BERKM Inc., a startup co-founded by our compatriot Bahruz Mammadov, has been awarded a US National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I grant. The startup received $274,424 in grants.
In his statement about the award, Bahruz Mammadov said, "At BERKM, our goal is to reduce plastic pollution and food and beverage waste. We aim to do this with our clay-PET-based composite material, which allows us to use up to 20% less plastic per package and increases product shelf life by 5-6 times.
In addition to the funding, this grant also brings NSF credence to the technology behind the company. Again, we are proud of this remarkable event." said his words.
BERKM Inc. startup allows to save up to 20% in the production of plastic packaging with composite material. It also increases the shelf life of the stored product. The start-up founded in the USA received an investment from Caucasus Ventures. Also, the startup won an award at the BAKU ID event held last month.
All proposals submitted to the NSF SBIR/STTR program, also known as America's Seed Fund, are supported by NSF and undergo a rigorous research-based review process. Once a small business is awarded a Phase I grant, it is eligible to apply for Phase II funding and additional supplements totaling up to $2 million.
About the US National Science Foundation's Small Business Programs: The American Seed Foundation, supported by NSF, awards more than $200 million annually to startups and small businesses to turn scientific discoveries into products and services with commercial and societal impact. Startups in nearly all areas of science and technology can receive up to $2 million in research and development support, helping to de-risk the technology for commercial success.
