Silvis Materials wins NSF TECP grant for AI-driven adhesive development

By AI, Created 5:56 AM UTC, May 28, 2026, /AGP/ – Silvis Materials said it received a National Science Foundation TECP supplement to speed commercialization of its formaldehyde-free, bio-based adhesives. The Boulder company plans to use the funding to expand a private AI R&D platform aimed at lowering development time and replacing petroleum-based industrial adhesives.

Why it matters: - The NSF award gives federal validation to Silvis Materials’ bio-based adhesive platform. - The funding could speed development of industrial adhesives that avoid formaldehyde and petroleum inputs. - Silvis Materials is targeting packaging and other industrial uses where performance and sustainability both matter.

What happened: - Silvis Materials announced it received a Technology Enhancement for Commercial Partners supplement from the National Science Foundation. - The grant is intended to advance commercialization of the company’s formaldehyde-free, bio-based adhesive solutions. - The company said the award will help deploy its private AI-powered R&D platform. - CEO Patty Ferreira said the investment will accelerate development and commercialization of Silvis barrier adhesives using private AI tools.

The details: - Silvis Materials develops renewable, cellulose-based emulsions for the $73 billion industrial adhesives market. - The company said its initial applications focus on sustainable packaging. - The AI platform is designed to use machine learning and predictive data analytics inside the R&D pipeline. - The system is meant to optimize adhesion strength, solubility and biodegradability. - Silvis Materials said automation should reduce time-to-market. - The company said previous NSF SBIR Phase I and II awards supported its work. - Silvis said its cellulose-agnostic technology can use diverse, locally sourced feedstocks. - The company said that flexibility can reduce raw material and supply chain costs. - Silvis said the approach can improve manufacturing resilience and support global deployment. - The company said its products are designed to meet industrial standards and corporate circularity goals. - Silvis Materials was founded in 2020. - The company develops 100% bio-based, patented binders meant to replace fossil-based adhesives. - Silvis is headquartered at a private lab on the University of Colorado Boulder campus. - The company said it has also received support from the Colorado Advanced Industries Program, LaunchTN, the MIT e14 Fund, Techstars, Plug and Play, Suzano Cycle Momentum and the University of Colorado Boulder. - Silvis Materials provided a company website and LinkedIn pages for more information: More information and Silvis Materials on LinkedIn.

Between the lines: - The TECP supplement suggests NSF sees commercial potential in Silvis Materials’ materials science approach. - The company’s pitch combines two trends: AI-assisted R&D and demand for lower-carbon industrial inputs. - Silvis is framing supply chain flexibility as part of the value proposition, not just sustainability.

What’s next: - Silvis Materials said the grant will accelerate deployment of its private AI platform. - The company is expected to keep pushing barrier adhesive products toward market use. - Further progress will likely depend on how well the adhesives perform in commercial packaging and industrial settings.

The bottom line: - NSF funding gives Silvis Materials a stronger platform to commercialize AI-assisted, bio-based adhesives that aim to compete with petroleum-based products.