SynMatter, a company based at Space Florida’s Space Life Sciences Lab near Kennedy Space Center, is working to address the global problem of corrosion by using NASA-developed technology. Corrosion has a significant financial impact worldwide, with the National Association of Corrosion Engineers estimating its cost at $2.5 trillion due to issues like infrastructure damage and forced shutdowns.
The company’s surface coatings use smart particles that can detect and respond to environmental changes, helping to prevent both corrosion and biofouling on critical structures. SynMatter received the TechConnect National Innovation Award in 2019 for the potential impact of this technology.
Beyond corrosion protection, SynMatter is also developing smart particles for use in fertilizers, personal care items, and household cleaners. These particles are designed to make these products more efficient and environmentally friendly by reducing the amount needed.
In February 2024, SynMatter was recognized with the Synapse Innovation Award for Emerging Tech during the Synapse Summit. This achievement followed nearly ten years of work led by CEO and Chief Scientist Jun Zhang, Ph.D.
“SynMatter won the Synapse Innovation Award for Emerging Tech during Synapse Summit. It marked the culmination of nearly a decade of work and determination by a small team of chemical engineers led by CEO and Chief Scientist Jun Zhang, Ph.D.”
The startup secured a $200,000 NASA Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) award with support from The Corridor on its proposal. It also received a $1 million Phase II SBIR award from the National Science Foundation to help commercialize its products. Additional funding came from the Florida-Israel Joint Innovation Partnership’s joint fund as well as pitch competitions hosted by Florida Venture Forum and Cade Museum.
Other organizations supporting SynMatter include Cenfluence Energy + Environmental Sciences Cluster (where it is an inaugural member), FL FAST (which supported its Phase I NASA SBIR proposal), UCF I-Corps Program, Advanced Materials Processing and Analysis Center at UCF, Space Florida, Florida Venture Forum, Synapse Florida, and recognition as a Cade Prize Finalist in 2017.
