Two McMaster start-ups make Canada’s Top 10

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/solarpanelteam.jpg” caption=”Professor Adrian Kitai, Jesika Briones and Wei Zhang were selected as one of Canada’s Top 10 clean technology companies for developing high-efficiency flexible solar cells to help increase the use of solar energy. Photo courtesy of Faculty of Engineering.”]Two technology start-up projects from McMaster's Xerox Centre for Engineering Entrepreneurship and Innovation are among the winners of this year's Canada's Top 10 Competition organized by the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation.

Liquid Fiber Displays, which developed the fiber-optic based display sign in the McMaster University Student Centre, was selected as a Top 10 start-up in the technology category. A project focused on the development of high-efficiency flexible solar cells was chosen as a Top 10 start-up in the clean technology category.

Canada's Top 10 Competition is designed to promote the most promising companies from across Canada to Canadian and international investors and partners. Winners are provided with access to coaching clinics, investment forums, exhibiting opportunities at major international trade shows, and ongoing support for business development and investment readiness.

Jesika Briones, an engineering entrepreneurship master's student, is working with Adrian Kitai, professor of both engineering physics and materials science and engineering, and Wei Zhang, an engineering physics master's student, to develop and commercialize high-efficiency flexible solar cells.

The team has found a way to develop flexible solar cells that operate at 12 to 14 per cent efficiency, approximately twice that of competitive products, and approaching the efficiency of market-dominant rigid solar cells at 16 to 20 per cent. The advantage the new technology offers over rigid solar cells is that it is not limited to use on flat surfaces and is much easier to install.

“This unique combination of high efficiency and flexibility opens up all sorts of new applications for solar cells,” explains Briones. “For example, they can be installed on the curved roofs of bus shelters to provide power for lighting and computerized scheduling information; on recreational vehicles to power appliances; and on convenience stands that are located far from electrical sources. And these are just a few of our ideas.”

Professor Kitai is also involved in the fiber-optic based signage project with engineering entrepreneurship master's students Nimesh Bahl and Cristian Nunez. This technology combines a uniquely woven optical fiber array with current LCD and LED display sign technology.

The result is a high-resolution, high-brightness light module with excellent colour reproduction capability but with lower power consumption. The technology can increase display resolution and reliability compared to LED displays, and at lower cost.

The team is currently seeking partners in order to begin large-scale manufacturing of the electronic display signs for use in indoor spaces such airports, shopping malls, convention facilities, sports facilities and schools.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for us to promote our technology and to access potential investors,” said Bahl. “Financing is one of the greatest challenges for new ventures. The door has just been opened much wider for us.”

“This competition introduces us to key contacts in the US and internationally,” adds Nunez. “This will make it easier for us to expand our marketing efforts outside of Canada.”

The two teams are in Ottawa on Dec. 3 and 4 with the rest of the competition winners to prepare for investment forums being scheduled in early 2008. They will participate in coaching sessions conducted by experts in communications, investor relations and from the corporate street.

Canada's Top 10 Competition was first held in 1999. It was originally designed to promote the 10 most promising life science companies from across Canada. The competition was expanded to showcase Canada's clean technology sector and a technology category was added this year. Competition winners and alumni have secured more than $522 million in venture capital financing since their selection.

The Xerox Centre for Engineering Entrepreneurship and Innovation was established to provide engineers and scientists with the skills necessary to transform technical expertise into commercial success. The program utilizes industry proven business start-up methodology and is taught by business practitioners.

Intellectual property support for the McMaster teams was provided by the McMaster Industry Liaison Office (MILO), which filed US and Canadian patent applications for Liquid Fiber's technology and filed provisional patent applications for the flexible solar project. In addition, Glen Crossley, a MILO industrial liaison officer, helped to prepare a proof-of-principle funding application which was successfully submitted to the C4 POP Fund.