ASBTDC client Ozark Integrated Circuits was honored as the first-ever Innovation Pacesetter at the 2023 Arkansas Business of the Year Awards on March 8. Chosen from a field of six finalists, the award recognizes companies remaking an old industry or charting a unique course to a new market.
Ozark IC’s win continues a streak of recent accolades for the Fayetteville-based developer of rugged systems solutions.
In December, Ozark IC took home three major awards within a week.
First, Ozark IC was named one of ten semifinalists for the Geothermal Geophone Prize from the Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO), an office of the U.S. Department of Energy. In Phase I of the three-phase competition, teams identified and developed initial concepts for high-temperature seismic sensors. As a semifinalist, Ozark IC received a $75,000 cash prize and a matching award the company will use to advance its project. The company plans to collaborate with AltaRock Energy, a geothermal exploration company, for the next phase.
An Ozark IC defense technology project placed second in the U.S. Army’s xTechManufacture Prize competition, beating out over 100 entrants. The team received $75,000 for the second-place finish, and an additional $15,000 to make its presentation as one of ten finalists. As part of the prize, the Ozark IC team was also admitted to the xTech Accelerator, which provides additional mentorship and networking opportunities within the government and commercial sectors.
Additionally, Ozark IC Founder and CEO Dr. Matt Francis was awarded the 2022 Entrepreneur Achievement Award for Leadership in Entrepreneurial Spirit from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. The award honors an IEEE member who has been instrumental in furthering entrepreneurial growth and spirit in the United States.
The three December awards came on the heels of a successful SBIR season for the Ozark IC team, including a $1.1 million Phase II award from the Department of Energy.
Since 2013, Ozark IC has engaged ASBTDC for SBIR/STTR application development services, including 1-on-1 counseling and market research support.
