RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner and Science Museum of Virginia Director Dr. Walter R.T. Witschey have announced the state's Outstanding Scientists and Industrialists of 2004. Dr. Kent Murphy, the chief executive officer and founder of Luna Innovations Inc. a business development company based in Blacksburg, is one of two recipients for the Industrialist award this year. This honor is given to on a business or industry for distinct contributions made to advancing business development through the innovative use of science or technology.
Luna Innovations has grown to more than 180
employees, with significant growth in the past three years. The
company is responsible for bringing to Virginia more than $125
million in Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) awards, venture
capital, large corporate partnerships and product revenue. Luna
is one of the top three companies in the United States for overall
SBIR awards won, helping place Virginia third in state rankings
for total dollars awarded. Research projects include work for the
Department of Defense, Department of Energy, National Science Foundation
and the National Institutes of Health.
Luna Innovations identifies significant market opportunities, builds promising
intellectual property portfolios and prototypes, and delivers them into highly
differentiated commercial applications.
Core technologies of the company reside
in fiber optic and ultrasonic sensing, integrated systems and advanced
materials.Since 2000, Luna has spun-off five new companies focusing on
the areas of manufacturing process control, nanomaterials, proteomics
and analytical instrumentation, petroleum monitoring systems and integrated
wireless sensing systems.
Murphy will be introduced to the General Assembly on Tuesday, March 2, along
with the other honorees. He will receive the Outstanding Industrialist award
at a banquet to be held at the Virginia Science Museum in Richmond on Tuesday,
March 30.
Contact:
Karin Clark, Director of Marketing and Communications
Email:
Phone: 1.540.552.5128