Platypus wins contract from Department of Defense

Platypus Technologies, developers of products for the analytical and life sciences that utilize recent advances in nanotechnology and materials science, has been awarded a $2.2 Million federal contract with the Edgewood Chemical and Biological Center in Maryland. This one-year funded project will expand on the work performed by Platypus Technologies under a contract with Edgewood that was completed earlier this year. According to Dr. Richard Schifreen, CEO, “We are pleased to be able to continue our work in developing sensor technology that will assist our military. This funding will significantly improve our ability to develop liquid crystal-based sensors and will enable us to accelerate commercialization of these sensors for both military and commercial applications.”

At the company’s request, Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) secured funds for the project in the U.S. Department of Defense Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2009. “Platypus’s sensor technology development will not only help protect our troops in the field, but will create jobs and boost the local economy here in Wisconsin. This is a project worthy of federal support,” Baldwin said.

Platypus Technologies has received over $20 million in federal funding to develop LC-based nanotechnology products for environmental monitoring, infectious disease testing and homeland security, and assays for the study of cell motility.