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Air Sensor Toolbox

Air Sensor Research Grants and Challenges

Hands around EarthGrants are an important part of EPA’s research program, including those awarded by the Science To Achieve Results (STAR) program and the Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program. Prize-based Challenges are also strategies to encourage innovation from the wide community toward a specific unsolved problem.

Grants

In 2016, EPA awarded Science to Achieve Results (STAR) research grants to six organizations, entitled “Air Pollution Monitoring for Communities.” The recipients are Carnegie Mellon University, Kansas State University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Research Triangle Institute, South Coast Air Quality Management District, and University of Washington.

Related resources:  

EPA Research Grants

Air Pollution Monitoring for Communities grants summary page

Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR)

EPA collaborates with other federal institutions to develop a one-stop shop for Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) grant opportunities related to sensors. Funding opportunities from across federal agencies for sensor technology development are listed on the SBIR’s web page “Sensor Technology for the 21st Century.

Related resources:

US Government Sensor SBIR Opportunities

EPA’s Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR)

Challenges and Prizes

EPA has conducted several prize-based Challenges related to air sensors and often engages with other organizations to co-create Challenge opportunities. Challenges allow an unsolved problem to be communicated and a wide variety of "solvers" to contribute solutions. Prizes are awarded if solutions meet the Challenge criteria.

Related resources:

EPA Challenges

Winners of the Wildland Fire Sensors Challenge