Blogs

Did you know that an obstetrician at the University of Glasgow invented the ultrasound? Dr. Ian Donald developed the revolutionary noninvasive imaging method used for diagnosis and prenatal examination.

Prior to the invention of ultrasound technology, other methods were used for prenatal examination. These techniques included using a stethoscope for hearing a heartbeat and a tape measure to ensure the baby was growing. These methods involved a lot of estimation, which was not very effective. In 1958, while working as a Professor of Regius Midwifery at the University of Glasgow, Dr. Ian Donald led engineer Tom Brown, Dr. John MacVicar, and a team of researchers in the development of the ultrasound. The technology allowed medical professionals to perform a noninvasive imaging test on patients, utilizing sound waves to generate images of structures within the body. The life-saving technology was first used for detecting abnormalities in pregnancies and still is today, but it was later used as a diagnostic imaging tool for organ and soft tissue conditions as well.

Currently, the ultrasound equipment market is growing due to increased demand for diagnosis and a growing geriatric population. The global ultrasound equipment market was worth $7.1 billion in 2020 and is expected to increase to over $14.3 billion by 2030. This billion-dollar industry was established from innovation that took place at a university. 

Innovation at universities can change the world. Keeping up with university innovation is crucial to your organization’s competitiveness as it allows you to identify new technologies that can help to give you a competitive edge in the market. FirstIgnite can help your organization identify and partner with the specific universities, laboratories, and experts you need in order to discover the next breakthrough in medical technology, like the ultrasound.

Exciting news! FirstIgnite is heading down to Austin, TX to attend the AUTM 2023 Annual Meeting and meet tech transfer professionals from around the world. Don't miss the chance to say hello to our team at Booth #510 and get to know us in person!

FirstIgnite Background

FirstIgnite, founded in January 2019, is a venture-backed startup with investments from Y-Combinator, Red Cedar Ventures, and Advisors Fund. Our focus is to help universities effectively market their intellectual property, professors, and core facilities to industry. Our business model is simple; we run high-touch, active marketing campaigns on behalf of university research. Our marketing campaigns work; we average 5+ meetings with industry in the first 30 days of marketing a patent or professor.

Learn about an Innovative Approach to Increase Corporate Engagement

As industry is taking up the lion’s share of research and development funding, it’s more important than ever for your campus to capitalize on this trend and ensure that your strategy, systems, and execution are ready. As Chase emphasized in his blog on research revenue growth, maintaining active and consistent marketing efforts is crucial for becoming a leader in the tech transfer community. FirstIgnite, with its proprietary software, ensures that your research is connected with companies that are already highly invested in it through various means such as patents, job listings, news articles, and more. Our marketing campaigns place you directly in front of companies that can bring about change with your research, while also allowing you and your team to focus on closing important licensing steps.

We are excited to introduce ourselves to everyone this week and start building new partnerships at AUTM 2023. To kick things off, drop by booth #510 and say hello! We look forward to meeting and connecting with you. See you there!

FirstIgnite is supporting the commercialization of Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory’s additive for the rapid curing of underwater adhesives technology. This technology involves a microcapsule with a shell including nanoclay platelets and a polyurea product and a core composition including a base catalyst for the formation of a polyurethane, a polyol, and a hydrophilic solvent. Additionally, the technology has several benefits, including low permeability, high mechanical strength, ease of handling, and stability.

The technology has potential applications both within the adhesives industry and the military. In 2021, the adhesives market was valued at $63.79 billion, and it is expected to reach $107.27 billion by 2030.

Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory’s additive for underwater adhesives technology is ready for collaboration (licensing, partnerships, industry feedback, etc.). Is your company the right fit? If you’d be available for a conversation with the Johns Hopkins University team, you can schedule a time directly on their team’s calendar here.

FirstIgnite is supporting the commercialization of Cleveland State University’s new 3D-printed multifunctional implant technology. The technology combines Poly-ether-ether-ketone (PEEK) and Silver (Ag)-doped amorphous magnesium phosphate composite (AgAMP) to create a composite filament called PEEK-AgAMP. Utilizing an effective melt-blending technique, this filament is 3D printed into bioactive and antibacterial dental implants through the Fused Filament Fabrication process. The result is customizable patient-specific implants (PSIs), which will provide relief from the negative consequences of peri-implantitis, such as surgical pain, frequent treatment visits, prolonged recovery time, reliance on antibiotics, and added therapy costs.

This technology is applicable to the dental industry. The market for dental implants is currently growing, with a current value of $4.99 billion in 2023 and projections estimating growth to reach $9.62 billion by 2030.

Cleveland State University’s multifunctional implant technology is ready for collaboration (licensing, partnerships, industry feedback, etc.). Is your company the right fit? If you’d be available for a conversation with the Cleveland State University team, you can schedule a time directly on their team’s calendar here.

FirstIgnite is supporting the commercialization of Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory’s Out-of-Band on Existing Communications (OBEC) technology for enabling out-of-band networking. This technology creates a physically isolated OOB network within an existing ethernet infrastructure without the need for additional networking equipment or wireless connections. OBEC is a passive technology that can be installed at existing network endpoints or stacked at network equipment, providing flexible protocol support and supporting zero-trust network architectures, and does not introduce latency or interference.

The technology has a wide range of applications, including critical manufacturing, defense industrial base, the energy sector, the information technology sector, and transportation systems. The information technology market alone is growing, with a value of $452.94 billion in 2021 and expected growth to reach $1358.81 billion by 2029.

Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory’s OBEC technology is ready for collaboration (licensing, partnerships, industry feedback, etc.). Is your company the right fit? If you’d be available for a conversation with the Johns Hopkins University team, you can schedule a time directly on their team’s calendar here.

FirstIgnite is supporting the commercialization of the University of Alabama’s EV battery power system technology. This technology improves battery power transfer efficiency by using wirelessly distributed multi-directional power transfer systems and integrated battery packs (BP) with swappable sub-battery packs (SBP), along with multi-directional power and energy transfer and control. Its advantages include better energy storage, shorter charging times, and improved driver-vehicle interface.

This technology's applications include electric vehicles, aircrafts, computers, and solar panels. The global electric vehicles market was worth $208.58 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow to $1103.17 billion by 2030.

The University of Alabama’s EV battery power system technology is ready for collaboration (licensing, partnerships, industry feedback, etc.). Is your company the right fit? If you’d be available for a conversation with the University of Alabama team, you can schedule a time directly on their team’s calendar here.

Brown University’s Dr. Robbert Creton has partnered with FirstIgnite to explore sponsored research collaboration opportunities with companies engaged in his area of expertise. Dr. Creton, who joined Brown University in 2002, is the director of the Leduc Bioimaging Facility, a resource for high-resolution imaging equipment and training in the life sciences. His research mainly focuses on brain development and visually guided behavior using zebrafish as a model system.

Dr. Creton has contributed to several publications, including: “A zebrafish model for calcineurin-dependent brain function,” “Analysis of vertebrate vision in a 384-well imaging system,” and “Novel use of FDA-approved drugs identified by cluster analysis of behavioral profiles.” These studies are of significant importance in the field of neuroscience, as the market size for the industry was valued at $27.29 billion in 2022 and is estimated to reach $37.98 billion by 2030.

Brown University is home to numerous renowned researchers, including Dr. Creton. If you would be interested in speaking with him regarding his research and collaborative opportunities, please schedule time with him directly here.

FirstIgnite is supporting the commercialization of Brown University’s new membrane wing technology. Membrane wings have improved aerodynamics and can delay stall to higher angles of attack compared to rigid wings. The wings utilize a dielectric elastomer actuator as the membrane material, enabling active flow control. This technology enhances lift by up to 20% with increased stall margin, has foldable and low mass properties, and its elastic and dielectric properties determine the aerodynamic lift and time-dependent properties.

This innovative technology has applications for the aerospace industry. In 2021, the global aerospace market was estimated to be worth $247.61 billion and is projected to reach $442.25 billion in 2026.

Brown University’s membrane wing technology is ready for collaboration (licensing, partnerships, industry feedback, etc.). Is your company the right fit? If you’d be available for a conversation with the Brown University team, you can schedule a time directly on their team’s calendar here.

Kennesaw State University has partnered with FirstIgnite to find collaborative partners for their Medical Sciences Ph.D. Program. The program provides Ph.D. candidates with industry-focused skills, projects, and programs to better prepare them for corporate careers. The curriculum covers subjects such as scientific communication, drug discovery and development, and provides opportunities for dissertation research and seminars. 

Medical scientists conduct research on human diseases and the improvement of human health. As this field continues to grow, this program is increasingly important. The Georgia Department of Labor recognizes Medical Scientists as one of the "Hot Careers" in Atlanta, projecting a 21% increase in job growth over the next decade, leading to over 200 new job opportunities each year.

Kennesaw State University is in the process of establishing new partnerships with companies like yours. Would your company like to be an affiliate? If you are interested in a conversation with the Kennesaw State University team, reach out to us on our website’s homepage, you can schedule a time directly on their team’s calendar here.

In education technology (ed-tech), instructional materials, learning environments, learners, and the learning process are analyzed, designed, developed, implemented, and evaluated to improve teaching and learning. This market is currently growing due to technological advancements and the recent increasing demand for online learning. As a result, the global ed-tech market was valued at $127 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach $429.5 billion by 2030.

Leading companies play a crucial role in delivering ed-tech services. Some of the top companies in this field include Microsoft ($198.27 billion dollar revenue as of 2022), Google ($257.637 billion dollar revenue as of 2021), and Oracle ($42.44 billion dollar revenue as of 2021).

Additionally, venture capital investments remain an important factor for ed-tech companies. For example, Articulate, a workplace training technology provider, received $1.5 billion in venture capital funding in 2021.

Furthermore, the trend of ed-tech spending continues to rise thanks to its numerous benefits, including greater flexibility, heightened student engagement, and reduced paper use. By 2025, education technology is expected to reach $404B in total global expenditure.

With ed-tech companies experiencing growth in both revenue and funding, it's important for universities to establish innovation partnerships with them to stay ahead. FirstIgnite can help your university identify and partner with the ed-tech companies you need to further your research and development.

FirstIgnite is supporting the commercialization of MaineHealth’s new magnetohydrodynamic vascular graft technology. The medical device uses magnetohydrodynamic principles to generate forward fluid flow with an in situ electric current perpendicular to a magnetic field and no moving parts. Furthermore, the device brings superior clinical outcomes for those with cardiovascular conditions, reducing significant adverse effects, repeat hospitalizations, and improving quality of life and lifespan.

This technology is applicable to heart surgery, AV fistulas, peripheral vascular reconstruction, solid organ transplant, and venous reconstructions following tumor resection. The market for cardiovascular devices is growing rapidly, valued at $52.90 billion in 2021 and projected to reach $92.51 billion by 2030.

MaineHealth’s magnetohydrodynamic vascular graft technology is ready for collaboration (licensing, partnerships, industry feedback, etc.). Is your company the right fit? If you’d be available for a conversation with the MaineHealth team, you can schedule a time directly on their team’s calendar here.

FirstIgnite is supporting the commercialization of Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s new blood gas analyzer technology - the Luminescence Oxygen Sensor (LUO). This cost-efficient, miniaturized device can wirelessly and continuously monitor oxygen parameters for patients with fragile respiratory status, allowing for at-home management. The LUO's advantage is that it measures PtcO2 as rapidly as oxygen saturation, making PtcO2 data readily available through wireless communication for prompt clinical decision-making.

This technology is beneficial for patients with conditions such as high-risk newborns, asthma, COPD, sleep disorders, Covid-19, and other respiratory illnesses. In 2022, the market for blood gas and electrolyte analyzers was valued at $2.98 billion and is expected to increase to $3.75 billion by 2026.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s blood gas analyzer technology is ready for collaboration (licensing, partnerships, industry feedback, etc.). Is your company the right fit? If you’d be available for a conversation with the Worcester Polytechnic Institute team, you can schedule a time directly on their team’s calendar here.