Mesa Quantum is Awarded Direct-to-Phase II SBIR Contract by SpaceWERX to Develop Alt-PNT Quantum Technologies
BOULDER, Colo., August 15, 2024 — Mesa Quantum announces it has been selected by SpaceWERX for a Direct-to Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant in the amount of $1.9M focused on miniaturized atomic clocks for alternative Positioning, Navigation, & Timing (PNT) to address the most pressing challenges in the Department of the Air Force (DAF).
The Air Force Research Laboratory and SpaceWERX, the innovation arm of the U.S. Space Force and a unique division within AFWERX, have partnered to streamline the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) process by accelerating the small business experience through faster proposal to award timelines, changing the pool of potential applicants by expanding opportunities to small business and eliminating bureaucratic overhead by continually implementing process improvement changes in contract execution.
The DAF began offering the Open Topic SBIR/STTR program in 2018 which expanded the range of innovations the DAF funded and now on August 1, 2024, Mesa Quantum will start its journey to create and provide innovative capabilities that will strengthen the national defense of the United States of America.
Dr. Sristy Agrawal, CEO and co-founder of Mesa Quantum, said, “We firmly believe that chip-scale quantum sensing solutions will play a pivotal role in developing robust alternatives to GPS satellites. This contract underscores our commitment to advancing cutting-edge quantum technologies that will contribute to a resilient PNT infrastructure for the nation.”
“The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Air Force, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.”
About Mesa Quantum
Mesaquantum is at the forefront of developing chip-scale quantum sensors for Alternative Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (ALT-PNT) applications. Our initial focus is on creating next-generation chip-scale atomic clocks, which promise to revolutionize precise timing in various industries including defense, data centers, space, and the growing autonomous systems market. By harnessing quantum technology at the chip level, we aim to deliver highly accurate and resilient timing solutions that can operate in GPS-denied environments, or enhance the overall capabilities of GPS.
About SpaceWERX
As the innovation arm of the U.S. Space Force and a unique division within AFWERX, SpaceWERX inspires and empowers collaboration with innovators to accelerate capabilities and shape our future in space. Headquartered in Los Angeles, SpaceWERX employs 40 military, civilian and contractor personnel executing an annual $457 million budget.
Additionally, SpaceWERX partners with Space Systems Command’s Commercial Space Office (COMSO) as a collaborative program. Since it was aligned under AFRL in Aug. 2021, SpaceWERX has executed 1106 contracts worth more than $897 million to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and drive faster technology transition to operational capability. For more information, visit spacewerx.us.
About AFWERX
As the innovation arm of the DAF and a directorate within the Air Force Research Laboratory, AFWERX brings cutting-edge American ingenuity from small businesses and start-ups to address the most pressing challenges of the DAF. AFWERX employs approximately 370 military, civilian and contractor personnel at five hubs and sites executing an annual $1.4 billion budget.
Since 2019, AFWERX has executed 6,200 new contracts worth more than $4.7 billion to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and drive faster technology transition to operational capability. For more information, visit: www.afwerx.com.
About AFRL
The Air Force Research Laboratory is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space and cyberspace force.
With a workforce of more than 12,500 across nine technology areas and 40 other operations across the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development. For more information, visit afresearchlab.com.
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