University of Maryland Startups Resensys, FlexEl Receive $25K Grants from SAIC

Funding Received for Self-Powered Structure Sensors, New Battery Technology

COLLEGE PARK, Md., Jan. 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Resensys LLC and FlexEl LLC, two startup companies spun out of technologies created at the University of Maryland, were awarded $25K grants from Science Applications International Corporation through the Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute, or Mtech, university officials announce today.

The funding, provided by SAIC for 2008, supports university ventures with promising technologies in alternative energy or threat detection. Funding recipients are required to be enrolled in or enter the Mtech VentureAccelerator Program, which systematically guides faculty and student technology entrepreneurs in starting companies based upon their inventions.

“Early involvement with companies like Resensys and FlexEl via this program provides SAIC with another avenue for exploring promising new technologies that benefit national security and serve citizens,” says Clement Chen, senior vice president and group director of strategic planning for SAIC. “We are excited about our continuing relationship with the University of Maryland and believe that support of the VentureAccelerator program is a good example of our cooperative activities.”

Resensys develops self-powered, wireless, distributed sensors for monitoring structures such as bridges, buildings, and pipelines. Its patent-pending technology, invented by electrical and computer engineering assistant research scientist and alumnus Dr. Mehdi Kalantari, will detect strain, deformation, and cracks forming in structures, and provide early warnings when problems arise. Resensys’ sensors attach to existing structures. The company joined VentureAccelerator in July 2008.

FlexEl develops millimeter-thick, high-density, rechargeable batteries made from thin films. Remotely rechargeable, the batteries gather energy from the environment, from sources such as vibrations and existing radio waves. They can even recharge by simply pointing a cell phone at them. FlexEl’s batteries are flexible, meaning they can conform to nearly any shape and act as part of an electronic device’s packaging. They attach to microchips, sensors, RFID chips, and small electronic components. The batteries are comprised entirely of environmentally friendly materials.

FlexEl’s patent-pending technologies were developed by electrical and computer engineering professors Drs. Martin Peckerar and Neil Goldsman, as well as research associate and alumnus Dr. Zeynep Dilli. FlexEl is accepted into the VentureAccelerator program pending final approval.

“Our goal at Mtech is to provide an on-campus support infrastructure enabling faculty and students to commercialize their inventions through entrepreneurship,” says Jim Chung, director of VentureAccelerator. “While our program provides valuable business expertise and guidance to university startups, there is still a critical funding gap at the seed stage that this important initiative by SAIC helps to fill.”

VentureAccelerator offers faculty and students hands-on assistance with a range of new business processes, including: sound business planning; understanding of markets or customers; proper alignment and timing of efforts; assistance in establishing management teams; and access to capital financing sources.

About the Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute (Mtech) (www.mtech.umd.edu)

The mission of the Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute (Mtech) is tri-fold: educate the next generation of technology entrepreneurs; help entrepreneurs create successful technology-based ventures; and connect Maryland companies with university resources to help them succeed. Founded in 1983, Mtech has had a $19.6 billion cumulative impact on the Maryland economy through its programs. Mtech is a unit of the A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland.

SOURCE University of Maryland