Beyond Research Knowledge and Technology Transfer

The Knowledge and Technology Transfer Department is another area giving coverage and support to the whole of the ICN2. The specific aim under the “Nanodevices for social challenges” research programme is to actively engage with industry and develop a clear road to technology transfer, from internal technology scouting and triage through to collaborative agreements, patent licensing and other routes to market.

The Severo Ochoa programme has helped to unlock the considerable commercial potential of the research developed at the ICN2. Back in 2014, the institute had made a few first forays into knowledge and technology transfer. Today it has 15 filed patents, two patent licence agreements, three spinoffs, six contracts with new companies and a number of researchers working at partner companies.

We have also created a new section on the website to showcase ICN2 patents and licensing opportunities, and have updated the content and look and feel of patent flyers and brochures.

Aside from a rise in the number of patents filed, we have also already achieved some of our qualitative goals in this respect. For instance, we have filed patents across all three research areas, including three co-sponsored by industry and one filed jointly by two ICN2 research groups. Furthermore, three patents filed prior to the Severo Ochoa programme, to protect intellectual property arising from research lines in Energy and Life, were licensed in 2014 and 2015.

Besides those listed below, the ICN2 research groups also filed eight new patent applications, currently pending resolution.

Spanish

  • WO2016/185071 A1: Nanofluidos electroactivos basados en grafeno como electropodos líquidos en celdas de flujo (2015)

European

  • WO2016/142438 A1: Electrode material comprising silicon nanowires covered by mesoporous oxide nanostructured coating and ionic liquid electrolytes for energy storage applications (2015)
  • EP15190177.4: Photodiode with intense photovoltage or photocurrents (2015)
  • WO20170600891 A1: Flexoelectric device (2015)
  • WO2016162496 A1: Method for monitoring radius and shape variations of atomic force microscope cantilever tips and device thereof (2015)
  • EP16163838.2: Ceria nanoparticles for use in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (2016)
  • WO2017158165 A1: Method for the preparation of metal organic frameworks (2016)
  • EP16382301.6: A hybrid hyperthermia device and the methods using the same (2016)

Plus the following patents co-sponsored by industry:

  • WO2016/087630: Biocidal composition with dual immediate and remnant activity (2014)
  • WO2016/087608: A reclosable adhesive strip (2014)

United States and Canada

  • US 62/392,316: Method to treat antimicrobial resistant infections by electric current (2016)
  • US 62/301,946: Thermotherapy method to treat antimicrobial resistant infections (2016)

Plus the following patents co-sponsored by industry:

  • WO2017105666 A1: Nanoemulsion optical materials (2015)

The Severo Ochoa programme saw the creation of the ICN2’s first ever spinoff company, FutureChromes, to develop and market ophthalmic lenses. This was followed in 2016 by three more spinoffs from the Life and Energy research areas.

  • FutureChromes, S.L. (2014)
  • PaperDrop Diagnostics, S.L. (2016)
  • Earthdas Graphene Powered Mobility, S.L. (2016)
  • Graphenicalab, S.L. (2016)
  • Two Industrial PhD projects in Life (2014-2017) and Energy (2016-2018)
  • Six ICN2 employees past and present employed at partner companies: two in Life, one in Energy and three in ICT.
  • Six new collaboration agreements with new partner companies: two in Energy and four in Life.
  • The Knowledge and Technology Transfer Department have attended a total of 16 events to boost industry engagement.