City Labs Awards

2026

• Award Type: Contract
• Agency: DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency)
• Description: City Labs has announced it has been awarded a $1.5 million contract by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) under the Rads to Watts (R2W) program. The funding will support the development of a new class of high-power radiovoltaic energy systems.

2024

Leadless Pacemaker Betavoltaic Power Source

• Award Type: SBIR Commercialization Readiness Pilot
• Agency: Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• Description: This award supports the development of City Labs’ implantable betavoltaic battery for use in leadless pacemakers. The award will accelerate process development and scaling, positioning the battery for pre-clinical testing. By advancing nuclear-powered pacing technology, City Labs aims to improve patient outcomes by reducing reintervention rates and expanding the use of leadless pacemakers in broader clinical applications.

• Award Type: SBIR Phase II
• Agency: Department of Defense, Air Force
• Description: This award supports the development of an advanced radioisotope-powered ion engine for small satellites. Building on a successful proof-of-concept, this Phase II award addresses critical propulsion challenges and aims to produce an operational engine capable of supporting missions for over five years.

• Award Type: NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts Phase I
• Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
• Description: This award supports the development of nuclear-micropowered probes (NMPs) using tritium betavoltaic sources for in-situ analyses across the Moon’s south pole. These probes will be deployed in permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) to conduct scientific measurements to characterize the presence and distribution of water and other volatiles, enhancing our understanding of the lunar environment and supporting future NASA missions.

2023

• Award Type: SBIR Phase II
• Agency: Department of Defense, Air Force
• Description: City Labs is developing an autonomous imaging sensor that is self-powered with onboard processing capabilities and wireless communication. This sensor is designed to operate continuously under broad temperature conditions, significantly enhancing the operational capabilities of satellites and providing continuous data collection for their entire operational life.

• Award Type: SBIR Phase II
• Agency: Department of Defense, Air Force
• Description: City Labs is adapting its Model P100 tritium betavoltaic power source for use in COMSEC devices, ensuring that these devices do not require battery replacements. This project addresses the need for long-term power solutions in secure communication systems, providing a reliable power source that maintains device security and functionality for over 20 years.

• Award Type: SBIR Phase I
• Agency: Department of Defense, Air Force
• Description: City Labs is developing a tritium-powered AA battery designed to provide continuous power for over 20 years. This innovative battery aims to enhance the reliability and security of COMSEC devices by ensuring long-term, uninterrupted power for backup key retention systems.

• Award Type: SBIR Phase I
• Agency: Department of Defense, Air Force
• Description: This project involves the development of a compact ion engine powered by nuclear beta emitters. The engine is designed to support the increasing miniaturization of satellites, enabling new mission capabilities and enhancing the overall performance of small satellites in various space missions.

• Award Type: SBIR Phase II
• Agency: Department of Defense, Air Force
• Description: City Labs is focused on improving tritium power sources for long-term power supply for small space satellites. The project emphasizes the development of robust assembly techniques with multiple layers to ensure reliability and durability in the harsh conditions of space.

2021

• Award Type: SBIR Phase II
• Agency: Department of Defense, Air Force
• Description: This project involves developing a compact power source for ultrasmall satellites, known as CubeSats. The tritium power source aims to provide continuous power for 5-10 years under varying temperature conditions, significantly enhancing the longevity and reliability of these small satellites.

• Award Type: SBIR Phase II
• Agency: Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• Description: City Labs is creating a revolutionary power source for leadless cardiac pacemakers. This new power source will eliminate the need for transvenous leads and extend the operational life of the pacemaker, improving patient outcomes and device reliability.

2020

• Award Type: SBIR Phase I
• Agency: Department of Defense, Air Force
• Description: This project focuses on commercializing a tritium power source designed to provide continuous low power for small satellites, or CubeSats. The emphasis is on ensuring long-term reliability and enhancing the operational capabilities of these small satellites for extended missions.

2019

• Award Type: SBIR Phase II
• Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
• Description: City Labs is developing the world’s first milliwatt-scale betavoltaic power source using an ultra-thin, lightweight p/n junction. This project aims to achieve high power density and improve the efficiency of betavoltaic batteries, making them suitable for a wide range of applications, including space missions.

• Award Type: SBIR Phase I
• Agency: Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• Description: This project aims to develop a smaller, more efficient power source for leadless cardiac pacemakers. The new power source will address the limitations of current lithium-carbon monoxide batteries, providing a longer-lasting and more reliable energy solution for medical devices.

2018

• Award Type: SBIR Phase I
• Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
• Description: City Labs is developing high-performance tritium-powered betavoltaic batteries using a high bandgap InAlP diode. This project aims to enhance energy conversion efficiency and improve the overall performance of betavoltaic power sources for various applications.

2014

• Award Type: DOD Definitive Contract
• Agency: Department of Defense
• Description: This project aimed to support applied research and development into general applications of tritium betavoltaic batteries for defense systems in space.

2010

• Award Type: DOD Definitive Contract
• Agency: Department of Defense
• Description: This award supported research into the broad potential of tritium betavoltaic power supplies in sensitive military electronic platforms including aircraft, computers, sensors, radar systems, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs /drones).