The Department of Defense (DoD) has awarded SiO2 Materials Science a potential $143 million contract to increase the production of a patented technology designed to store vaccines and treatments for SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
SiO2 said Monday that its packaging platform uses a microscopic pure-glass coating and a plastic container intended for biologic medicines. The company looks to add 200 employees to its current workforce of more than 200 engineering, scientific and technical professionals who support operations at a manufacturing facility in Auburn, Ala.
Research teams from University of California, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard and University of California helped SiO2 develop advanced materials over the past decade. Law firm Jones Walker facilitated the packaging technology developer’s funding application.
