Cooperative Agreement 2537447

Summary

Form Finding Studio LLC received a $1.25 million Cooperative Agreement from the National Science Foundation (NSF) under the Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships program (CFDA 47.084) for an SBIR Phase II project. The award, effective July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028, funds development of specialized computer-aided design (CAD) software that applies mathematical and geometric principles to enable the design and modeling of folded structures. The core deliverable is a parametric modeling framework with an underlying geometry kernel that allows users to rapidly construct folded designs while automatically managing geometric constraints to ensure structural feasibility.

The project focuses on three primary research objectives: developing data structures and design algorithms for the geometry kernel, advancing the CAD system's parametric design capabilities, and validating system usability and performance through structured user studies and beta testing with potential customers. The technology addresses a critical gap in existing CAD tools' ability to model folded structures and is designed to enhance manufacturing efficiency through 2D fabrication of 3D structures, material optimization, and reduced part counts. While the initial target market is structural packaging engineering, potential applications extend across product design, architecture, sheet metal fabrication, medical devices, aerospace, and education sectors.