Advanced Fuel Research, Inc. (AFR) has had significant prior commercialization experience resulting from its involvement in the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. These include the direct sale of products, licensing, and the creation of spin-off companies. The first spin-off activity included the creation of On-Line Technologies, Inc. (OLT) in 1991. OLT specialized in the development and marketing of FT-IR based process monitoring equipment for the semiconductor industry and environmental applications. It was purchased by MKS Instruments in 2001 and is now called the On-Line Products Group. The second spin-off was Real-Time Analyzers, Inc., which was created in 2001 to develop, manufacture, and market FT-Raman Instruments for process monitoring and homeland security applications. In early 2006, AFR created its ImTelligence business unit to focus on advanced image analysis technologies, including video-centric radiation detection for homeland security applications. The radiation detection technology was renamed GammaPix and spun out in a separate company called Image Insight, Inc. in 2011. Pre-commercial business units have been established for alternative energy (Next Generation Energy), and technology enhanced science education. The R&D for the latter activity was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, and is now being continued in an initially affiliated company called TheBeamer.
R&D 100 Award Winner 2012, 2008, 2001, 1996, and 1995