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News Releases from Region 09

U.S. EPA awards $100,000 green tech contract to East Bay company

12/13/2016
Contact Information: 
Michele Huitric (huitric.michele@epa.gov )
415-972-3165

SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is awarding $100,000 to Microvi Biotech, Inc., of Hayward, to develop a cost-effective solution for the treatment and recovery of nutrients in wastewater. The company is one of 13 small businesses nationwide receiving a combined $1.3 million in Small Business Innovation Research contracts to develop innovative technology to protect the environment.

“Microvi’s work is an example of the creative thinking needed to address environmental problems,” said Alexis Strauss, EPA's Acting Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. “Small businesses play an integral role in creating clean water technologies that help ensure a sustainable future for our country.”

Toxic algal blooms can develop when wastewater that contains nutrients, such as phosphorus, is released to municipal surface waters. Microvi is developing a method for treating phosphorus and other nutrients in wastewater. The company’s technology uses materials science and specialized microorganisms capable of rapidly accumulating and then releasing phosphorus. The phosphorus can be recovered for use in agricultural fertilizer or industrial chemicals.

“Microvi’s phosphorus removal technology helps meet a critical need across the United States and the world,” said Fatemeh Shirazi, Microvi’s CEO. “Microvi invites municipalities, agencies and companies to join us as we continue to build this effective phosphorus treatment solution.”

Each of the 13 recipients nationwide will receive a Small Business Innovation Research Phase I contract for up to $100,000 to develop their green technology. If Phase I is successful, companies will be eligible to apply for a Phase II contract of up to $300,000 to develop and commercialize their technology for the marketplace.

EPA is one of 11 federal agencies that participate in the SBIR Program established by the Small Business Innovation Development Act of 1982. EPA issues annual solicitations for Phase I and Phase II research proposals from science and technology-based firms.

More information about the EPA SBIR Program: www.epa.gov/sbir

More information about the SBIR Program across the Federal Government: www.sbir.gov/

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