Qdir, Inc.

Qdir, Inc. is a Chicago-based small disadvantaged business and for-profit technology company specializing in advanced infrared imaging and quantum dot detection systems. The company has established itself as a specialized developer of innovative sensor technologies, particularly long-wave infrared imaging solutions utilizing mercury telluride colloidal quantum dots for defense and commercial applications. Since its registration in the System for Award Management in June 2020, Qdir has built a robust track record of securing federal research contracts and grants from defense agencies and research institutions, positioning itself as a key innovator in next-generation thermal imaging capabilities.

Through federal contract awards, Qdir, Inc. has performed extensive research and development work focused on infrared imaging technologies with reduced size, weight, power, and cost characteristics. The company has received multiple Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I and Phase II awards totaling approximately $3.85 million across its federal contract portfolio. Key contracts include a $1.999 million cost-plus-fixed-fee SBIR Phase II award from the Office of Naval Research (awarded September 2025, completion deadline September 2027) for advanced infrared imaging and quantum dot detection systems; a $1.495 million firm fixed-price SBIR Phase II contract from the Army's Research, Development and Engineering Command (awarded March 2023, completed June 2026) for developing low-cost, large-format long-wave infrared imaging systems using mercury telluride colloidal quantum dots; a $109,521 firm fixed-price STTR Phase I purchase order from the Air Force Research Laboratory (awarded June 2024, completed August 2024) for reduced size, weight, power, and cost infrared thermal imaging solutions for drone operations; a $171,482.87 firm fixed-price SBIR Phase I contract from the Army's Research, Development and Engineering Command (awarded September 2022, completed April 2023) for advancing quantum dot technology for high-performance infrared photodetection; and a $74,646 firm fixed-price SBIR Phase I purchase order from the Air Force Research Laboratory (awarded January 2025, completion date April 2025) for room temperature, low swap-cost infrared development for collaborative combat aircraft. All contracts have carried total small business set-aside designations, reflecting Qdir's status as a certified small business.

Through federal grant awards, Qdir, Inc. has received support from the National Science Foundation for quantum dot imaging sensor development. The company was awarded a $256,000 Project Grant from the NSF Division of Industrial Innovation under the Engineering federal grant program (CFDA 47.041) from June 2021 to November 2021 to develop Colloidal Quantum Dot Image Sensors for Low-Cost Short-Wave Infrared Imaging. This grant award supported the company's efforts to leverage quantum dot technology to produce more affordable image sensors capable of short-wave infrared detection, with potential applications in areas such as agricultural inspection and medical imaging. The grant represented an important mechanism through which Qdir could advance its quantum dot technology platform beyond defense applications toward broader commercial market opportunities.