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Two Greater Des Moines companies collaborating to develop an improved ignition-interlock system to prevent drunken driving may become the first to tap a state technology fund aimed at encouraging such partnerships.

Consumer Safety Technology Inc. of Des Moines, which manufactures and distributes breath-alcohol ignition-interlock devices, is partnering with Precision Development Inc., a West Des Moines software development company. Their goal is to develop an improved breath-alcohol device that will more quickly alert authorities if a driver is trying to circumvent the device, using digital images and breath-sample data from the driver transmitted from the vehicle.

The state’s Information Technology Joint Development Fund, which would provide money for the project, has languished unused since its creation in October 2007. Part of a larger initiative by the Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED) to spur research and development activities leading to new products, the fund has a current balance of $1 million. Last month, the IDED board of directors denied the first application after determining it didn’t meet the funding criteria; no other applications are pending.

“We’re trying to get more exposure for the program and to get all kinds of projects to be considered,” said Kim Bentley, the IDED’s information technology programs coordinator. “Now that we have one that’s funded, I hope that sets the framework for what we’re looking for.”

Last week, the IDED’s Technology Commercialization Committee recommended a $65,000 matching grant from the fund for Consumer Safety’s project.

“From a timing perspective, (the grant) probably gets us to market two to three months earlier than we could have otherwise, which is important,” said Dave Arringdale, Consumer Safety’s CEO.

The committee reduced the companies’ original request of $100,000, after determining that portions of the request weren’t directly associated with developing new technologies. The IDED board is scheduled to vote on the request at its March 19 meeting.