Portland, OR – Jun. 2, 2025 - Siloam Vision announces it has been selected by AFWERX for a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II contract in the amount of $1.25 million focused on Advanced Ultra-Widefield Retinal Imaging with AI-analytics for Detection of Debilitating Ocular Pathologies in the Field to address the most pressing challenges in the Department of the Air Force (DAF). The Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX have partnered to streamline the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) process by accelerating the small business experience through faster proposal to award timelines, changing the pool of potential applicants by expanding opportunities to small business and eliminating bureaucratic overhead by continually implementing process improvement changes in contract execution. The DAF began offering the Open Topic SBIR/STTR program in 2018 which expanded the range of innovations the DAF funded and now on May 23, 2025, Siloam Vision will start its journey to create and provide innovative capabilities that will strengthen the national defense of the United States of America.
About The Company
Siloam Vision develops advanced imaging technologies to reduce preventable blindness and improve population health globally. Born from firsthand experience delivering eye care to blind children in developing countries, the company is driven by the belief that transformative care must be accessible, integrated, and adaptive to any setting. By blending virtual and in-person solutions, Siloam Vision reimagines how eye care can reach those in need—whether in neonatal units, underserved communities, or military environments. Through partnerships with organizations like AFWERX, the company brings cutting-edge, dual-use ophthalmic tools to both civilian and defense applications.
About AFRL
The Air Force Research Laboratory is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space and cyberspace force. With a workforce of more than 12,500 across nine technology areas and 40 other operations across the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development. For more information, visit afresearchlab.com.
About AFWERX
As the innovation arm of the DAF and a directorate within the Air Force Research Laboratory, AFWERX brings cutting-edge American ingenuity from small businesses and start-ups to address the most pressing challenges of the DAF. AFWERX employs approximately 370 military, civilian and contractor personnel at four hubs and sites executing an annual $1.4 billion budget. Since 2019, AFWERX has awarded over 10,400 contracts worth more than $7.24 billion to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and drive faster technology transition to operational capability. For more information, visit: afwerx.com.
Company Press Contact:
Karyn Jonas
Chief Development Officer, Co-Founder
karyn@siloamvision.com
