2023 Spark Incubator Program Update

SPARK INCUBATOR PROGRAM SUMMARY SINCE SEPTEMBER 2022:

7 Spark companies have established new working labs at IAMM.
5 companies have hired additional staff:
- 4 were UTK students or alumni
- 1 staff hire is relocating to Knoxville from Houston, TX
- 5 Spark companies are seeking additional interns or permanent staff for Knoxville jobs; UT-Knoxville continues to be a critical source for staffing
- Underscores Spark Innovation Center’s impact on fostering growth in high-tech careers in Knoxville and retaining UTK talent
Many milestones the Spark Incubator companies achieved came with access to state-of the-art equipment via the Institute for Advanced Materials and Manufacturing

HOLOCENE:

Awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to advance our technology for direct air capture. Holocene partners with ORNL for this grant’s total funding of $1.5 million. This is in addition to the Innovation Crossroad program, fostering the close collaboration between ORNL and Holocene.
Completed new lab set up in its Spark Innovation Center lab space. The lab provides access to highly specialized analytical methods needed to deepen staff’s understanding and further de-risk its technology. Based on the experimental results, a conceptual design for Holocene’s pilot plant was established.
Hired three new employees- a research associate, a business operations associate, and a chemical engineering intern from the University of Tennessee – all eager and passionate to take on meaningful work.

CQ INSIGHTS:

Identified and hired a new fractional Chief Technology Officer.
Launched its first project with Medtronic, a global healthcare technology firm.
Continue to equip clients with data for important milestones. One client, ConMed, submitted a proposal for expanded indications with the FDA using our CQI generated data.

RAEV:

Completed development of its app, which now available for download. Interested clients can pre-register in their home city! https://apps.apple.com/us/app/raev/id1644933289

SAFIRE:

Completed its first round of funding at $3 Million.
Won 2 Direct-to-Phase-2 Air Force contracts.
Hired its Head of Product & Brand from ExxonMobil and will be relocating to Knoxville.

FC Renew:

Continues to advance its process to renew hydrogen fuel cell catalysts with its active Phase I SBIR from the U.S. Army and additional funding from LaunchTN.
Is currently hiring for three positions: a student intern, laboratory technician, and senior scientist.
Welcomed a new University of Tennessee student intern for the 2023 Spring semester.
Expanded its single fuel cell testing capabilities to include electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and completed installation in its new lab space at the Spark Innovation Center

AMERICAN NANOTECHNOLOGIES INC (ANI):

Received $100k SBIR Matching grant from LaunchTN, which is being used to expand our carbon nanotube characterization capabilities at its Spark lab space.
Continued development of printable chemical sensors in collaboration with researchers at ORNL.
Established collaboration with researchers at the University of Colorado-Denver to develop a continuous flow version of our materials processing technology. This collaboration will be applying for several funding opportunities in 2023, including an upcoming AFWERX proposal.
Reached agreement with a new Senior Research Scientist to join the team later this year. This hire will be based in Denver and work hand-in-hand with our collaborators at CU-Denver.

ORION THERAPEUTICS:

Added Dr. Michael Freeman (Chairman of Surgery-UT Medical Center) to Board of Advisors.
Raised $70,000 in pre-seed investments.
Selected as 2022 MassBioDrive Cohort (Boston – Pharmaceutical based accelerator).
Received a nomination for PYA Tom Ballard Award.
Awarded a $8,000 Microgrant from LaunchTN.
2022 National Science Foundation STTR Grant applicant (referred for funding by program director).
Proof of Concept study completed using lab/process/mRNA in Orion’s lab space in the Spark Innovation Center.

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