National Science Foundation

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency established in 1950 and based in Alexandria, Virginia. It is dedicated to supporting research and education in science and engineering across a wide range of disciplines. The NSF provides significant non-dilutive funding, up to $1.5 million, to startups and small businesses through its America's Seed Fund initiative, which is part of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program mandated by Congress. With an operating budget of approximately $7.8 billion, the NSF is committed to advancing fundamental research and education, thus fostering innovation and technological development in the United States.

James Donlon

Program Director

Sean L. Jones

Assistant Director for Mathematical and Physical Sciences

Debasis Majumdar

Program Director

Graciela Narcho

Staff Associate

Sethuraman Panchanathan

Director

Marco Rubin

Reviewer

Past deals in Nuclear Energy

Muon Vision

Grant in 2024
Muon Vision develops a subsurface visualization and digitalization sensor that employs nuclear imaging technology to measure the bulk density of large geophysical masses. The sensor detects internal problems and fluid migration within materials such as leaching heaps, mine tailings dams, and other industrial processes. By providing detailed insights into composition and distribution, it enhances the efficiency, sustainability, and safety of mineral processing and related operations.

NearStar Fusion

Grant in 2023
NearStar Fusion is developing fusion power plants using a tritium-free pulsed impact fusion approach. The company leverages extensive experience with hypervelocity plasma railguns to simplify its power plant design, reducing development time and costs while improving reliability.

Muon Vision

Grant in 2022
Muon Vision develops a subsurface visualization and digitalization sensor that employs nuclear imaging technology to measure the bulk density of large geophysical masses. The sensor detects internal problems and fluid migration within materials such as leaching heaps, mine tailings dams, and other industrial processes. By providing detailed insights into composition and distribution, it enhances the efficiency, sustainability, and safety of mineral processing and related operations.

Howe Industries

Grant in 2021
Howe Industries specializes in developing advanced technologies for both space and terrestrial applications. The company leverages expertise in nuclear technologies, thermal systems, and space propulsion to create innovative solutions ranging from debris deorbiting to Mercury rover missions.

Tibbar Plasma Technologies

Grant in 2021
Tibbar Plasma Technologies develops a plasma heat engine for efficient fusion energy production. The company's headquarters are in Los Alamos, New Mexico.

Molten Salt Solutions

Grant in 2021
Molten Salt Solutions develops a technology platform to commercialize molten salt synthesis and purification and to advance isotope enrichment for nuclear power. The platform includes proprietary chromatography and mass spectrometry systems along with metal salt synthesis methods, enabling safer, more cost-efficient production of isotopically enriched materials for both fission and fusion applications. The company was founded in 2018 and is headquartered in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Muon Vision

Grant in 2020
Muon Vision develops a subsurface visualization and digitalization sensor that employs nuclear imaging technology to measure the bulk density of large geophysical masses. The sensor detects internal problems and fluid migration within materials such as leaching heaps, mine tailings dams, and other industrial processes. By providing detailed insights into composition and distribution, it enhances the efficiency, sustainability, and safety of mineral processing and related operations.

Scalar Magnetics

Grant in 2020
Scalar Magnetics is a company that specializes in developing nuclear magnetic resonance-based technologies for chemical analysis. Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, the company focuses on creating innovative solutions that utilize reduced potency magnets. This approach allows for spectroscopy to be performed at moderate magnetic field strengths, thereby eliminating the challenges associated with the use of large superconducting magnets. Scalar Magnetics aims to enhance the accessibility and efficiency of chemical analysis through its advanced technologies.

Becq

Grant in 2020
Becq specializes in designing advanced radiation shielding materials for the nuclear industry. Utilizing artificial intelligence and machine learning, Becq's products offer superior radiation stopping power, adaptable to various neutron and gamma sources, temperature ranges, dose rates, and geometric constraints.

Howe Industries

Grant in 2019
Howe Industries specializes in developing advanced technologies for both space and terrestrial applications. The company leverages expertise in nuclear technologies, thermal systems, and space propulsion to create innovative solutions ranging from debris deorbiting to Mercury rover missions.

Radiation Detection Solutions

Grant in 2019
Radiation Detection Solutions develops the solid-state tissue-equivalent detector, or SSTED, a radiation detection system. The company was founded in 2011 with its headquarters in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Becq

Grant in 2019
Becq specializes in designing advanced radiation shielding materials for the nuclear industry. Utilizing artificial intelligence and machine learning, Becq's products offer superior radiation stopping power, adaptable to various neutron and gamma sources, temperature ranges, dose rates, and geometric constraints.

Tibbar Plasma Technologies

Grant in 2019
Tibbar Plasma Technologies develops a plasma heat engine for efficient fusion energy production. The company's headquarters are in Los Alamos, New Mexico.

SHINE

Series B in 2018
SHINE develops and deploys fusion-based technology to produce medical isotopes and neutron sources. Its processes generate molybdenum-99, a precursor to technetium-99m used in diagnostic imaging, and lutetium-177 for diagnostic and therapeutic use, along with iodine-131 and iodine-125 for thyroid treatment and brachytherapy, and xenon-133 for lung and brain imaging. The company’s systems also provide neutron sources for industrial imaging, radiation-effects testing, and fusion materials research. In addition to medical isotopes, SHINE aims to recycle nuclear waste and advance fusion power as a source of clean energy. The business serves health care and industrial customers worldwide. SHINE is based in Janesville, Wisconsin, with an office in Alkmaar, Netherlands.

SHINE

Grant in 2015
SHINE develops and deploys fusion-based technology to produce medical isotopes and neutron sources. Its processes generate molybdenum-99, a precursor to technetium-99m used in diagnostic imaging, and lutetium-177 for diagnostic and therapeutic use, along with iodine-131 and iodine-125 for thyroid treatment and brachytherapy, and xenon-133 for lung and brain imaging. The company’s systems also provide neutron sources for industrial imaging, radiation-effects testing, and fusion materials research. In addition to medical isotopes, SHINE aims to recycle nuclear waste and advance fusion power as a source of clean energy. The business serves health care and industrial customers worldwide. SHINE is based in Janesville, Wisconsin, with an office in Alkmaar, Netherlands.

Pearlhill Technologies

Grant in 2015
Pearlhill Technologies is a research, technology development, and commercialization company. They are involved in low-level nuclear waste management, carbon capture and CO2 utility, manufacturing fluorinated products, magnetoreception sensing and navigation, the fabrication of electronic sensors, and the use of nanomaterials in electronics.

Silverside Detectors

Grant in 2014
Silverside Detectors is a technology company that develops nuclear radiation detection technologies to protect cities and citizens from nuclear terrorism. It designs and develops adaptable radiation detectors. These detectors can be installed in urban and transit infrastructure for nuclear detection. The company develops inexpensive thermal neutron detectors that can be a building block for large-area networked scanning and other future solutions for nuclear threat reduction.

Pearlhill Technologies

Grant in 2012
Pearlhill Technologies is a research, technology development, and commercialization company. They are involved in low-level nuclear waste management, carbon capture and CO2 utility, manufacturing fluorinated products, magnetoreception sensing and navigation, the fabrication of electronic sensors, and the use of nanomaterials in electronics.
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