Maxwell Labs Awarded $500,000 Through the BEST START Program to Help Meet U.S. Army Energy Technology Needs

The Basic Energy Science to (BEST) St. Thomas Applied Renewable Technologies (START) program is a joint effort between the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory (DEVCOM ARL), the University of St. Thomas (UST) and the Energetics Technology Center, Inc. (ETC)

ST. PAUL, MN / ACCESS Newswire / June 24, 2025 / Maxwell Labs, Inc. (www.mxllabs.com), the global leader in laser cooling technology for AI hardware and high-performance computing (HPC) systems, today announced it was awarded $500,000 under The Basic Energy Science to (BEST) St. Thomas Applied Renewable Technologies (START) program, which is a joint effort between the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory (DEVCOM ARL), the University of St. Thomas (UST) and the Energetics Technology Center, Inc. (ETC), to help meet the U.S. Army's energy technology needs.

Targeting the $239 billion cooling market of AI chips used in data centers and HPC environments, which is projected to be $1 trillion by 2030, Maxwell Labs' innovative laser cooling technology leapfrogs the limitations of air and liquid cooling systems by converting heat into light at the chip level, removing heat directly at the hotspot, and thus enabling next-generation thermal management and unparalleled performance gains for AI-powered systems. Through laser cooling, data centers and chip manufacturers can achieve significant advances in compute density, power efficiency and reliability - all within Maxwell's solid-state cooling system that deploys with no moving parts or fluids and merely a photonic cold plate, a laser pump and fiber optic cables.

The $500,000 awarded to Maxwell Labs by ETC on behalf of DEVCOM ARL was part of UST's new Basic Energy Sciences to Saint Thomas Applied and Renewable Technologies (BEST START) program, which is a collaborative effort between DEVCOM ARL, UST and ETC designed to build a bridge between U.S. energy entrepreneurs, businesses, technology developers and other relevant partners. The program facilitates technology demonstrations addressing Army energy requirements and fosters collaborations through resources at UST's School of Engineering.

As part of the collaboration with the University of St. Thomas, Maxwell Labs will have access to UST's state-of-the-art facilities, including the Center for Advanced Manufacturing, the Center for Microgrid Research, and faculty expertise in System Modeling & Simulation, and Novel Electrical & Optical Sensing. Students at UST will also gain valuable hands-on experience in power and energy related technologies through collaborative projects focused on real-world applications of fiber laser technology, optical cooling, and mathematical modeling.

The Maxwell Labs project will focus on demonstrating the efficacy of the laser cooling platform on high-density GPU systems. The technology has significant potential to benefit both the commercial and Department of Defense by enabling more powerful and energy-efficient computing for applications:

• Defense, But Not Limited To:

  • High-Performance Computing: Enabling next-generation radar, simulation, and analysis systems.

  • Advanced Sensors: Managing thermal loads in advanced sensor suites

  • Edge Computing: Supporting more powerful, compact mobile computing at the edge of the network.

  • Aerospace and Space Applications: Providing efficient and reliable cooling in harsh, low-resource environments in space-based hardware.

• Commercial, But Not Limited To:

  • Hyperscale Data Centers: Allowing for higher computing densities while significantly reducing energy usage and operational costs, especially in compute intensive AI workloads.

  • High-Frequency Trading: Ensuring low-latency operation by managing thermal loads in high-density servers.

  • AI and ML: Providing precision cooling solutions for GPU-based systems, creating higher performance, and enabling more training data to be processed.

  • Bitcoin Mining: Enables bitcoin mining operations to achieve significantly higher computational efficiency and reduced energy consumption by more effectively managing heat.

"We are thrilled to strategically collaborate with the University of St. Thomas, the DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory, and ETC and leverage the resources and expertise available through the BEST START program," said Mike Karpe, Co-Founder & Chief Growth Officer, Maxwell Labs. "This contract and collaboration will be instrumental in accelerating the development and real-world validation of our laser cooling system, bringing us closer to offering commercialization at scale of Maxwell's Gen1 Laser Cooling Technology."

"This investment in Maxwell Labs exemplifies the mission of the BEST START program - to foster innovation and collaboration that addresses critical energy challenges," said Dr. Kundan Nepal, Director of the START Center at the University of St Thomas. "We are excited to support Maxwell Labs in developing this promising technology and provide our students with unique learning opportunities in a cutting-edge field."

About the Army Research Laboratory

The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory, known as DEVCOM ARL, is the Army's research laboratory. Nested strategically within DEVCOM and the Army Futures Command, ARL's mission is to Operationalize Science. ARL identifies and executes disruptive research leading to scientific discovery and emerging technologies for Army continuous transformation. A hallmark of ARL's mission is collaborative partnerships to broaden Army access to expert talent and accelerate transitions of science-enabled capabilities.

About the University of St. Thomas

The University of St. Thomas, located in St. Paul, Minnesota, is a comprehensive Catholic university grounded in the liberal arts. Committed to the common good, St. Thomas prepares students to be morally responsible leaders who think critically, act wisely, and work skillfully to advance the common good. The School of Engineering at UST is dedicated to providing hands-on, innovative learning experiences and conducting impactful research.

About the Energetics Technology Center

Energetics Technology Center (ETC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2006 and based in Indian Head, Maryland, is dedicated to advancing national security through innovative research, engineering, and technology development in energetics, robotics, and data analytics. As a key partner to the Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division, and the Army Research Laboratory, ETC supports federal, state, and local government agencies while collaborating with academia and industry to drive technological change. Through initiatives like Indian Head FastFORWARD and the Basic Energy Science to St. Thomas Applied, Renewable Technologies (BEST START) program, which accelerates dual-use energy technologies in partnership with DEVCOM ARL and UST. ETC fosters economic development and STEM education, building ecosystems that engage students and support small businesses to deliver innovative technologies to meet the Navy's and Army's missions. ETC's team of experts applies data science, AI, and creative problem-solving to deliver actionable solutions for the U.S. National Security Enterprise.

About the BEST START Program

The Basic Energy Sciences to Saint Thomas Applied and Renewable Technologies (BEST START) program at the University of St. Thomas is a collaborative initiative with the Army Research Laboratory (ARL) designed to accelerate the development and deployment of advanced energy technologies. The BEST START program is supported in part by funding from the federal government and the State of Minnesota, highlighting the importance of regional collaboration in driving technological advancements for national security and economic growth.

About Maxwell Labs, Inc.

Maxwell Labs, Inc., headquartered in St. Paul, MN, is pioneering laser cooling solutions for AI hardware and high-performance computing (HPC) systems. Through its proprietary technology that converts heat into light, Maxwell Labs redefines data center cooling by overcoming the limitations of conventional methods, significantly enhancing thermal management for today's most demanding applications. The MXL laser cooling solution integrates seamlessly into existing data center infrastructure, offering a scalable, sustainable alternative that operates without water or moving parts and opens new opportunities for energy recovery. This transformative technology not only enables future-ready chip performance but also aligns with energy efficiency goals. Maxwell Labs' team is composed of leading experts in supercomputing, nanoscale heat management and photonic engineering. For more information, visit www.mxllabs.com.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Mike Karpe, Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer
Maxwell Labs
mkarpe@maxwell-labs.com
(763) 670-2176

SOURCE: Maxwell Labs