UNH Today

Christopher Dundorf, president of 2KR Systems, LLC, of Rochester, N.H.

Leveraging training and seed funding from UNHInnovation, a local company has secured a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to develop low-cost sensors to protect buildings from structural damage.

2KR Systems of Rochester received a microgrant through UNHInnovation’s  FOSTER (Focused SBIR/STTR Teaching, Equity and Results) program that helped them win a $256,000 NSF Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant. With the funding, 2KR will develop a first-of-its-kind, low-cost network of durable wireless sensors to detect environmental-driven loads —snow, wind and flooding — on roofs and vibrations that can lead to structural damage.  Sensors mount externally on buildings and other structures and wirelessly send data to the Internet and smart devices.

“Our technology has the societal benefit of keeping people safer, protecting property from damage, preserving natural resources, and saving money,” says Christopher Dundorf, president of 2KR Systems, LLC. “We are grateful to UNHI and the FOSTER program for their assistance which materially helped us win this award.”

The FOSTER program is funded through the US Small Business Administration’s Federal and State Technology Partnership program, which seeks to help New Hampshire small businesses receive grant funding for leading-edge research important to the nation. FOSTER offers New Hampshire businesses a variety of free services including grant identification, training, advice and proposal support through a microgrant award.

“We are thrilled to learn of another FOSTER graduate being awarded an SBIR grant and look forward to the continuing success of 2KR Systems,” says Marc Eichenberger, FOSTER project director and interim director of UNHInnovation.

Small businesses in New Hampshire seeking capital to develop and build their products can learn more about the FOSTER program and SBIR/STTR resources here.