GOLDEN, Colo., Dec. 20, 2013 – Gov. John Hickenlooper and the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade announced Colorado School of Mines is among the grantees in the first round of awards by the Advanced Industries Accelerator Grant Program.
Proof-of-Concept grants are open to Colorado research universities, federal labs located in Colorado and other private, nonprofit and for-profit labs with valid technology transfer offices. Proof-of-Concept grants are for pre-commercialization research and commercialization preparation.
Mines received two such grants:
- Multi-functional coatings to enable advanced optoelectronics: $150,000. Chemical and Biological Engineering Professor Colin Wolden is working to develop low cost solutions to produce low-e coatings, transparent electrical conductors, optical coatings and moisture barriers on polymer substrates. Successful processes developed at the batch scale at Mines will be transferred to ITN Energy Systems for scale up and further commercialization.
- Develop advanced rail steels for use in heavy haul applications: $150,000. Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Research Assistant Professor Emmanuel De Moor will develop advanced rail steels containing copper with enhanced head hardness and wear resistance for use in heavy haul applications. Industrial material with varying copper alloying levels has been produced by EVRAZ Pueblo. Grant funds will be used for a test plan to study these materials in detail and evaluate the strength, hardness, fracture toughness, fatigue crack growth rate, microstructure and wear performance of the as-produced material.
Advanced industries are prime drivers of the U.S. and Colorado economy, comprised of engineering and R&D intensive companies that deliver products and services in industries ranging from aerospace to medical devices. Colorado’s advanced industry strategy was developed as part of the Colorado Blueprint launched in 2011.
“The growth in advanced industries in Colorado is adding jobs and having statewide impact on our economy,” Hickenlooper said. “Today’s grant announcement demonstrates the state’s continued support of innovation and growth in these sectors.”
For more information on other awardees, see the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade website.
Contact:
Karen Gilbert, Director of Public Relations, Colorado School of Mines / 303-273-3541 / kgilbert@mines.edu
Kathleen Morton, Communications Coordinator, Colorado School of Mines / 303-273-3088 / kmorton@mines.edu