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Orlando , FL. --- OptiGrate
(formerly Light Processing & Technologies, Inc), a UCF Technology
Incubator client, was recently has been awarded a two-year Phase
II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the U.S.
Dept. of Defense, Missile Defense Agency (MDA). The grant is to
advance the development of optical components utilizing the company's
proprietary technologies involving photo-thermo-reactive (PTR)
glass and holographic recording for the manufacture of volume Bragg
gratings.
This grant follows the successful completion of a Phase I SBIR
and represents the second Phase II SBIR grant awarded to the company
this year totaling $1.5 million in new funding. In April the company
was awarded a Phase II S mall Business Technology Transfer (STTR)
grant sponsored by DARPA and issued by the U.S. Army Aviation and
Missile Division.
Dr. Jean Luc Nogues, President and Chief Executive Officer at
OptiGrate, said "We are beginning to see some fruits from the recent
re-launch of the company earlier this year, and we are excited
about the prospects this technology offers. We believe the award
of these two grants is further evidence that we are at the leading
edge of an exciting new technology."
In early 2004 the company reorganized, changed its name and launched
its new web site to better reflect the products the company develops
and produces. Additional information about the company can be obtained
at www.OptiGrate.com.
OptiGrate designs and manufactures a large variety of volume diffractive
gratings for both commercial and defense applications. The company
also develops custom prototypes of various diffractive optical
components for many optical and semiconductor companies. OptiGrate
manufactures volume diffractive gratings in both reflecting and
transmitting geometries with efficiency exceeding 97%.
OptiGrate's technology was initially developed by researchers
led by Dr. Leon Glebov at the Center for Research and Education
on Optics and Lasers (CREOL) at the University of Central Florida
(UCF) with the goal of commercializing high-efficiency holographic
elements, commonly named volume Bragg gratings. OptiGrate entered
into an exclusive license with UCF for the basic technology of
hologram recording in a photosensitive glass. This technology is
protected by several issued and pending patents.
In early 2004 the company reorganized, changed its name and launched
a new web site to better reflect the products the company develops
and produces. Additional information about the company can be obtained
at www.OptiGrate.com.
OptiGrate is a member of the University of Central Florida Technology
Incubator. Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Technology Incubator
has helped more than 870 emerging technology companies create
over $1500 million in revenue and more than 450-600 new jobs
with an average salary of $59,000. As a result of this success,
the UCF Technology Incubator was recently named the 2004 Technology
Incubator of the Year by the National Business Incubation Association.
Headquartered in Research Park near the University, the Incubator
is a true collaboration in economic development between UCF, Orange
County, the City of Orlando, and the Florida High Tech Corridor
Council and the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission.
For more information, please visit http://www.incubator.ucf.edu or
contact Tom O'Neal or Carol Ann Dykes, UCF Technology Incubator,
407.882.0202.
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For more information about OptiGrate , contact:
Dr. Jean-Luc Nogues, President and CEO, JLNogues@OptiGrate.com,
321.297.1836
Todd Childress, Chief Financial Officer, Tchildress@OptiGrate.com,
321.297.1984
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