Northern Technologies International Group is working with Michigan State University (MSU) to expand solutions for bioplastics packaging and technology.
According to excerpts from the article:
Northern Technologies International Corporation (Nasdaq:NTIC) announced that it has been awarded two National Science Foundation (NSF) awards — one in June 2009 as a Phase I Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant for $150,000 on Advanced PLA Materials for biobased and biodegradable products. The second last week as a Phase I SmallBusiness Innovation Research (SBIR) grant for an additional $150,000 on "Biobased coatings for corrosion protection."
These NSF grants will help NTIC develop biobased technologies for new innovative applications in the Zerust(R) and Natur-Tec(R) business areas. The research and technology development will be conducted in collaboration with Michigan State University (MSU), Lansing, MI. NTIC plans to use modified polylactic acid (PLA) chemistries and soybean oil based coatings formulations developed at MSU to expand its product portfolio with enhanced solutions for bioplastics packaging and corrosion management respectively. Phase II grants for further development and commercialization of these technologies would potentially bring in $1,000,000 in additional funding to NTIC.
Prof. Ramani Narayan, University Distinguished Professor at MSU and developer of PLA technology for Cargill Inc., will be collaborating with NTIC in this work. Prof. Narayan stated, "MSU and NTIC have worked together in the past to successfully commercialize biodegradable and biobased products. The NSF projects will reinforce stronger ties among the two organizations and serve as a classic example of university-industry symbiosis." NTIC, in particular, will benefit from the specific expertise that Prof. Narayan brings to the table in the area of bioplastics.
Read the entire article here.
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