Hummingbird Scientific has received a Tibbetts Award from the Small Business Administration (SBA) for the development of a commercially available system for nanoscale imaging of materials in controlled fluid environments inside the transmission electron microscope (see: Liquid Flow Holder,Atmospheric Gas Flow Holder). SBA presents the awards to companies and individuals that have advanced technological innovation and economic growth.

“Some of the most important scientific questions in the fields of chemistry, nanoscience, bioscience and materials science revolve around high resolution imaging of materials. The technique developed in this project will allow these materials to be studied at high resolution in their native environment inside the TEM,” said Norman Salmon, president of Hummingbird Scientific. “The technology that has resulted from this project is transformative and will have substantial impact potential across these scientific fields.

“Hummingbird Scientific’s Tibbetts Award recognizes the company’s work providing new ways in which materials can be characterized at high magnifications inside the TEM. Their systems are expected to be a core technology for enabling a range of scientific advances, from developing efficient batteries and other energy storage devices, studying the structure of biological materials, to targeting cancer cells.

“Hummingbird Scientific is pleased to win this prestigious award, we are very proud of all our people and the efforts they have made to build a successful company,” continued Salmon. “The SBIR and STTR program has been extremely valuable to our growth. We would also like to recognize our local SBA office and the Thurston County Economic Development Council (EDC), as well as the Washington Technology Center (WTC) who all have been instrumental in our development.”

Daan Hein Alsem, Hummingbird Scientific’s director of research, accepted the award at a ceremony this morning in Washington, DC. Afterward, they met with SBA Administrator, Karen Mills, and attended a reception at the White House.