LANSING Pixel Velocity, an Ann Arbor company that has developed 3D facial scanning technology that could be used to screen for bad guys at the nations airports, was one of 22 applicants that split $24 million handed out this week by the Michigan Technology Tri-Corridor- a state effort to grow the Life Sciences, Homeland Security and Automotive Technology sectors in Michigan. Some 131 projects were considered.
Pixel Velocity Chief Technology Officer David McCubbrey said the $775,000 his company will get will be used to develop the marketing prototype of its three-year old 3D imaging technology and to hire a couple of engineers.
We won in the Homeland Security sector, McCubbrey said. Our technology provides an instant 3D information from a persons face. It can be used by law enforcement and security professionals to look for terrorists and criminals.
SensiGen Corporation is this years largest single award winner. The Ann Arbor early-stage company was awarded $2.6 million to develop a diagnostic test kit that will detect chronic kidney disease and the likelihood of future kidney failure.
The smallest amount, $240,000 went to Wayne State Universitys Tech Town to help the university incubator help develop all three of the states technology priorities.
This years awards are the first to include funding in all three categories. In previous years, just Life Sciences projects received funding.
The Technology Tri-Corridor is advancing Michigans economy by creating new job opportunities for Michigan workers, Granholm said. The Steering Committees selections represent the most promising scientific research and technology-based productsall being developed right here in Michigan.
The Governors announcement followed a meeting of the Tri-Corridor Steering Committee, which reviewed independent evaluations and funding recommendations made by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Professionals from the AAAS, the worlds largest association of scientists and engineers, reviewed the original 131 proposals submitted and narrowed the field to 53. The finalists recently participated in a formal interview process which served as the basis for funding recommendations to the Tri-Corridor Steering Committee.
The proposals approved today are characteristic of Michigans entrepreneurial talent and technical savvy, said MEDC CEO Don Jakeway. By nurturing research and commercialization through the Tech Tri-Corridor, Michigan will continue to set the pace of technological innovation for the global economy of the 21st century.
Projects spun out of the states universities and research think tanks won 15 of the 22 awards. Michigan State-based companies won four, Wayne State, University of Michigan and the Van Andel Institute, three each, and Michigan Tech two.
