U2D Inc., a Liberty company that makes radiation detection devices, has won an R&D 100 Award.

Presented by R&D Magazine, the annual awards are sometimes referred to as the “Oscars of Invention.”

Thinking Bigger Business magazine spotlighted U2D as a “Company to Watch” in June 2015. Traditional neutron radiation detectors usually rely on Helium-3, a very rare substance, while U2D’s Shavano and Antero devices use solid-state semiconductors—which also happen to be a faster, more accurate way to track radiation sources.

The Shavano and Antero products could be used to protect workers in nuclear facilities and to help prevent nuclear proliferation.

U2D partnered with several other organizations to create its products, including Radiation Detection Technologies Inc., Kansas State University’s SMART Laboratory, the University of Missouri-Kansas City and the University of Missouri-Columbia. The Office of Naval Research and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency provided funding.

“It’s such a great honor to be recognized for the truly monumental task of merging the combined research and development efforts of commercial, university and government entities,” U2D co-founder and chief technology officer Paul Scott. “If not for the serious dedication of the entire team, this would not have been accomplished.”