By Budd McLaughlin, The Huntsville Times
HUNTSVILLE — Radiance Technologies is receiving a Tibbetts Award from the Small Business Administration today for improving technology in a defense project while keeping costs down.
The award, named for Roland Tibbetts, acknowledged as the father of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, is presented to companies and individuals that have advanced technological innovation and economic growth.
This award represents the culmination of an effort we began several years ago when we submitted Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) proposals to the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC) in the area of advanced power and energy conditioning,” said Radiance Technologies President Dr. George Clark. “We won several grants and have since made the SBIR Program a cornerstone of our business development in the expanding markets of power and energy, sensors and anti-tamper technologies.”
Dr. Frank Rose, chief technical officer of Radiance, will accept the award at a ceremony this morning in Washington, D.C., and then meet with SBA Administrator Karen Mills and attend a reception at the White House. Award winners are cited for promoting the “mission and goals of the SBIR program and Small Business Technology Transfer,” according to a news release The goals are to stimulate technological innovation; to use small business to meet federal research and development needs; to encourage diverse participation in technological innovation; and to increase commercialization of federal research.
Frank Rose, of Radiance Technologies, receives a Tibbetts Award
Radiance was honored for meeting the Department of Defense’s increasing demand for higher power, improved efficiency and more compact, low-cost components in advanced energy systems. The technology has been incorporated into impulse radar and jamming systems, vehicle/vessel disabling systems and electronic countermeasures for improvised explosive devices.
“Thanks to our SBIR success, we are … a leader in the field of advanced high-power electromagnetic systems,” said Clark, whose Huntsville-based company has won more than 60 SBIR proposals. “Participation in the SBIR program has been critical to helping us develop innovative solutions for our Army, Air Force, Navy and other government customers.”
Radiance Technologies is an employee-owned small business, providing engineering, technology development, integration, prototyping, production and operational support for the military and intelligence communities.
“This is a proud day not only for Radiance Technologies but also for the city of Huntsville,” said Sean Greene, SBA’s associate administrator for investment and senior adviser for innovation. “Companies like Radiance represent the best in American ingenuity.”