SciK9, LLC Awarded Booz Allen Foundation Innovation Fund Grant
“Putting a Dog in the COVID-19 Fight” selected to receive funding for innovative solution to pressing issue caused by COVID-19 pandemic
Bear, Delaware, September 28, 2020: The Booz Allen Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to convening diverse stakeholders to solve challenging social issues, today announced the recipients of nearly $1 million in grants from the Booz Allen Foundation Innovation Fund.
SciK9, LLC was selected to receive a grant for its innovative project – “Putting a Dog in the COVID-19 Fight”. A project aimed at supporting the U.S. Army and University of Pennsylvania with their COVID-19 detection dog study by supplying the containment and odor delivery systems, called TADDs (training aid delivery devices) that enable the safe training of dogs on potentially hazardous patient samples.
Established to support the development of creative solutions that address the wide-ranging impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Booz Allen Foundation Innovation Fund was open to individuals, nonprofit organizations and eligible small businesses to apply from April 30 to June 5, 2020. Nearly 3,000 applications were submitted, coming from all 50 states, four U.S. territories and Washington, D.C.
The 21 winners—including SciK9 —selected to receive grant funding are each working to develop new solutions, systems, technology and approaches that help build lasting community resilience by protecting vulnerable populations and frontline workers or support the safe return to work.
Innovation Fund grant applications were reviewed by over 150 individuals during a multi-tiered evaluation process. From 3,000 applications, 30 semi-finalists were selected to virtually pitch their projects to a team of external evaluators with backgrounds in innovation, grant making and entrepreneurship. The 21 winning teams were then evaluated and approved by the Booz Allen Foundation Board.
For more information on SciK9 and the COVID-19 Detection Dog Project visit: www.SciK9.com
For a full list of Booz Allen Foundation Innovation Fund winners, visit https://boozallenfoundation.org/innovationfund/
About SciK9
SciK9 was formed in 2020 with the goal of providing a safe training aid delivery device (TADD) to the canine community for reliable training and detection purposes.
About The Booz Allen Foundation
The Booz Allen Foundation was formed in 2017 as an independent 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. It serves as a convener of diverse stakeholders from the private, public, academic, and social sectors to solve challenging social issues through innovation and technology and build community resilience from the ground up. For more information visit https://boozallenfoundation.org.
PRESS CONTACTS
Dr. Jorge Maciel, jem.scik9@gmail.com
Booz Allen Foundation Innovation Fund
Amanda Allison-Martini, Allison_Amanda@bah.com