Connecticut Innovations (CI) has awarded grants totaling $300,000 to two small businesses, it announced.
The quasi-public organization will provide research funding to AgriFuels LLC of East Hartford and Owlstone Inc. of Norwalk.
The Connecticut Innovation Challenge program gives money to small, tech-oriented companies that work with area universities to solve technology challenges facing corporations. Recipients are required to provide matching funds.
AgriFuel will partner with Yale University and the University of Connecticut to address a challenge posed by chemical-giant BASF to develop green refineries. AgriFuel will use its $150,000 to validate its algae cultivation technology with the aim of using algae as a fuel source.
Owlstone is also partnering with UConn to develop an advanced graphical display for a handheld chemical threat detector. Wallingford’s Ultra Electronic Measurement Systems presented that challenge.
