Using Nanotechnology to Solve Global Sustainability and Health Challenges
The National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure (NNCI) is pleased to announce the 2022 cohort for the NNCI Nanotechnology Entrepreneurship Challenge (NTEC). Designed as a pre-NSF I-Corps experience, NTEC provides experiential entrepreneurship education for student-led teams.
Eight teams from five NNCI sites were selected to participate in the NTEC Accelerator program, which offers a seven-week virtual experience where NTEC teams learn about the importance of customer discovery, business model generation, and how to leverage NNCI resources to develop a nanotechnology-enabled minimum viable product (MVP). Throughout the experience, NTEC students have access to NNCI staff and facilities and receive mentorship from entrepreneurs with experience in nanotechnology start-ups. In May, the teams will share their journey during an NTEC Showcase where external panelists will select the top NNCI NTEC team. The eight teams and their projects are:
| Student Lead(s) | Mentor(s) | Project | NNCI Site and Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faisal Adams | Marc Michel | Effective Acid Mine Drainage Treatment with Composite Nanotube-Polymer Membranes |
NanoEarth Matthew Hull and Tonya Pruitt |
| Yi Shiou Duh and Sophia Lugo | Mark Brongersma | Illuminate.Brain |
nano@stanford Daniella Duran |
| Aditya Garg | Wei Zhou and Peter Vikesland | Multiresonant Plasmonic Meshes |
NanoEarth Matthew Hull and Tonya Pruitt |
| Matthew McGlennen | Stephen Warnat | Microfabricated Impedance Sensor System for Biofilm Detection |
Montana Nanotechnology Facility (MONT) Andrew Lingley |
| Lauren Takiguchi (lead), with Bolarin Lawrence and George Gauss | Yves Theriault | Functionalized DNA Origami-siRNA Nanotube Complex to Reverse Osteoarthritis |
San Diego Nanotechnology Infrastructure (SDNI) Yves Theriault |
| Wesley Allen Williams | Shyam Aravamudhan | MPI Nanoparticles for the Sensing and Remediation of Toxic Incident Anthropogenically-derived Nanoplastics in the Hydrosphere |
Southeastern Nanotechnology Infrastructure Corridor (SENIC) Paul Joseph and Quinn Spadola |
| Amer Yaghi (lead), with Tom Park, Abdal Abdulhameed, and Elio Li | Sheng Xu and Yves Theriault | Bio-inspired Self-powered and Flexible Wearable Device for Continuous Detection and Treatment of Parkinson's Disease |
San Diego Nanotechnology Infrastructure (SDNI) Yves Theriault |
| Ge Zhang | Anthony Kovscek | Rapid pH Sensor on a Chip |
nano@stanford Daniella Duran |
The 2021 US National Nanotechnology Initiative Strategic Plan calls for “innovative mechanisms to realize the transformational societal benefits that flow from faster commercialization of nanotechnologies.” The NNCI is well-positioned and resourced to contribute such mechanisms through its NNCI-wide Innovation Ecosystem, which focuses on training a new generation of “nano-savvy” innovators and entrepreneurs, identifying and meeting the unique needs of industry users, particularly start-ups and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and supporting the translation of nano-enabled innovations to society. For further information, please contact Matthew Hull.