July 18, 2016
by Steve Martin
Officials at Indiana University Research and Technology Corp., which protects, markets and licenses intellectual property developed at Indiana University so it can be commercialized by industry, have reported that four startups were launched by IU researchers through the Spin Up program in the 2015-16 fiscal year.
Spin Up associate Jerry Hunter said the program is IURTC's nonprofit business accelerator that is focused on technology-driven businesses.
"Spin Up was created to help Indiana University researchers bring promising technologies to the market by starting their own companies," he said. "Spin Up helps with the early administrative functions of running a business so faculty members can focus on the research that drives it. This includes working with local service firms that provide business needs like insurance and payroll."
During the fiscal year July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2016, four startups were launched through the Spin Up program.
Founded by Kevin Berkopes, director of the Mathematics Assistance Center and the Statistics Assistance Center at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. By leveraging the latest advances in technology, Crossroads Education creates collaborative learning spaces and the technology that could shift paradigms in education.
"We have immense momentum with transferring our learning spaces and technology to our three goal education sectors by 2018. We are negotiating contracts to implement a Learning Commons Modeled learning center in other universities, in public and private K-12 schools, and in community centers in the Midwest," Berkopes said. "We are also very excited to bring live Nexus Virtual Learning Space, Compass Analytics and Tracking, and Zoink Mobile Learning Spaces App by the end of August with more than 20,000 users."
Founded by Sohel Anwar, associate professor of mechanical engineering in the School of Engineering and Technology on the IUPUI campus. The company seeks to improve the fuel efficiency of diesel engines by offering an innovative, accurate soot load sensing system to optimize the regeneration operation of the particulate filter.
"We have submitted a federal grant proposal to further refine the technology, which already has been patented. The funding would allow us to update and validate the soot load sensor design on a diesel engine," he said. "We have connected with major industry partners who are interested in evaluating and validating the sensor technology."
Founded by Peter Schubert, professor of electrical and computer engineering in the School of Engineering and Technology and director of the Richard G. Lugar Center for Renewable Energy. The company seeks to refine its patented methods of storing hydrogen fuel in a solid state, which could lead to energy storage that is low in cost and high in round-trip efficiency.
"Green Fortress has partnered with IUPUI's Lugar Center for Renewable Energy in pursuit of federal grants," Schubert said. "The technology behind the four U.S. patents on hydrogen storage also form the foundation for the synthesis of biofuels, providing a pipeline of innovation in renewable energy. Discussions are ongoing with vehicle manufacturers producing fuel-cell vehicles."
Founded by Dr. Brian Sloan, assistant professor of clinical emergency medicine in the IU School of Medicine. The company is developing a wound-irrigation system that could be a cost-effective alternative to traditional methods used in hospital emergency departments, doctors' offices, urgent care and other venues where patients have an open traumatic wound. The device stores flat, is less expensive to ship and could leave a smaller biological footprint than the standard wound-irrigation system.
"The next commercialization steps include applying for a federal grant to prove the concept and determining the regulatory pathway necessary to comply with U.S. Food and Drug Administration classification and manufacturing guidelines," Sloan said. "After that, MD2 will look to partner with a design and manufacturing company to refine the device and launch it."
About Indiana University Research and Technology Corp.: IURTC is a not-for-profit corporation tasked with the protecting and commercializing of technology emanating from innovations by IU researchers. Since 1997, IU research has generated more than 2,700 inventions resulting in over 3,900 global patent applications being filed by IURTC. These discoveries have generated $133 million in licensing and royalty income, including more than $111 million in funding for IU departments, labs and inventors.
