Opportunities for technology businesses come in all shapes and sizes and, sometimes, from unexpected sources. Ozark Integrated Circuits is one of the many cutting-edge tech startups in Northwest Arkansas. Spun out of research by University of Arkansas Distinguished Professor Alan Mantooth and supported by the National Science Foundation Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), it’s among only a few companies in the nation able to create complex integrated circuits and electronic systems that can survive in extreme environments.

 

In this case, “extreme environments” means incredibly high and low temperatures — from the freezing point of gasoline (-58°F) to the melting point of aluminum (1,221°F) — along with extreme humidity, vibration, high voltage, radiation, etc. Needless to say, these bits of tech aren’t for everyday use. 

 

Indeed, Ozark Integrated Circuits has won contracts from NASA to help them develop, among other things, components for an ultraviolet imager to study the environment on Venus. 

 

NASA and the United States Air Force are tapping into Arkansas’ burgeoning tech talent, and the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) has been privileged to be part of the process.

 

Matt Francis, CEO of Ozark Integrated Circuits said, “A very important institution has been the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. They’ve been hugely helpful in making connections for us between other companies in Arkansas, helping us fit inside the ecosystem of the state.”

 

With the help of AEDC’s Technology Development Program investments and the Technology Transfer Assistance Grant Program, Ozark Integrated Circuits has acquired more than 10 Small Business Innovation Research grants. And the company’s connection to the Arkansas Research & Technology Park has helped them secure a talented workforce. 

 

To learn more about Ozark Integrated Circuit’s impressive work and their contributions to the tech industry in Arkansas, download our case study below.