The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II contract to Crystal Sonic Inc., a for-profit company based in Phoenix, Arizona. The $1,800,000 firm fixed price contract is for the development of acoustic layer separation technology for thin film lithium niobate. This research aims to reduce waste and cost in semiconductor manufacturing through sound-assisted lift-off and substrate reuse. Crystal Sonic Inc. has previously received SBIR Phase I and II contracts from NASA for similar work related to lowering the cost of space photovoltaics, as well as a grant from the National Science Foundation for acoustic semiconductor manufacturing research. The award is designated as a total small business set-aside.
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