A network of separations technology industrial contacts is growing through UConn, made possible by several UConn College of Engineering partners.
An Industrial Workshop on Separations Technology was held on October 10-11 at the Innovation Partnership Building.
This workshop, which was the third in the last 5 years, was led by General Electric Professor of Advanced Manufacturing in the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering department Jeffrey McCutcheon. He is also the director of the Connecticut Center for Applied Separations Technology. The event was co-organized by long-time collaborator Dr. Shan Yong, who works in water technology and business development.
“This two-day workshop brought 100+ like-minded individuals to the table to talk about how advancing separation technology can help us achieve a cleaner and less carbon-intensive future.” McCutcheon said. “We sought to bring in people with a diversity of backgrounds and expertise in hopes of cross-pollinating ideas around separations technology innovation.”
The event began on Thursday evening with a startup pitch competition with a cash award sponsored by Mott.
Eden Tech, Forager Station, Cool Amps, Harmony Desalting, Andros Innovation, Nona Technologies, and Rehydrate pitched. Andros Innovation won the competition with Harmony Desalting securing the runner-up position.
Friday panels focused on topics such as: Separations for Desalination, Water Treatment, and Water Reuse; Financing Sustainable Separation Technologies panel; Water Technology Startups; and Decarbonization Technology Start-ups. Plus, participants engaged in a discussion about industry consortium and federally-funded center grants.
In the Financing Sustainable Separations Technology panel, for example, audience members asked companies and funders about the implications of Artificial Intelligence in start-ups, how to operate overseas, when to know when a company is ready for “prime time,” and more.
“We often look for disruptive technologies,” says James Lyons of the Capricorn Investment Group. “We’re looking to solve a ‘big’ problem. And, we’re sticky investors. We hang around for 15+ years.”
Steve Kloos, a partner at Burnt Island Ventures, said he attended the workshop to engage with bright minds on the state-of-the-art separations technology spanning from emerging research, start-ups, and corporations. Kloos said he had attended the event in the past, and found it offered ample time for individual discussions.
“This is all focused on commercial outcomes, making it really useful for industry,” Kloos says. “The workshop helped get me back up to speed, in a delightful setting.”
Additional photos from the event are available online.
