By Susanne Cervenka, APP Staff Writer -

Two Monmouth County small businesses received a combined $450,000 in federal innovation grants that the recipients say will revolutionize how students learn sciences and social skills.

Small Factory Innovations in Fair Haven and Mgenuity in the Lincroft section of Middletown were each awarded $225,000 from the National Science Foundation Small Business Innovation Research grant program, according to an announcement from Congressman Chris Smith.

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Small Factory will use its grants to expand its computer software aimed at helping students with autism and other special needs.

Small Factory's software uses virtual reality to teach social skills to children and young adults on the autism spectrum. The software is now available on personal computers. The grant will be used to develop a web browser-based version so that students can use it on any device.

"This grant will enable us to scale the produce and company and, in turn, help the lives of these students who are dealing with the struggles of autism," Small Factory owner Chris Dudick said in a press release.

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The grant for Mgenuity will fund the company's project to develop technology that uses holograms to teach science principles. The goal is to create technology that allows students to interact with the scientific concepts in a virtual environment.

"Mgenuity hopes to bring these unparalleled experiences to science classrooms in New Jersey and across the nation," the company's CEO Attila Medl said.

This story originally ran on Page 3 of the print edition of the January 3, 2017 edition of the Asbury Park Press and can be found online the
http://www.app.com/story/news/education/2017/01/01/2-monmouth-businesses-get-450k-innovation-grants/96067036/