University of Cambridge: Evaluating New Carbon Nanomaterials with Proof-of-Concept Testing
Cambridge Enterprise has been using IN-PART since 2015 to find new industry partners to collaborate with in the co-development and commercialisation of research from the University of Cambridge. In April last year, Cambridge Enterprise was approached by a global carbon and ceramic materials developer through IN-PART with interest in a technology being developed by a Cambridge academic – a new method of manufacturing contaminant-free, free-standing films of carbon nanomaterials with highly-defined structures.
Since the initial introduction resulting from a match on IN-PART, the collaboration has progressed. Researchers at the materials development company, who requested to remain anonymous due to competitor sensitivity, have conducted a proof-of-concept trial and are now evaluating the results. Charlanne Ward, Commercialisation Manager in Physical Sciences, explained how the collaboration has evolved:
Cambridge Enterprise (the commercialisation office of the University of Cambridge) was introduced through IN-PART to a company with a specific problem that could potentially be addressed by one of our posted technologies, being commercialised through a spin-out. The spin-out was keen to work with the company to see if the technology could indeed help solve the problem, and has undertaken an initial proof-of-concept trial with the company to highlight areas of possible improvement. The company is currently assessing the results of the trial and considering whether to move to a more specific evaluation with the spin-out.”
“Cambridge Enterprise would not have identified the opportunity to collaborate with the company without the introduction from IN-PART – the technology has many possible uses and it can be difficult for a tech transfer office to find good contacts in these cases.”
Read more case studies of technology transfer partnerships that started through IN-PART’s matchmaking platform for university-industry collaboration.
Copyrights reserved unless otherwise agreed – IN-PART Publishing Ltd., 2018
