DETROIT – Repela Tech LLC, a Detroit-based sustainability tech startup from Wayne State University, was awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II grant totaling $993,788 for research and development on a patent-pending (WSU Tech ID 20-1601), first-of-a-kind, safe antifouling marine coating. The project, “STTR Phase II: The Next Generation of Environmentally Friendly Coatings for Marine Antifouling,” will further develop a novel non-toxic antifoulant that keeps the hulls of marine vessels clear of biofouling without the environmental harm.

Biofouling can cause major issues, such as drag, which slows down water vessels and increases fuel consumption by as much as 40%. For the global shipping industry, this increase imposes an additional annual fuel cost of $36 billion. This excess fuel consumption adds 386 million tons of CO₂ emissions to the atmosphere. The university reports that more than than 90% of antifoulants in the market today contain copper, a toxic biocide harmful to the marine ecosystem. Repela’s project will develop a competitive antifoulant that avoids harmful environmental impacts.

“The importance of this award from NSF cannot be overstated,” said Sheu-Jane Gallagher, Ph.D., co-founder of Repela Tech. “The funding will enable Repela to advance its innovative coating technology, which promises to protect the Great Lakes and other precious bodies of water and thereby contribute to a more sustainable future for all.”

The objectives of the next phase of the project is to fine tune the formulation of the novel coating to meet marine end-user performance requirements and regulatory benchmarks and to demonstrate small-batch production capabilities. The work will lead to a rigorously tested, high-performing eco-friendly antifouling solution that will be ready for the marketplace.

The company was co-founded by Zhiqiang Cao, Ph.D., professor of chemical engineering and materials science in Wayne State University’s College of Engineering, and Edward Kim, a former mentor-in-residence at the university and an angel investor. In 2019, Repela received two NSF grants – a $225,000 STTR Phase I grant, and a $50,000 I-Corps award. In 2018, Cao received an ADVANCE grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation that aided in early stage proof-of-concept research.

For more information about research at Wayne State University, visit http://www.research.wayne.edu. For more information about Repela Tech, visit www.repela.co.