2005, September - Global Shelter Project – Born out of the PolySmart initiative, the company focuses on using polymers to create rapidly deployable construction units for sound barriers, bridge decks, emergency shelters, housing units, etc. A team of MBA Entrepreneurship students assisted in the development of a business plan for this business.

2005, August - Delta-Gamma Technologies – Research company formed to develop nanomaterials for improved products that have specially tailored properties for specific uses.  For example, one invention includes an energy absorption system with nanoporous particles that could become part of a future “liquid armor” to protect soldiers or even absorb a collision’s impact for a car.

2005, February - University Innovation Ventures Inc – For-profit subsidiary of The University of Akron research Foundation, managed by Gordon Schorr and Barry Rosenbaum.

2004, July - Coal Fuel Cell Inc. – Formed to develop and commercialize potentially breakthrough technology related to the use of coal in fuel cell technology. The Company has already received $550,000 in grants. A team of MBA Entrepreneurship students assisted in the development of a business plan for this business.

2004, January - Integrated Smart Structures Inc.- UA professor Pizhong Qiao formed ISSI to develop smart structure technology under funding received from the federal STTR program. The initial project focus is related to aircraft wings structural integrity monitoring in real time.

2004, December - Polysmart Inc. – formed by Dr. Erol Sancaktar, Dr. Wieslaw Binienda and Dr. Lloyd Goettler of The University of Akron and by Charles Holsopple for the purpose of developing and commercializing efficient and easy to transport and construct explosive projectile barriers. The company is primarily targeting the military and security markets.

2004 November - Guerrilla Ventures - Gordon Schorr, former Marketing Manager of Goodyear Chemical Inc. formed Guerrilla Ventures to identify, develop and commercialize intellectual properties within The University of Akron and companies within the greater Akron region. Company also provides commercialization services

2003 - Molecular Constructs – The University of Akron Research Associate Scientist Charles Moorefield formed Molecular Constructs in 2003 to manufacture and distribute dendritic and supramolecular chemistries and nanotechnology, the subjects of his research and development activities. see www.dendrimers.us – The company is currently on hold.
A team of MBA Entrepreneurship students assisted in the development of a business plan for this business. 

2003 - Akron Scientific Inc. – Professor George Giakos of The University of Akron along with Elias Landon formed Akron Scientific Inc. to develop and commercialize high definition x-ray and ultrasonic technology primarily for the homeland security market. 

2002, September – TCS Polymers – Dr. Frank Kelley, Dean of The University of Akron College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering and Barry Rosenbaum, Director of Technology for Omnova Solutions Inc. formed a company known as TCS Polymers to commercialize color-changing polymer technology that they co-invented. The University of Akron Research Foundation is a co-owner of the related invention and anticipates licensing such rights to TCS Polymers. Funding is pending from the National Transportation and Safety Research Board. 

2002, August - Akron Polymer Systems Inc. Professors Frank Harris and Stephen Cheng formed Akron Polymer Systems Inc. in August of 2002, for the purposes of manufacturing and distributing proprietary polymers for high performance displays. The University of Akron has licensed related intellectual property invented by Professors Harris and Cheng to Nitto Denko. The University of Akron, polyamide of Drs. Harris and Cheng was successfully produced at OPED’s pilot plant. 

2002 August - Akron Research Commercialization Corp (“Youngs Research”) - Professor Wiley Youngs formed a new company to research and develop proprietary chemicals and has submitted for SBIR and STTR funding. Developing anti-tumor using various metals including silver and Rhodium 105 anti-chelating funded by NIH – Collaborating with Dan Ely (rat study) and Peter Renaldi of UA 

2002 - Poly Display Inc. – Akron Polymer Systems (Professors Frank Harris and Stephen Cheng) and Kent Display formed Poly Display Inc. as a joint venture to research and develop proprietary polymers for high performance displays. 

2002 – Ohio Polymer Systems. – Professor Frank Harris with venture capital colleagues, formed Ohio Polymer Systems to research, develop, manufacture and distribute proprietary polymers for the biomedical industry.

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University Research Related But Not Based on University Licence Rights

Die-Gem - Date to be determined
James Adams (polymer science UA graduate) purchased KEL-EEZ,
a manufacturing company for weather-stripping and other home improvement products in 1971. Renamed Die-Gem, the Akron company focuses on the manufacturing of extrusions, sealer products and windows

Life Systems Corp. - Date to be determined
Cardiovascular researchers at UA, led by Dr. Daniel L. Ely, a professor of biology and cardiovascular researcher, are conducting trials for a cutting-edge perfusion device designed by a University alumnus and founder of Life Systems Corp (Redmond, WA), Dr. Fereydoon Sadri. The “Lifesustainer 1000” is designed to keep hearts and other organs alive outside of the body for research applications or transplants.

Empirical Testing Corp. - Date to be determined
Empirical Testing Corporation (ETC) was started in 1999 by Dawn (Abens) Lissy (Biomedical Engineering M.S. 1998 ). Located in Broadview Heights, ETC is a testing program for medical devices.

Quatech Inc. - Date to be determined
An Akron company founded by UA professors C.F. Chen and C.S. Chen, and acquired by Steve Runkel was recently profiled in the January 2003 SBN Magazine. The firm, which manufactures computer ports, is moving into a larger facility in Hudson where they expect to boost the productivity by 25%.

1992 - Theken Surgical
see www.thekensurgical.com

1992 - Theken Orthopaedic - www.thekensurgical.com Formed in 1992 by Richard R. Navarro. as a medical engineering service and support organization to provide services to the medical industry exclusively with a focus toward orthopaedic implant manufacturers

1993 - Inter-ion Inc.- Founded in 1993 by then University of Akron Ph.D. student and MS chemical engineering alumnus, Adam Antonas. Inter-ion Inc.’s core businesses are water based and water soluble polymer coatings and primers in liquid and powder form, rubber molding and thermoplastic molding. Located at 157 Ascot Parkway, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio the company occupies 24,000 sq. ft. with a total employment of 14. Inter-ion is a “graduate” of the Akron Industrial Incubator. Phone number is 330-928-9655.
See www.inter-ion.com

1990s - United Polymer Technology LLC - 526 S. Main St. Suite 111, Akron, OH 44311 (330) 535-9400. Founded in 1900s by former University of Akron professor Sebastian Kanakkanatt. UPT manufactures and distributes specialty polymer gel candles. United Biopolymers focuses on the research and development of polymers for biological purposes. Both companies are located at the Akron Industrial incubator. Phone number is 330-535-9400. See www.unitedpolymers.com “According to our records, Kanakkanatt made only one invention disclosure to UA; #187 for Multichromic polymers that issued as US pat # 5,501,945. UA waived its ownership rights to the inventor. Dannemiller advises that the patent was quite fouled up. The university has not otherwise licensed or given any rights in technology to United Polymer Technologies.” A team of MBA Entrepreneurship students assisted in the development of a business plan for this business.

1990s - United Biopolymers - affiliate of United Polymers (see supra.)

1997 - Creative Action Inc. – 680 North Portage Path, Akron OH 44303 330-867-9978 - Formed in 1997 with principals that include Ronni Sterns, Charles Nelson and University of Akron Professor Harvey Sterns. Company is the successor to a prior market research company of Ronni Sterns and Charles Nelson. Creative Action Inc. provides technology and market consulting and developmental services. The company has 7 employees and has received approximately $4.5 million dollars under the Federal Government Small Business Innovative Research Program. It is a recipient of the prestigious Tippets Award as an outstanding SBIR related company and was named by the Cleveland Plain Dealer as one of the top 20 Bioscience companies in Northeast Ohio.

1999 - eSpin Technologies Inc., 100 Cherokee Blvd, Suite 325, Chattanooga, TN 37405, Phone : (423) 267-NANO (6266), Fax: (423) 267-6265, Email: nanoFiber@aol.com Founded by Jayesh Doshi, former graduate student of Professor Darrell Reneker. Located in Chattanooga TN. See www.nanospin.com

2003, Advanced Coatings - Steve Johnson - Former UA graduate student is expanding his Israel based company into the Akron region.

2004, July - Innovation Business Partners – Gary Markovits - Collaborating with The University of Akron to use intellectual property mapping to direct the innovation efforts of scientists and engineers

2004,BioMedical Research Associates, Inc. - Dr. Stanley Rittgers of and Dr. Stephanie Lopina of The University of Akron collaborate with BioMedical Research Associates, Inc in the development of biomedical technology. The company has funding from the federal STTR program.

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