ANDRO Computational Solutions of Rome was awarded a competitive $2 million award from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to advance next generation internet of things and wireless technologies, according to a statement from U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer’s office.
“This $2 million federal contract is a major win for ANDRO, its workers, and Oneida County. It will position the Mohawk Valley at the forefront of innovation in 5G and wireless technologies. With this funding, ANDRO will accelerate telecommunications innovation, add good-paying jobs, and position itself to be better equipped to compete for millions of dollars in additional investment from the federal government, including from my CHIPS & Sciences Act,” said Schumer in the statement. “To compete with China, we must invest in American innovation, including work done by tech companies like ANDRO, and that is why I’m committed to delivering every dollar I can to bolster innovation and competitiveness throughout the Mohawk Valley and Central NY to ensure the U.S. remains the global leader in critical next-generation technologies.”
ANDRO is looking to develop a scalable, open-source, fifth-generation (5G) testbed for advanced telecommunications experimentation (5GTE.)
Schumer said, according to ANDRO, the contract is expected to create up to 10 new, good-paying jobs in the Mohawk Valley and will help lay the foundation for the company’s continued growth and efforts in advancing 5G and cutting-edge telecommunications technology.
He further explained that this direct-to-Phase-II award is part of a multiphase Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contracting vehicle that sets the stage for ANDRO to seek millions of dollars in additional federal funds moving forward.
“I want to thank Senator Schumer for this support not just for this project, but for his leadership in passing key wireless technology research programs such as the Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund created under CHIPS and Science,” said Andrew Drozd, president and chief scientist, ANDRO Computational Solutions in a statement. “The DARPA award announced today should enable ANDRO to contend for future major awards for 5G / 6G advancement under this program. Senator Schumer recognizes that wireless and Internet of Things/IoT technologies represent a key investment priority for the nation and Central New York.”
The “Federated Open Source Beyond 5G (B5G) Test Environment” project will leverage ANDRO’s extensive research base in AI and wireless cyber security applications development for next-generation 5G innovations.
With this federal funding, Schumer said ANDRO will rapidly scale new technologies by broadening the range of supported 5GTE devices and wireless communication technologies. Schumer said this project will create a realistic, open-source radio access network (ORAN) capability to rapidly prototype wireless protocols and applications, including, but not limited to, cyber security, artificial intelligence (AI), and multi-access edge computing, putting the Mohawk Valley at the forefront of telecommunications technology and innovation.
Schumer added that ANDRO’s new testbed will complement existing federally-funded IoT and wireless R&D capabilities in the Mohawk Valley, including the Smart-X IOT Living Lab for which Schumer secured federal funds in the Fiscal Year 2023 year-end spending package.
ANDRO, headquartered in Griffiss Business & Technology Park in Rome, provides research, engineering, and technical services to defense and commercial industries.
The independently-owned company, established in 1994, is dedicated to research, development, and the application of advanced computer software for work in spectrum, secure wireless communication, advanced radar, among other areas.
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