iSciences Secures Funding Award from NASA

aerospace manufacturing

iSciences LLC has secured funding from NASA for a 3-year project: Sustaining the Geospatial Data Abstraction Library.

NASA recently awarded $15.6 million in grant funding to 15 different projects in an effort to support the maintenance of open-source tools, frameworks, and libraries used by the NASA science community, for the benefit of all.

The grants are funded by NASA’s Office of the Chief Science Data Officer through the agency’s Research Opportunities for Space and Earth Science. 

iSciences has made a name for itself, monitoring freshwater resources and forecasts with a proprietary Water Security Indicator Model. The company secured funding from NASA’s Sustainment Awards category. The funding will support the company as they strive to support and sustain a geospatial data abstraction library – a tool essential to evidence0based analysis.

Are you developing new technology for an existing application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is one of the U.S.’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firms. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program, from claim preparation and audit compliance to claim disputes.

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPAs. For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

BioLabs and UVM to Open New R&D Incubator

biopharma

The University of Vermont (UVM) and Cambridge-based BioInnovation Labs (BioLabs) have announced plans to launch a dedicated incubator at UVM’s Colchester facility.

The partnership will provide a space to support entrepreneurs and start-up companies specializing in all areas of life sciences R&D with fully equipped combination office and laboratory space. 

Through this strategic partnership, UVM will oversee the new facility and provide technology, equipment, and direct collaboration with faculty at The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at the University of Vermont. The college includes nearly 200 research faculty and over 700 clinical faculty who practice in the UVM Health Network. BioLabs will support UVM with facility operations, access to industry partners, and networking and programming events.

Currently, BioLabs partners with an elite group of universities, pharma companies, and other engaged stakeholders worldwide. The UVM-BioLabs partnership reinforces the university’s steadfast commitment to research, education, and innovation. Additionally, UVM is the first rural university to join the BioLabs ecosystem.

Although the Center is expected to open in late 2025, the BioLabs Innovation Center at UVM will begin accepting applications and hosting tours in the coming months.

Are you developing new technology for an existing application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is one of the U.S.’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firms. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program, from claim preparation and audit compliance to claim disputes.

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPAs. For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

Benchmark Space Systems to Expand Internationally

tablet-791050_1920

Vermont’s own Benchmark Space Systems has announced their plans to expand globally, opening a new location in England. While growing internationally, the company intends to continue to grow its business in Vermont.

The company makes products that propel small satellites in space using hydrogen peroxide. This solution provides a cleaner satellite propellant as compared to industry alternatives. They intend to develop solutions that target pain points in propulsion systems. While their non-toxic propellants tackle a major pain point, the company has also tackled thrusters, propellant tanks, modular control electronics, and intelligent GNC integration frameworks. Combined, they have developed a plug-and-play solution customizable to mission objectives.

The new location will support the scale up of their manufacturing in order to meet industry demand. Along with this new location, the company has signed a contract with UK startup Space Forge and plans to add more to the list.

“We’re engaged with a handful of companies, nothing that I can announce officially today,” he said. “But we do have some new contracts that will be coming up here shortly that hopefully we’ll be able to announce by the end of the summer.”

The company has experienced rapid growth since their founding in 2017. In 2021, the company built three propulsion systems. They are on track to build 7 in 2022 and expect to build 80 in 2023. While the international expansion will help with this, the company is also doubling the space of their Vermont operations.

Benchmark has also had support from the federal level. In the past three years, the company has received over $2.8 million in federal contracts and grants from both NASA and the Department of Defense, as well as a $200,000 loan from the Paycheck Protection Loan Program (PPP) in April 2020.

Are you developing new technology for an existing application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is one of the U.S.’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firms. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program, from claim preparation and audit compliance to claim disputes.

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPAs. For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

UVM to Research Seaweed for Organic Dairy Cows

cows-203460_1920

The University of Vermont’s (UVM) Sabrina Greenwood will head a multi-institutional research team. Her team at the Greenwood Lab have been awarded $2.9 million to explore the potential animal health, environmental and economic benefits of seaweed as a feed alternative for organic dairy cows. The grant comes from the USDA’s newly funded Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative projects to help improve yields, milk quality and profitability for organic farmers and producers.

We’ve seen a rise in demand for organic milk recently and along with this rise in demand, instability in pricing. This has put a heavy strain on the organic dairy community. In addition, farmers have voiced concerns and struggles with climate change and a rise in demand to reduce the industry’s environmental footprint. Greenwood and her team think seaweed could be a key solution to some of these problems. 

Seaweed is a nutritious alternative to traditional feed supplements which are made with corn and soybean. Seaweed also has the ability to reduce cow’s methane emissions. It can also be sustainable grown and offer benefits to soil health through altered manure profiles as the cows eat the seaweed.

“Teaming up with the aquaculture industry may be a perfect pairing to address organic farm sustainability and production efficiency in organic dairy,” said Greenwood, associate professor in the Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences and the project director. “We are looking to holistically characterize the opportunities for organic seaweed to provide not only a more sustainable feed option, but one that could boost milk productivity and animal health without compromising natural resources.”

There are many different seaweed species, each with unique nutritional profiles and most which have not been studied. While kelp meal – a common brown seaweed – has become popular among organic farmers, other species may offer better benefits for cow health and milk productivity. 

The team at UVM will spend the next four years working with Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, the University of New Hampshire, and Syracuse University to explore the nutrient profile of various seaweed species, processing methods, and their impact on animal health, milk quality, and environmental impact.

Are you developing new software for an existing application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is one of the U.S.’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firms. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program, from claim preparation and audit compliance to claim disputes.

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPAs. For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

Burlington Residents Can Receive Rebates of Up to $8,700 on Electric Vehicles

electric car, power generator

WalletHub has named Vermont as America’s Greenest State for 2017 based on environmental quality, eco-friendly behaviors and climate-change contributions. The environmentally-conscious state has committed to producing 90% of its electricity from renewables as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by the year 2050.

Reducing the reliance on fossil-fueled travel will have a significant impact on this goal, as transportation makes up 47% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the state. Each vehicle produces around three and a half tons of carbon dioxide each year.

In an attempt to reduce emissions and make Burlington a “net zero energy city,” Burlington Electric have organized an electric vehicle incentive program. Burlington residents and businesses will receive a $1,200 rebate on the purchase or lease of a new electric-only vehicle valued at under $50,000 (plug-in and conventional hybrids do not qualify for the rebate.)

Darren Springer, Manager of Strategy and Innovation at Burlington Electric, said that the offer can be used along with federal tax incentives of up to $7,500. These incentives make the price comparable to a conventional fossil-fueled vehicle for those looking to buy a new car. Burlington Electric is working towards having the rebate applied automatically when a new electric car is purchased, rather than having to fill in extra paperwork. They expect that the rebate will help to pay for 240 electric vehicles over the next four years.

The city of Burlington currently produces 100% of its energy from renewable sources. 41% of its power comes from a biomass plant that turns organic waste into electricity, 25% is from hydroelectric plants and 34% comes from solar and wind farms.

A range of incentives are available for businesses undertaking renewable energy projects. One of these is the federal research and development (R&D) tax credit, which aims to assist companies who are developing newer and more efficient products and services. Get in touch with us at Swanson Reed R&D tax advisors to find out more.