3960IF2404
Project Grant
Overview
Grant Description
Purpose: Battelle will support the Innovation Funds objectives by delivering an interoperable Open RAN radio unit (O-RU) that provides improved performance through its patented aperture design while it significantly reduces total cost of ownership (TCO) through equipment consolidation.
Activities to be performed: The investment will support comprehensive interoperability testing with distributed units (DUs) from multiple vendors to ensure seamless integration into the O-RAN ecosystem, and will address critical challenges such as capacity demands, small form factor requirements, energy efficiency, 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) compliance, and security conformance.
Expected outcomes: The end result of this grant will produce a spin-out company that leverages this foothold in the market to expand and support a complete O-RU product line, mirroring the approach with Battelle's previous multibillion-dollar telecom spinout, Photon Integration Research Inc. (PIRI).
The proposed Battelle O-RU brings substantial cost savings and new capabilities to domestic and international wireless MNOs, neutral host providers, and private network operators by supporting a wide bandwidth not accommodated by existing FR1 RUs and antennas.
The cutting-edge FR1 broadband massive multiple input-multiple output (MIMO) capable RU, which incorporates a unique aperture design combined with advanced RF front-end and digital signal processing, allows operators to utilize spectrum between 600 MHz and 7 GHz efficiently in a single unit, matching the output power of existing discrete narrowband RUs.
Intended beneficiaries: Battelle O-RU will expedite the introduction of a market leading, energy-efficient RU and will also diminish infrastructure costs for mobile network operations (MNOs), neutral hosts, and private network providers, thereby promoting a more connected and efficient technological future.
Subrecipient activities: The recipient does not plan to subaward funds.
Activities to be performed: The investment will support comprehensive interoperability testing with distributed units (DUs) from multiple vendors to ensure seamless integration into the O-RAN ecosystem, and will address critical challenges such as capacity demands, small form factor requirements, energy efficiency, 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) compliance, and security conformance.
Expected outcomes: The end result of this grant will produce a spin-out company that leverages this foothold in the market to expand and support a complete O-RU product line, mirroring the approach with Battelle's previous multibillion-dollar telecom spinout, Photon Integration Research Inc. (PIRI).
The proposed Battelle O-RU brings substantial cost savings and new capabilities to domestic and international wireless MNOs, neutral host providers, and private network operators by supporting a wide bandwidth not accommodated by existing FR1 RUs and antennas.
The cutting-edge FR1 broadband massive multiple input-multiple output (MIMO) capable RU, which incorporates a unique aperture design combined with advanced RF front-end and digital signal processing, allows operators to utilize spectrum between 600 MHz and 7 GHz efficiently in a single unit, matching the output power of existing discrete narrowband RUs.
Intended beneficiaries: Battelle O-RU will expedite the introduction of a market leading, energy-efficient RU and will also diminish infrastructure costs for mobile network operations (MNOs), neutral hosts, and private network providers, thereby promoting a more connected and efficient technological future.
Subrecipient activities: The recipient does not plan to subaward funds.
Awardee
Funding Goals
TO ACCELERATE THE DEVELOPMENT, DEPLOYMENT, AND ADOPTION OF OPEN AND INTEROPERABLE RADIO ACCESS NETWORKS (RAN). IN THIS SECOND NOFO, NTIA AIMS TO ADVANCE OPEN RADIO UNIT (RU) COMMERCIALIZATION AND INNOVATION BY FUNDING ACTIVITIES THAT 1) ACCELERATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF OPEN RU PRODUCTS TO THE POINT WHERE THEY MEET CARRIER NEEDS AND ARE READY FOR COMMERCIAL TRIALS, AND 2) IMPROVE THE OVERALL PERFORMANCE AND CAPABILITIES OF OPEN RUS THROUGH TARGETED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Columbus,
Ohio
43201-2696
United States
Geographic Scope
Single Zip Code
Battelle Memorial Institute was awarded
Innovative Open RAN Radio Unit (O-RU) Cost-Efficient Wireless Networks
Project Grant 3960IF2404
worth $37,851,881
from the National Institute of Standards and Technology in January 2025 with work to be completed primarily in Columbus Ohio United States.
The grant
has a duration of 2 years and
was awarded through assistance program 11.038 Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund Grant Program – Expanding Testing and Evaluation.
$5,346,396 (12.0%) of this Project Grant was funded by non-federal sources.
The Project Grant was awarded through grant opportunity Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund Grant Program - Open Radio Commercialization and Innovation.
Status
(Ongoing)
Last Modified 12/20/24
Period of Performance
1/1/25
Start Date
12/31/26
End Date
Funding Split
$37.9M
Federal Obligation
$5.3M
Non-Federal Obligation
$43.2M
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
3960IF2404
SAI Number
3960IF2404_0
Award ID URI
EXE
Awardee Classifications
Nonprofit With 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other Than An Institution Of Higher Education)
Awarding Office
1333ND DEPT OF COMMERCE NIST
Funding Office
1331K2 DEPT OF COMMERCE NTIA
Awardee UEI
F125YU6SWK59
Awardee CAGE
79986
Performance District
OH-03
Senators
Sherrod Brown
J.D. (James) Vance
J.D. (James) Vance
Modified: 12/20/24