The wide array of state-of-the-art instrumentation and scientific expertise offered by the Molecular Foundry provides users, including those from industry, with a unique opportunity to further their research capabilities. The Foundry hosts roughly 50 businesses per year ranging from startups to Fortune 500 companies that conduct non-proprietary research at no charge, or proprietary research on a cost-recovery basis. Industrial user projects with the Foundry have resulted in numerous patents, records of invention, R&D100 Awards, and millions of dollars in new funding based on their Foundry projects. In fact, in a 2018 survey, industrial users reported an average of 1.2 pieces of IP, $1.9M funds raised, 3.3 jobs created, and 0.3 peer-reviewed publications associated with their work at the Foundry.
Industrial users add a vital entrepreneurial energy to the Foundry’s research community and directly reflect the dramatic impact that the national laboratory system can have on the nation’s economy. The Foundry works proudly with industry users to advance innovative nanoscience, develop new products and manufacturing methods, and provide economic benefits and jobs.
In addition, industry partnership with the Foundry provided the blueprint that led to the creation of Cyclotron Road, Berkeley Lab’s innovative program that supports early-stage energy technology development and has become the model for innovators to partner with National Labs.
It isn’t realistic to conduct modern research without instruments like electron microscopes, x-ray diffractometers, and all these things. You can’t really bootstrap the way you might have done 50 or 100 years ago. Because the tools are so sophisticated now, to develop advanced technologies, you need a lot of resources. Without the niche the Foundry is filling in the research and entrepreneurship ecosystem, there are really no resources for founders in energy hardware technologies to do applied research.
Colin Wessells, CEO Natron Energy
What types of companies become Foundry Users?
Below are snapshots of a few of the Foundry’s industry users, listed in no particular order. In addition to these short examples, you can read in-depth interviews with industry users who discuss why they became users and how their companies benefited.
Seagate Technology
Seagate Technology is a world leader in data storage and management solutions and has been a Foundry user since 2014. They collaborate with the Foundry’s world-class experts in nanofabrication to develop technologies that can be used in next-generation ultra-high density data storage.
HighRI Optics, Inc.
HighRI Optics, Inc. is a spin-off company of the “Nanofabrication and Optics” division of aBeam Technologies, it was incorporated in March 2019. Prior to spin-off, Nanofabrication and Optics division of aBeam has been a user of the Molecular Foundry since 2008. aBeam’s work in the Foundry has resulted in 24 peer-reviewed journal publications and 3 patents, and includes the development of the highest resolution calibration tool ever created. This tool utilizes a fabricated pattern with line widths down to 1.5 nanometers and resulted in an R&D100 award in 2015. Additionally, aBeam has developed state-of-the-art nanoimprint lithography processes and high-refractive index printable polymers in the Foundry. aBeam has been acquired recently and HighRI Optics continues to be a user of Molecular Foundry.
X-Therma
X-Therma develops novel, convergent chemical technologies in biopreservation to advance the field of regenerative medicine by making available safe and on-demand organs for transplant, engineered tissues, and cell therapies for the patients in need. They work with Foundry scientists to harness nature-inspired, non-toxic polymers to prevent ice formation during long term storage that solves the long-standing roadblock of cold storage and logistics. The Company is devoted to lead innovation that enables global Regenerative Medicines on-demand to improve modern medicine and save, repair & rejuvenate billions of lives from today to eternity.
The Molecular Foundry has been fundamental to the growth of X-Therma by providing unmatched resources we have been utilizing to lay the groundwork for our advanced organ preservation technology, connections to the Berkeley ecosystem of resources, and phenomenal reputation that is highly regarded by investors and Government funding agencies. Since working at the Foundry in 2015, X-Therma grew from a single employee and has raised $9.1M in Government funding, $2.75M in private equity, and created more than 30 employment opportunities in the Bay Area over the last 6 years.
Mark Kline, Co-Founder & CTO, X-Therma Inc
Sepion Technologies
Sepion Technologies is an advanced materials company offering a platform of highly-tunable nanoporous membranes sold as key components to enable next-gen electric vehicle and portable electronics batteries, long-duration grid-storage batteries, and cost-effective water treatment. Sepion was founded when Foundry researchers developed new polymer membranes that extend the life of lithium-sulfur batteries. Researchers have reported energy densities 50% higher than commercial Li-ion technology – an important metric for reducing cost and extending range of future e-mobility products. This technology won an R&D100 award in 2016.
Plant PV
PLANT PV was one of the Foundry’s early industry users, first submitting a proposal in 2008. They focused on the research and development of new materials and device architectures for photovoltaic cells. PLANT PV developed a drop-in replacement, rear tabbing metallization paste that uses less silver and increases the power conversion of silicon solar cells. The company was acquired in early 2019 by a multinational materials company headquartered in Japan.
The Molecular Foundry is a tremendous support for a hard-tech start-up business because of the friendly working environment and access to experts in every field within the Lawrence Berkeley Labs ecosystem. In 2010, PLANT PV made the decision to move to Berkeley in order to work more closely with the Molecular Foundry. Over the next nine years we hired >25 people and spent over $5M developing new materials for solar cells in the East Bay. PLANT PV was able to successfully develop a unique metallization paste that improves the efficiency of silicon solar cells and was acquired by a large Japanese multinational company in 2019.
Brian Hardin, Ph.D., (Former) Co-Founder PLANT PV
Have Questions?
If you have questions about becoming an industry user at the Foundry, you can view our FAQ or contact the Foundry User Office.
