Adept Materials, Inc. received a $1.24M Cooperative Agreement from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (CFDA 47.084) awarded September 15, 2025, with completion targeted for February 28, 2027. The company is developing and commercializing a novel moisture control paint and primer system designed to prevent mold growth in moisture-prone spaces, particularly residential and commercial bathrooms. The two-layer coating architecture integrates hygroscopic and thermally responsive materials that combine high-capacity moisture storage with directional vapor transport to modulate moisture dynamics and suppress mold-supportive humidity levels while protecting building assemblies from water accumulation.
The innovation addresses significant public health and economic challenges associated with indoor mold exposure, which contributes to respiratory illnesses and substantial maintenance costs. Beyond mold prevention, the coating system is designed to reduce heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system loads, thereby improving energy efficiency. The project targets a substantial market opportunity within the $60 billion global decorative coatings market, with potential to establish high-performance functionality as standard in architectural coatings. This effort aligns with NSF TIP's mission to advance applied research translation and commercialization of early-stage discoveries while strengthening domestic manufacturing competitiveness and innovation in the built environment.