Advanced Materials

UC Berkeley intellectual property spinouts commercializing innovations in ADVANCED MATERIALS.

Advanced Materials

Click here to see all startups born out of licensing UC Berkeley intellectual property

Silicor Materials, Inc.

Brief Description

Silicor Materials was a global leader in the production of solar silicon. The company was headquartered San Jose, California, with a research and development team located in Berlin, Germany.

The organization was founded as a development company in 2006 under the name Calisolar, with the goal of manufacturing low-cost photovoltaic (PV) solar cells from silicon designed specifically for the solar industry (“solar silicon”) rather than electronic-grade polysilicon. Among the company's founding members was solar energy pioneer UC Berkeley Professor of Materials Science...

Setex Technologies

Brief Description Setex Technologies is the leading manufacturer of gecko-inspired, dry adhesive solutions, offering innovative products that surpass traditional adhesives, gripping materials, and fasteners. Our Setex™ products empower product designers and engineers in both B2B and B2C sectors to create unique, first-to-market designs and address complex manufacturing challenges, enhancing both top-line and bottom-line performance. Founded in 2009 by Dr. Metin Sitti, a Carnegie Mellon University professor, nanoGriptech (now Setex Technologies) has built its expertise through nearly a...

Ekso Bionics

Brief Description

Since 2005, Ekso Bionics has used exoskeleton technology to enhance natural abilities and improve quality of life. The exoskeleton industry leader, offering technologies that help those with paralysis to stand up and walk, enhancing worker capabilities globally, and providing research for the advancement of R&D projects intended to benefit U.S. defense capabilities.

Formerly known as Berkeley Bionics and Berkeley Exotech.

Timeline 2005. Company founded 2014. The company acquired PN Med Group Inc. through a reverse merger,...

Emerging Objects Corp.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Emerging Objects is an independent, creatively driven, 3D Printing MAKE-tank specializing in innovations in 3D printing architecture and building components. Emerging Objects' innovation lies in the unique approach to materials and sizes and the belief that 3D printing is the medium where good ideas become real.

UC Berkeley Professor of Architecture Ronald Rael co-founded Emerging Objects with San Jose State University Professor of Design Virginia San Fratello.

Timeline 2013. Company founded Inventors

Ronald Rael

Flux Technology

Brief Description

Developer of high selectivity composite membranes intended for chemical separations. The company's technology improved polymer membrane stability and performance by incorporating metal-organic frameworks. The membranes offered improved carbon dioxide selectivity and permeance, as well as increased robustness under harsh feed conditions, enabling clients to maximize product recovery and reduce operational footprint.

The company was co-founded by UC Berkeley Professor of Chemistry Jeffrey Long and a PhD student in his research group, Jonathan Bachman....

Huue

Brief Description

The fashion industry is one of the most environmentally damaging in the world.

Huue's mission is to spread our sustainable indigo dyeing strategy and revolutionize the denim supply chain.

Formerly known as Tinctorium.

Timeline 2019. Company founded. Inventors

Arthur Fong, Bernardo Cervantes, John Dueber, Luke Latimer, Ramya Prathuri, Shyam Bhakta, Tammy Melody Hsu, Terry Johnson, Zachary Russ

RHA Technology, Inc.

Brief Description

The company was founded to develop sustainable, eco-friendly concrete composed of rice hull ash (RHA). RHA Technology, Inc. was born out of technology developed in the lab of UC Berkeley Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor Povindar Kumar Mehta, who invented techniques for energy saving and waste material utilization in the manufacture of cement. Dr. Mehta was a world expert in the development of "green concrete."

Inventor

Povindar Kumar Mehta

Kynikos Technologies, Inc.

Brief Description

Producing pre-lithiated graphite from recycled lithium-ion batteries. The company was born out of technology invented by researchers at UC Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories.

Timeline 2016. Company founded Inventors

Abraham Anapolsky, Gao Liu, Andrew Minor, Julian Sabisch