Making UniversityIndustry Partnerships Work

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Making University/Industry Partnerships Work

• Ronald F. Childs
• Brockhouse Institute for Materials Research and
  the Department Chemistry
• McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4M1, Canada

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My Research Focus Membranes

• Separation
• Ubiquitous Problem
• Detection/measurement
• Product purification/Isolation
• Waste stream treatment
• Barriers/Regulated transport
• Expensive Problem
• Chemical and Bio-industries typically 70 of the
  cost of a a product resides in its recovery
• Membranes can provide an effective solution to
  separation challenges
• Where theres muck theres brass

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A Membrane Regulates Transport
Driving Force
Membrane
Pressure Concentration Electrical potential
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Why use membranes for separation?

• They can be very effective
• High speed separations
• Gentle
• Energy and cost efficient
• With this promise what are the opportunities for
  membrane development?

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Existing Membranes

• Field dominated by a small number of major
  companies
• Limited development of new membranes
• Potential users need hand holding to adopt a
  membrane technology
• Comparatively little university based research on
  developing new membranes
• Need for better membranes
• Need for trained manpower
• Need to work with smaller companies with specific
  needs

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McMaster Platform Technology
Gel-filled Membranes
A Powerful New Membrane MF, UF, NF, Adsorption,
Affinity Platform Chromatography, PV
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Technology Transferred from My Group

• 5 Membrane technologies transferred or being
  transferred to industry based on this platform
• Water vapor exchange membrane for HVAC
  applications
• Nutech Energy Systems Inc. London Ontario
• Water-softening (nanofiltration/tight
  ultrafiltration) membranes
• Company name withheld
• Pervaporation membranes for solvent dehydration
• Fielding Chemical Technologies Inc. Mississauga
  Ontario
• Pilot scale plant in operation
• Microfiltration membranes
• Company name withheld
• Bio-processing membranes
• Nysa Membrane Technologies Inc.
• Start up company based in Burlington Ontario
• Venture capital raised

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Elements of success

• Focus research in an industrially critical area
• Maintained balance between pure research and
  more focused development
• Strive to become world leader in area
• Proactively network with the corporate sector
• Build relationships act as broker
• Listen to customer needs
• Group culture to establish successful working
  relationships with the corporate sector
• Industrially relevant research is not second
  class

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Elements of Success

• A proven, stable, experienced team
• In undertaking collaborative projects it is
  critical to be able to deliver on time
• Experience in and willingness to tackle problems
  from a real user perspective
• Establish credibility
• Knowledge and experience with broad range of
  matching money programs, tax credits, etc.
• Experience with the patenting process

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Cautions

• It is a long road from a lab. based solution to a
  fully operational technology
• small companies require ongoing help in this
  process
• The more companies involved in a single project
  the more difficult it is to achieve a tight
  working relationship
• Publish and perish
• The conflict between academia and effective
  transfer of technology