Wichita State University's Center for Innovation and Enterprise Engagement (CIEE) has awarded a development grant to Nitride Solutions, a Wichita company that is developing and producing aluminum nitride substrates that will enable the next generation of solid-state power electronics for hybrid vehicles, ultraviolet light-emitting diodes for air and water purification, and ultraviolet laser diodes for high-capacity Blu-Ray DVD players.

Nitride will work with Wichita State faculty on conducting the critical analysis of the atomic makeup of the new product as well as acquiring updated market information critical for accelerated development.

The technology was selected by the center's board of directors after a rigorous competition and evaluation by technical experts.

Over the past 13 months the center has awarded 11 local enterprises and two faculty innovators technology development funds. The innovations were chosen because of their unique ideas, potential for commercialization and likely impact on the region's economy and workforce. Grants range in value from $20,000 to $50,000 for up to year-long product and process development.

In September 2011, CIEE won a $2 million federal economic development grant to accelerate the transfer of cutting-edge technologies within Wichita State and the surrounding community. The grant is part of the Obama administration's $37 million Jobs and Innovation Challenge that awarded WSU and 19 other applicants.

Wichita State is using the grant to focus on bringing innovative advanced manufacturing products and processes from the laboratory to the factory floor.