A Missoula company has won $1.5 million in X-Prize money for developing a pair of sensors to measure ocean acidification.
Sunburst Sensors was awarded the prize Monday for developing sensors won competitions for accuracy and affordability.
Sunburst beat other companies from England, Minnesota and California to win the prizes, awarded by X-Prize and the Schmidt Family Foundation. They were offered to provide incentives for the development of new tools to help respond to the effect of climate change on the world’s oceans.
The Missoula small business was one of five finalists whose sensors were put through a 3-month field test that included six days of deep sea testing at depths of over 9,000 feet.
The winners were announced July 21 by X-Prize and Wendy Schmidt in addition to a press release.