The University of Akron received more than two-thirds of recently approved state funding through the Ohio Third Frontier in two categories.
Ohio Third Frontier Innovation Platform Awards link established research at the state’s colleges, universities or other nonprofit research institutions to the needs of Ohio companies to help with near-term product innovation and commercialization. College research supported includes:
- $1.74 million awarded to UA, led by Professor of Electrical Engineering Dr. Alex De Abreu-Garcia, in collaboration with Exacter, Inc. and Jacco & Associates, to develop a smart sensor platform for mitigating electrical grid outages, and an HVAC sensor system to regulate airflow and improve system efficiency.
Technology Validation and Start-Up Fund provides grants in two phases. The first phase involves demonstrating that a technology can be commercialized through testing and prototyping. The second phase supports Ohio startup companies that will license and commercialize technology developed at Ohio higher education and nonprofit research institutions. COE research supported includes:
- $50,000 to Rare-Earth-Material-Free Multiphase Electric Machine (FMEM) for Low Power Applications led by Professor of Electrical Engineering Dr. Seungdeog Choi: This technology will help improve reliability and life of existing electric motors at a lower cost. Validation of the technology will have immediate application in the automotive and aerospace markets.
- $50,000 to Integrated Imaging Goggles for Guiding Basal-cell Carcinoma Surgeries led by Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering Dr. Yang Liu: The goggles will reveal the presence and extent of cancerous lesions, enabling surgeons to excise the cancerous tissue while sparing non-cancerous tissue.
- $50,000 to Additively Manufactured Prosthetic Socket Cooling System led by the Chair of Biomedical Engineering Dr. Brian Davis: Current prosthesis of active wearers becomes hot and leads to pain and skin breakdown. This technology will solve the problem by circulating air through a battery-driven pump attached to the body or prosthesis to cool the socket.
- $50,000 to Akron Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) led by Dr. Dale Mugler, professor of biomedical engineering and dean of the Honors College: This technology will increase the speed of calculations carried out by graphics processing units in computers in procedures such as MRI processing and computer gaming.
- $100,000 Phase II funds to UA-affiliated startup Akron Ascent Innovations LLC – Bio-Inspired Reusable Adhesives Using Scalable Electrospinning Techniques led by Mechanical Engineering Professor Dr. Josh Wong: Funding will commercialize a dry, reusable adhesive that is easily removable without damaging surfaces or leaving sticky residue.