The Washington Technology Center just announced eight recipients of $561,971 in research and development grants.

Every year the state-backed organization awards $1 million for applied research projects with the potential for long-term economic benefits to the state.

Recipients in January, pulled from the release:

Applied Precision, an Issaquah manufacturer of biomedical imaging systems, is collaborating with the University of Washington's School of Medicine to commercialize a microfluidic imaging technology for biomedical applications. UW will receive $95,215 in Phase I research and technology development funding from Washington Technology Center and $22,500 from Applied Precision for the project.

ATS, a Silverdale provider of intelligent search software and services, is working with Washington State University's School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science to develop data merging algorithms. WSU will receive $50,000 in Phase II research and technology development funding from Washington Technology Center and $17,500 from ATS for the project.

Boeing Research & Technology group and HEATCON Composite Systems, a Seattle composite repair equipment supplier, are collaborating with the UW's Mechanical Engineering Department to improve the efficiency of composite-structural repairs. UW will receive $75,190 in Phase I research and technology development funding from Washington Technology Center and $20,000 from Boeing for the project.

Enertechnix, a Maple Valley manufacturer of high-temperature imaging systems, is collaborating with the UW's Department of Electrical Engineering to develop algorithms to control the cleaning of heat-transfer surfaces in industrial processes. UW will receive $100,000 in Phase I research and technology development funding from Washington Technology Center and $20,000 from Enertechnix for the project.

GeoMonkey (doing business as MapWith.Us), a Vancouver developer of mapping software, is collaborating with WSU Vancouver's School of Engineering and Computer Science to develop a framework for publishing geo-spatial data generated from consumer mobile communication devices. WSU Vancouver will receive $35,582 in Phase I research and technology development funding from Washington Technology Center and $8,092 from GeoMonkey for the project.

Greenwood Technologies is a renewable heating solutions company headquartered in Bellevue that manufactures high efficiency wood and biomass boilers for residential and commercial applications. The company is collaborating with the UW's Department of Mechanical Engineering to enhance the capabilities of one of the company's wood-fired hydronic furnaces. UW will receive $76,536 in Phase III research and technology development funding from Washington Technology Center and $27,383 from Greenwood Technologies for the project.

Omeros, a Seattle biopharmaceutical, is working with the UW's Department of Bioengineering to develop a new drug delivery platform for applications in medical imaging and cancer therapy. UW will receive $99,274 in Phase II research and technology development funding from Washington Technology Center and $34,746 from Omeros on for the project.

Theo Chocolate, a Seattle manufacturer of artisan chocolates and confections, is collaborating with the UW's Department of Chemistry to develop food-safety and quality-analysis technology. UW will receive $30,000 in Phase I research and technology development funding from Washington Technology Center and $6,000 from Theo Chocolate for the project.

Proposals for the next round of funding are due April 23.