Washington, DC - The U.S. Department of Defense has selected SoarTech, a company in Michigan’s 15th Congressional District, for an Army Achievement Award which recognizes exceptional Army Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase II projects. Dr. Thomas H. Killion, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Research and Technology/Chief Scientist, officiated the awards ceremony.
Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) recognized SoarTech for this award. The project, known as “Enhancing Computer Generated Forces for Air Traffic Control Interaction,” was among the 11 projects selected out of 471 eligible to compete. The Army bases its award selection on the following criteria: originality and innovation of research, relevance of the research to the Army mission, immediate commercialization potential of the research, and overall quality performance of the project.
Said Congressman Dingell, “SoarTech, a spin-off company from University of Michigan’s Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, has been a success since its founding in 1998. This award shows SoarTech can persevere through even the most difficult of economic times and turn modest federal funding into a product ready for commercialization. I’d like to congratulate SoarTech for this achievement and wish it continued success.”
Micahel Van Lent President, CEO, and Chief Scientist of SoarTech said, “SoarTech is honored to receive this award and the recognition that accompanies it. We place a strong emphasis on technology transition and the SBIR program is a great way to achieve this goal. Projects like this complete the technology incubation pipeline that originates at universities like the University of Michigan and ends with a benefit to today's warfighters.”
Congress established the SBIR program in 1982 to enhance the participation of innovative small business research and development (R&D) within major federal agencies, including the Department of Defense. Federal agencies are required to set aside a portion of their budget for their SBIR programs. The SBIR program awards companies on a competitive basis through a three phase process. Phase II funding is provided for the company’s principal R&D work.
