Biofouling is a critical challenge in oceanographic monitoring, degrading sensor accuracy, increasing operational costs, and shortening deployment intervals

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awarded Bluesonde Technologies Inc. $190,000 on September 1, 2026, under the NOAA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program (CFDA 11.021) to develop a UV-C light-emitting diode antifouling system for oceanographic monitoring sensors.

The Phase I project focuses on laboratory-based research and development to investigate the efficacy of a novel UV-based antifouling design under controlled conditions. Biofouling degrades sensor accuracy, increases operational costs, and shortens deployment intervals on marine monitoring platforms. Current antifouling strategies such as coatings or mechanical cleaning pose environmental risks or require frequent maintenance and do not scale effectively. The UV-C LED approach aims to reduce biofouling while achieving power efficiency, maintaining low cost, and ensuring effective performance across multi-parameter sensor systems suitable for scalable marine monitoring platforms. This work supports NOAA's mission to develop robust, cost-effective sensor technologies that enhance monitoring of ocean conditions impacted by climate change, including ocean warming, acidification, and deoxygenation.

Performance occurs in South Berwick, Maine, with a completion date of February 26, 2027. This Phase I award supports proof of concept under the SBIR program structure, which provides federal assistance to small business concerns for technological innovation and commercialization.

Current antifouling strategies, such as coatings or mechanical cleaning, often pose environmental risks or require frequent maintenance, making them unsuitable for scalable, modern monitoring platforms. UV-c light-emitting diodes offer a promising antifouling solution but also face several challenges, including achieving power efficiency and maintaining low cost while ensuring effective performance across multi-parameter sensor systems. Bluesonde technologies (bluesonde) is addressing these challenges with a novel UV-based system to significantly reduce biofouling on sensors integrated into scalable marine monitoring platforms. This phase i project focuses on laboratory-based research and development to investigate the efficacy of the innovative UV antifouling design under controlled conditions. This work directly aligns with noaas mission and topic 9.3 by contributing to the development of robust, cost-effective sensor technologies that enhance the monitoring of ocean conditions impacted by climate change, such as ocean warming, acidification, and deoxygenation.