NASA picks phase two tech transfer firms

NASA has chosen 18 Small Business Technology Transfer research proposals for the second phase of an ongoing innovation research program. The agency will award contracts totaling about $11 million to 17 companies in 10 states through the program.

The program's goal is to encourage technological innovation within small businesses. The projects NASA has selected are the most promising ones to emerge from the first phase of the program, the agency said. The companies were among those selected for phase one in 2005.

NASA will award up to $600,000 over two years for each project. The companies will collaborate with research institutions as they continuing developing their technologies.

One company, Applied Sensor Research and Development Corp. of Arnold, Md., accounted for two of the projects NASA selected for the second phase.