Boston Engineering Receives $500,000 MassVentures Grant to Commercialize its Biologically Inspired Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs)
"Our vehicle solutions are addressing the need to keep people working in maritime environments out of harm's way and to enhance underwater security, research, maintenance, and other applications"
WALTHAM, Mass., Sept. 15, 2015 -- Boston Engineering today announced the award of a $500,000 START Stage III grant from MassVentures to accelerate the commercialization of its BIOSwimmer™ and related autonomous UUV technology. START is a $3 million annual state initiative administered by MassVentures to help growing Massachusetts-based companies commercialize technologies developed under Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) contracts.
"MassVentures has been a trusted partner throughout the development of our game-changing underwater robotics, and we appreciate the continued support," said Mark Smithers, co-founder and chief technology officer of Boston Engineering. "The START program reflects the commonwealth's commitment to fostering new opportunities for businesses and its skilled workforce."
The BIOSwimmer is a biologically-inspired UUV that replicates the dynamics of a biological fish to move rapidly and accurately - and to operate in areas inaccessible by other vehicles. The highly maneuverable UUV performs operations that include inspecting ships, securing ports, and conducting infrastructure searches more rapidly, more accurately, and in more challenging areas than other underwater solutions.
"Our vehicle solutions are addressing the need to keep people working in maritime environments out of harm's way and to enhance underwater security, research, maintenance, and other applications," said Michael Rufo, director of Boston Engineering's Advanced Systems Group. "The START grant provides us with a unique opportunity to bring our UUV technology forward into homeland security, oil & gas, and other significant markets."
About MassVentures
MassVentures is a venture capital firm focused on fueling the Massachusetts innovation economy by funding early-stage, high-growth Massachusetts startups as they move from concept to commercialization. MassVentures focuses on Series A investments and considers occasional and opportunistic seed rounds. For more information, please visit http://www.mass-ventures.com.
About Boston Engineering
Boston Engineering provides product design and engineering consulting solutions that drive innovation and achieve measurable results. We manage the entire product development process from ideation to supply chain development. Certified for ISO 9001 and ISO 13485, our industry expertise includes consumer products, defense & security, medical devices, robotics, and industrial & commercial products. We are also the Northeast's largest PTC software reseller. Boston Engineering is headquartered in Waltham, Mass. with an additional office in the Advanced Technology & Manufacturing Center (ATMC) of the University of Mass. Dartmouth. Learn more at www.boston-engineering.com.
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