Federal Cooperative Agreement Summary

Refiberd Inc. received a $1.248 million Cooperative Agreement award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP) program (CFDA 47.084) on June 15, 2026, for an SBIR Phase II project focused on developing automated textile sorting systems. The award supports the development of an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven solution that combines hyperspectral and red-green-blue imaging with multimodal machine learning to classify textiles and predict their resale potential or suitability as secondary raw materials. The integrated AI model will perform three core functions: brand identification, textile quality assessment, and material identification—enabling automated routing decisions for garments toward resale, recycling, or other end-uses. The project addresses the technical challenge of detecting contaminants and defects in small quantities within heterogeneous textile streams, a capability currently difficult to achieve at scale.

The project, with a performance location in Cupertino, California and completion deadline of May 31, 2028, directly advances the circular economy by increasing the efficiency of textile sorting operations. By automating manual inspection processes, the technology aims to increase the volume of discarded textiles that can be processed, reduce the loss of valuable garments, and support job quality improvements in sorting facilities through technology-assisted operations. This initiative aligns with national priorities regarding resource efficiency and domestic manufacturing while addressing a significant commercial and environmental challenge in the textile waste management sector.