF accepts Phase I proposals from small businesses twice annually in June and December. Small businesses with innovative science and technology solutions, and commercial potential are encouraged to apply. All proposals submitted to the NSF SBIR/STTR program undergo a rigorous merit-based review process.
To learn more about the NSF SBIR/STTR program, visit: www.nsf.gov/SBIR.
About the National Science Foundation's Small Business Programs: The National Science Foundation (NSF) awards nearly $190 million annually to startups and small businesses through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program, transforming scientific discovery into products and services with commercial and societal potential. The non-dilutive grants support research and development (R&D) across all areas of science and technology helping companies de-risk technology for commercial success. The NSF is an independent federal agency with a budget of about $7 billion that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering.