Federal Cooperative Agreement Summary

FLO Materials, Inc. received a $1.25 million Cooperative Agreement from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP) program (CFDA 47.084) awarded June 1, 2026, with completion anticipated by May 31, 2028. The company will develop and commercialize Engineered Circular Adaptive Networks (ECANs), an infinitely re-polymerizable polymer platform that enables chemical recycling of thermoset plastics—traditionally non-recyclable materials used in automotive and electronics manufacturing. Through Phase II of the Small Business Innovation Research program, FLO Materials will advance the technology from Phase I's proof-of-concept validation toward scaled manufacturing and market deployment, focusing on optimizing material performance for customer specifications and establishing production partnerships with U.S.-based contract manufacturers.

The project deliverables center on de-risking and scaling both manufacturing and chemical remanufacturing processes for the ECAN platform. Key outputs include pilot-scale depolymerization capability and optimized formulations of the covalent adaptable network polymer suitable for high-value applications including films, fibers, adhesives, composites, and elastomers. By enabling low-temperature recovery and virgin-quality resin production at reduced cost compared to conventional processing, this technology supports a closed-loop plastics economy while reducing production costs and energy consumption for manufacturers. The work will be conducted at the awardee's facility in Santa Barbara, California.