To further develop S²-Chip technology for improved radar systems, Scientific Materials Corp. of Bozeman, Mont., has received a one-year contract worth $1,531,000 from the US Army Space and Missile Defense Command in Huntsville, Ala. The S²-Chip processes high-bandwidth radio-frequency analog signals generated in radar systems into low-bandwidth signals that can be analyzed by conventional digital processing systems. The technology results from 20 years of research at Montana State University's Spectrum Lab in Bozeman, supported by the company.

This Phase III Small Business Innovation Research project is a progression of the company's work on improved materials for optical memories with the Missile Defense Agency. With the contract are options to fund the development of the technology over five years, with the amount of total funding possibly rising to $16 million.