Innovation and Entrepreneurship Showcase on Capitol Hill Spotlights Startup Companies Born Out of Federally Funded, University-Based Research

APLU and the Association of American Universities (AAU) today are hosting the University Innovation and Entrepreneurship Showcase on Capitol Hill that will spotlight 20 startup companies from across the nation that have created products and services using federally funded, university-based research.

The showcase is designed to highlight the important role of federally funded university research in driving high-value entrepreneurship and the U.S. innovation economy for members of Congress, their staff, and national economic development and innovation policy leaders. Speakers at the showcase include: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Director Andrei Iancu; National Institute of Standards and Technology Associate Director for Innovation and Industry Services Phillip Singerman; House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chair Eddie Bernice Johnson and Ranking Member Frank Lucas; APLU President Peter McPherson; and AAU President Mary Sue Coleman.

“Path-breaking research is fundamental to the mission of public universities,” said APLU President McPherson. “Strong federal investment in university-based research is essential for our nation because that research provides the foundation for the development of new technologies that save lives, make us more secure, improve our quality of life, and power our economy forward. We’re thrilled to highlight some of the best startups sparked out of that investment to demonstrate how university-based research fuels innovation and entrepreneurship across the country. These startups are examples of why 88 percent of voters agree it’s important for the federal government to fund science and technology research. Scientific research spurs economic growth.”

Of the showcase, AAU President Mary Sue Coleman said: “The partnership between the government and American research universities lies at the heart of the U.S. scientific and higher education enterprise. This unique American partnership has empowered entrepreneurs to start companies and entire new industries that have advanced our health, national security, and economy.”

Startups were chosen by a selection committee comprised of innovation experts who considered the level of student engagement in the startup, the strength of the startup technology, and its connection to research. The committee also factored whether the affiliated university had earned APLU’s Innovation & Economic Prosperity University designation, a national recognition for higher education institutions that have demonstrated a substantial and sustainable commitment to promoting economic development.

The featured startups and affiliated universities are:

KIYATEC, Clemson University
IEP Designee
www.kiyatec.com
Federal Funding: National Science Foundation
KIYATEC is dedicated to accurately modeling and predicting cancer patient response to drug therapies, using ex vivo 3D cell culture technology, in order to inform clinical decision-making and drive drug development.

Xallent, Cornell University
https://xallent.com/
Federal Funding: National Science Foundation
Xallent develops proprietary nanoscale measurement hardware and software tools for imaging, testing, and analyzing semiconductors and thin film materials.

N-Sense, LLC, Iowa State University
IEP Designee
https://n-sense.us/
Federal Funding: National Science Foundation
N-sense, LLC is developing a field mobile soil nitrate sensor system that can be used to measure soil nitrogen status and facilitate precision nitrogen fertilizer application thereby reducing nitrate loss to surface and ground water and fertilizer costs for farmers.

AEIOU Scientific, LLC, Ohio University
IEP Designee
https://aeiouscientific.com/
Federal Funding: National Institutes of Health
AEIOU Scientific is developing instruments based on patent-pending Cortical Bone Mechanics Technology™ (CBMT) to help scientists measure what they could not measure before: accurate, non-invasive, direct functional measurements of structural mechanical properties of cortical bone in the ulnas of living people.

Roll-2-Roll Technologies, Oklahoma State University
Pursing IEP Designation
https://r2r.tech/
Federal Funding: National Science Foundation
Roll-2-Roll technology enables manufacturers to be nimble in producing different products within the same machine while reducing setup time, waste and downtime. The smart sensor technology also provides additional information to manufacturers to help predict and prevent issues in the process to enable them to improve their overall efficiency.

Magnitude Instruments, Penn State University
IEP Designee
http://magnitudeinstruments.com/
Federal Funding: Department of Energy
The goal of Magnitude Instruments is to deliver affordable, state-of-the-art transient spectrometers that push the limits of sensitivity and are as easy to use as UV-Vis or FTIR instruments.

SpotLESS Materials LLC, Penn State University
IEP Designee
Federal Funding: National Science Foundation
SpotLESS Materials aims to address “sticky problems” common across various industries by developing and commercializing liquid-, sludge-, and bacteria-repellent bio-inspired self-healing surface coating.

HaptImage Inc., Purdue University
IEP Designee
http://haptimage.com/
Federal Funding: National Institutes of Health
HaptImage develops technologies for individuals who are visually impaired to perceive images in real-time. The research was federally funded by NIH.

Skylark Wireless LLC, Rice University
http://www.skylarkwireless.com/
Federal Funding: National Science Foundation
Skylark Wireless LLC is bridging the broadband gap for over 20 million Americans by developing agile 5G beamforming systems for the rural broadband market.

MicroRid Technologies, Inc., Stony Brook University
Pursing IEP Designation
https://www.sbir.gov/sbirsearch/detail/1160377
Federal Funding: National Institutes of Health
MicroRid Technologies, Inc. is a biomedical company researching the development of small-molecule antifungal drugs.

Eonix LLC, SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Pursing IEP Designation
http://www.eonixenergy.com/
Federal Funding: Department of Energy
Eonix received a Department of Energy Innovation Crossroads award with Oak Ridge National Lab to design advanced electrolytes for energy storage.

Entrada Therapeutics, The Ohio State University
IEP Designee
https://www.entradatx.com/
Federal Funding: National Institutes of Health
Entrada Therapeutics is a biotechnology company dedicated to transforming the treatment of devastating diseases through the intracellular delivery of biologics.

Ferric Contrast, Inc., University at Buffalo, SUNY
http://www.ferric-contrast.com/
Federal Funding: National Science Foundation
Ferric Contrast is developing iron-based contrast agents that can be used to produce high-quality magnetic resonance images of the brain, vasculature, liver and kidneys, and for detection of tumors resulting from cancer.

NOWA Innovations, University of California, Irvine
Pursing IEP Designation
https://www.sbir.gov/node/1504051
Federal Funding: National Institutes of Health
NOWA Innovations is creating the Unaresp, a non-invasive tool that can detect asthma and COPD inhaler efficacy through the exhaled breath. The device provides patients with feedback about the quality of their treatment and promotes asthma and COPD management.

TissueForm, University of Colorado, Boulder
IEP Designee
Federal Funding: National Institutes of Health
TissueForm improves clinical outcomes for patients suffering from tissue disease, injury, or deterioration.

Florida Insect Control Group, LLC, University of Florida
https://www.manta.com/c/mb4gdx8/florida-insect-control-group
Federal Funding: Army, Department of Defense
Florida Insect Control Group develops innovative, low-cost products to control mosquitoes and flies.

Lumme, Inc., University of Massachusetts, Amherst
https://lumme-labs.com/
Federal Funding: National Institutes of Health
Lumme Inc. is developing a cutting-edge addiction treatment platform by combining wearable technology, machine learning, and behavioral psychology.

Soteria Solutions, University of New Hampshire
IEP Designee
https://www.soteriasolutions.org/
Federal Funding: Center for Disease Control, Department of Defense, Department of Justice, National Science Foundation
Soteria Solutions provides new approaches to prevent sexual and interpersonal violence and harassment. They work with people to activate bystanders at all levels, to create lasting change and build a safe, respectful, and sustainable culture in organizations and schools.

Zeno Power Systems, Vanderbilt University
Federal Funding: National Science Foundation and the U.S. Air Force
Zeno is developing a micro nuclear power-generation technology that will be able to provide resilient power to critical government and commercial operations.

Eco Carbon Technology Inc., Washington State University
IEP Designee
Federal Funding: National Science Foundation
Eco Carbon Technology Inc. (ECT) is an American corporation that engages in research, development, manufacturing and commercialization of novel carbon-based technologies for different agri-bio applications.