Interlink Electronics Secures $280,000 NIH Grant to Develop AI‑Powered Air Quality Monitoring for Expanding Environmental IoT Market

Rhea-AI Summary

Interlink Electronics (NASDAQ: LINK) has secured a $280,000 Phase 1 SBIR grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) to develop an AI-powered air quality monitoring system. The company's Gas and Environmental Solutions division will create a network of low-cost, AI-enabled gas sensing nodes for real-time pollution detection and forecasting.

The innovative system aims to provide hyper-local environmental data monitoring, supporting public safety initiatives, smart city deployments, and industrial compliance. The project positions Interlink at the forefront of the growing environmental IoT market, leveraging its expertise in sensor technology to address increasing global concerns over air quality and climate change.

Positive

• Secured $280,000 NIH grant for innovative air quality monitoring technology
• Expanding into the fast-growing environmental IoT market
• Development of scalable, low-power gas sensing technology for wide deployment
• Building on existing track record of successful commercialization of sensing solutions

Negative

• None.

Insights

Sensor Technology & IoT Analyst

Interlink's $280K NIH grant validates their gas sensor tech and positions them strategically in the growing environmental IoT market.

This $280,000 Phase 1 SBIR award from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences represents strategic validation for Interlink's Gas and Environmental Solutions division. The grant targets development of AI-enabled gas sensing nodes for hyper-local air quality monitoring—a critical application given increasing global environmental concerns.

What makes this development particularly noteworthy is how it leverages Interlink's core sensor expertise while expanding their addressable market. The company is strategically positioning at the intersection of two growth vectors: environmental monitoring and IoT infrastructure. Their approach of creating deployable, low-power sensing nodes creates potential for network effects that could transform collected data into higher-value predictive services.

The grant amount itself is modest relative to Interlink's overall operations, but the strategic significance extends beyond the immediate funding. This represents official validation from a prestigious federal institution (NIH/NIEHS) and opens pathways to follow-on Phase 2 funding, which typically involves larger amounts. More importantly, it signals Interlink's commitment to diversifying beyond their traditional human-machine interface applications into emerging environmental sensing markets.

For context, this appears to be at least their second NIH-backed SBIR grant, suggesting a pattern of successful government funding acquisitions. The environmental IoT space represents a substantial growth opportunity as governments worldwide implement stricter environmental monitoring requirements and smart cities increase adoption of environmental intelligence systems.

Award Highlights Interlink’s Leadership in Gas Sensor Innovation and Expanding Opportunities in Environmental IoT

FREMONT, Calif., July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Interlink Electronics, Inc. (NASDAQ: LINK), a global leader in innovative sensor and printed electronic solutions serving Human‑Machine Interface (HMI) devices and IoT applications, today announced that its Gas and Environmental Solutions division has received a $280,000 Phase 1 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) award from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of the NIH. The project will develop a next‑generation, hyper‑local air quality monitoring system featuring low‑cost, AI‑enabled gas sensing nodes capable of real‑time detection and forecasting of ground‑level pollution.

Growing global concerns over air quality and climate change are creating significant demand for real‑time, actionable environmental data. By pinpointing sources of pollution and delivering high‑resolution insights, Interlink’s solution will support public safety initiatives, smart city deployments, and industrial environmental compliance worldwide.

“This award underscores Interlink’s leadership in delivering scalable, low‑power gas sensing technology,” said Dr. Sreeni Rao, Vice President of Product Management at Interlink Electronics. “Our AI‑enhanced sensing nodes are designed to be widely deployable, creating a network effect that can transform air quality monitoring into a predictive, actionable service for government and commercial users.”

Interlink’s innovation positions the company at the intersection of environmental intelligence and IoT, a fast‑growing market opportunity.

“This award builds on our track record of commercializing cost‑competitive, high‑performance sensing solutions,” added Steven N. Bronson, CEO and President of Interlink Electronics. “Securing another NIH‑backed SBIR grant highlights the strength of our team and validates our strategic focus on emerging applications where our sensor expertise can drive long‑term growth.”

About Interlink Electronics, Inc.

Interlink Electronics is a leading provider of sensors and printed electronic solutions, boasting nearly 40 years of sucess in delivering mission-critical technologies across diverse markets. Our customers, including global blue-chip companies, benefit from our robust instruments and printed electronics solutions, which span various markets, including medical, industrial, automotive, wearables, IoT, and other specialty markets. Our expertise in materials science, manufacturing, embedded electronics, firmware, and software enables us to create custom solutions tailored to our customers' unique needs (interlinkelectronics.com).

Forward Looking Statements

This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be generally identified by phrases such as “thinks,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” and similar words. Forward-looking statements in our press releases include statements about our projected revenue and earnings growth, our acquisition program, our technologies and competitive advantages and the effects of recent acquisitions, including contributions to our products, manufacturing operations and the markets we serve. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are inherently subject to uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statement. Such statements are based upon, among other things, assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management, including management’s own knowledge and assessment of the company’s industry, R&D initiatives, competition and capital requirements. Other factors and uncertainties that could affect the company’s forward-looking statements include, among other things, the following: our success in predicting new markets and the acceptance of our new products; efficient management of our infrastructure; the pace of technological developments and industry standards evolution and their effect on our target product and market choices; the effect of outsourcing technology development; changes in the ordering patterns of our customers; a decrease in the quality and/or reliability of our products; protection of our proprietary intellectual property; competition by alternative sophisticated as well as generic products; continued availability of raw materials for our products at competitive prices; disruptions in our manufacturing facilities; risks of international sales and operations including fluctuations in exchange rates; compliance with regulatory requirements applicable to our manufacturing operations; and customer concentrations. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by our forward-looking statements are described under the captions “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our most recent Annual Report (Form 10-K) or Quarterly Report (Form 10-Q) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements are made as of the date of the respective release, and we expressly disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact:
Interlink Electronics, Inc.
IR@iefsr.com
Steven N. Bronson, CEO
805-623-4184

FAQ

What is the value and purpose of Interlink Electronics' (NASDAQ: LINK) NIH grant?

Interlink Electronics received a $280,000 Phase 1 SBIR grant from NIEHS to develop an AI-powered, hyper-local air quality monitoring system with real-time pollution detection capabilities.

How will Interlink Electronics' new air quality monitoring system work?

The system will use low-cost, AI-enabled gas sensing nodes to create a network that can detect and forecast ground-level pollution in real-time, providing high-resolution environmental insights.

What markets will Interlink Electronics' (LINK) new air quality monitoring system serve?

The system will serve public safety initiatives, smart city deployments, and industrial environmental compliance worldwide, addressing growing global concerns over air quality and climate change.

Who is leading Interlink Electronics' air quality monitoring project?

The project is supported by Dr. Sreeni Rao, Vice President of Product Management, and Steven N. Bronson, CEO and President of Interlink Electronics.

What is the significance of this NIH grant for Interlink Electronics (LINK)?

The grant validates Interlink's strategic focus on environmental IoT applications and demonstrates the company's leadership in gas sensor innovation and commercialization capabilities.