The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and the Center for Technology Commercialization took the next step toward helping companies commercialize high-tech innovation by awarding five area startups grants of $75,000 each, the organizations announced this week.

Madison-based C-Motive, Isthmus Bio, Nutrient Recovery and Upcycling, and Pan Genome Systems, as well as Verona-based Medical Cyberworlds, are the first recipients of the SBIR Advance program, a matching grant available to recipients of federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants.

“SBIR Advance makes a real difference for these companies, helping them to also focus on customer development and validation, and preparing them to secure additional grant or investor funding,” CTC Director Bon Wikenheiser said in a statement.

According to a release, the SBIR and STTR funds are for technology development and can’t be used for certain activities, including patent work and customer validation. WEDC and CTC launched SBIR Advance in August to help fill the commercialization gap.