The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) announced last month that it will fund 49 new Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) research and development projects across 23 states, totaling nearly $53.4 million in funding.
Among the projects is Algenesis Materials, a California company that is is developing biodegradable polymers made from algae. They will produce products that meet commercial specifications and meet new sustainability standards. The DOE’s press release has more details.
Polymers and other advanced materials made from algae will be a topic of one of the virtual sessions at the 2020 Algae Biomass Summit. On Tuesday, August 18 the session titled Algae Based Polymers will feature leaders in commercialization of algae-based polymers as well as from researchers from national labs who are developing technologies to accelerate the expansion of acceptability of these polymers into various applications, including foams, resins, adhesives and coatings.