Seacoast Science, Inc., a Carlsbad-based sensor technology company, was recently awarded a phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract from the Department of Homeland Security. The contract gives the company $750,000 and up to two years to develop an advanced prototype of a device that detects low vapor pressure toxic industrial chemicals.
Todd Misna, Seacoast president, said the tiny sensors will be able to detect chemicals such as pesticides, mercury, sulfuric acid and chemicals used to make explosives. The Department of Homeland Security will use the devices to detect chemical warfare both domestically and internationally.
"Toxic chemicals are easy to come by," Misna said. "They are not as dangerous as some types of chemical warfare but you can get them in large quantities. We want to get these sensors into the hands of first responders."
The sensors are some of the smallest on the market. Once completed, they will be plugged into a circuit board with the foot print of a credit card and the thickness of a deck of cards. They operate off of a battery.
The company, which employs 11 people and was founded in February 2003, was awarded the phase I SBIR from the Department of Homeland Security last year. That contract allowed Seacoast scientists to develop the sensor concept with a $100,000 grant from the government. In the final phase, phase III, the company produces the sensory device with funds from the government and private sector.
Misna said Seacoast is one of the first companies to receive a phase II contract and one of only 25 companies throughout the country to have received such a contract since the Department of Homeland Security was founded in 2002.
This is not the first defense contract for the Carlsbad company. They are currently working with the Department of Defense on a badge-sized detector for Marines to wear in order to detect dangerous chemicals. They also have contracts with the Department of Energy for a carbon dioxide detector and the National Science Foundation for a toxic mold detector, both of which have potential home and business use.
"Our philosophy is that the government will help fund the development of sensors for chemical warfare and then we can convert these sensors for commercial use, such as with pesticides," Misna said.
Misna has been invited to be a panel member at the Security Summit national meeting which will take place in San Diego later this year. The company has also garnered the attention of the Department of Justice. Louis Haerle, vice president, recently spent time in North Carolina with department officials, discussing commercialization of the sensors. For more information about Seacoast Science, Inc., visit www.seacoastscience.com.
Todd Misna, Seacoast president, said the tiny sensors will be able to detect chemicals such as pesticides, mercury, sulfuric acid and chemicals used to make explosives. The Department of Homeland Security will use the devices to detect chemical warfare both domestically and internationally.
"Toxic chemicals are easy to come by," Misna said. "They are not as dangerous as some types of chemical warfare but you can get them in large quantities. We want to get these sensors into the hands of first responders."
The sensors are some of the smallest on the market. Once completed, they will be plugged into a circuit board with the foot print of a credit card and the thickness of a deck of cards. They operate off of a battery.
The company, which employs 11 people and was founded in February 2003, was awarded the phase I SBIR from the Department of Homeland Security last year. That contract allowed Seacoast scientists to develop the sensor concept with a $100,000 grant from the government. In the final phase, phase III, the company produces the sensory device with funds from the government and private sector.
Misna said Seacoast is one of the first companies to receive a phase II contract and one of only 25 companies throughout the country to have received such a contract since the Department of Homeland Security was founded in 2002.
This is not the first defense contract for the Carlsbad company. They are currently working with the Department of Defense on a badge-sized detector for Marines to wear in order to detect dangerous chemicals. They also have contracts with the Department of Energy for a carbon dioxide detector and the National Science Foundation for a toxic mold detector, both of which have potential home and business use.
"Our philosophy is that the government will help fund the development of sensors for chemical warfare and then we can convert these sensors for commercial use, such as with pesticides," Misna said.
Misna has been invited to be a panel member at the Security Summit national meeting which will take place in San Diego later this year. The company has also garnered the attention of the Department of Justice. Louis Haerle, vice president, recently spent time in North Carolina with department officials, discussing commercialization of the sensors. For more information about Seacoast Science, Inc., visit www.seacoastscience.com.