Udall, Heinrich Congratulate iBeam Materials on Partnership with Energy Department to Advance Clean Energy Economy

iBeam is a successful Santa Fe-based tech-transfer spinoff from Los Alamos National Lab

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich announced that iBeam Materials, Inc. of Santa Fe has been selected to partner with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Sandia National Laboratories to accelerate the transformation toward a clean energy economy. iBeam is one of 33 small businesses nationwide that will receive funding under the highly competitive Round 1 of DOE's new Small Business Vouchers (SBV) pilot. The award includes $225,000 for technical assistance to support iBeam's work to create game-changing LED products that disrupt the lighting, display and wearable electronics industries.

Udall and Heinrich have long supported partnerships with New Mexico small businesses and our national labs that bring new technologies into the marketplace and create jobs. Through the SBV program, iBeam will work with Sandia experts to further develop its technology and apply it to clean energy innovation. Technology transfer helped iBeam get off the ground in 2011 when the company spun off from Los Alamos National Lab.

"New Mexico is home to some of the brightest minds in the nation, working to build clean energy technologies that will play an important role in our nation's energy future," Udall said. "iBeam is developing solutions that have the potential to transform the LED marketplace and boost clean energy innovation. This new partnership with the Department of Energy and Sandia National Laboratories will accelerate iBeam's research and product development, creating state-of-the-art technology right here in New Mexico."

"I congratulate iBeam for its partnership with the Department of Energy and Sandia National Laboratories," Heinrich said. "Innovation and technology drive New Mexico's economy. Through this collaboration and investment, iBeam will continue to develop new LED products that will help advance our clean energy economy. This is another great example of how bringing the expertise of our national laboratories and private industry together can create good paying, private sector jobs in New Mexico."

"This is very exciting news," said Dr. Vladimir Matias, Founder and President of iBeam. "We are grateful and honored to obtain the new funding from the Department of Energy, Office of EERE, and for support from our colleagues at Sandia. iBeam is at the forefront of a breakthrough with new light emitting technology. We are eager to get this SBV project going."