Credit: Pixabay: markmags
The NIST-Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Program (N-STEP) was founded, through a partnership between NIST and TEDCO, for the purpose of providing business opportunities for NIST researchers as they transition from government to the private sector. N-STEP is able to provide funding and grants, for those who meet the qualifications, to help get NIST researchers’ and associates’ feet off the ground once they leave the federal laboratories. In order to qualify for an N-STEP grant, the following must apply:
The company has than five (5) years old; AND
The N-STEP award recipient is a U.S. start-up company founded or managed by an “Eligible N-STEP Applicant”; AND
The company has less than 16 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) employees with at least 50% of the employees in the U.S.; AND
The company has revenue that is less than $250K/company FY; AND
The company has received less than $500K in sophisticated investment; AND
The company is not owned and/or managed by any person that is a Federal employee at the time of the award.
Adam Steele was a NIST researcher who has benefitted through N-STEP, which allowed him to grow his company specializing in focused ion beam systems. The Technology Partnerships Office at NIST briefly interviewed him to get his input on his background and experience.
Background
Adam studied experimental atomic physics and received his PhD from Georgia Tech in 2008. Before coming to NIST, he was in graduate school from 2003 to 2008. Adam briefly worked in his father’s Harley Davidson dealership prior to this.
Role at NIST
Adam worked in the lab of Jabez McCelleland. He had a good research program that was developing ion source technology with industrial applications in mind. There was an ongoing collaboration with FEI Company (n ..
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