Page 27 - Innovation Delaware 2019

WHY DELAWARE?
#DELAWARECONNECTED
Connections are easy in Delaware’s tight-knit community of innovators, where startup founders rub shoulders with industry leaders and policymakers. Here’s a story of a connection that made a difference:
WHO: Dr. Hansan Liu, Founder and President, TalosTech LLC CONNECTIONS: Professor Yushan Yan, Associate Dean for Research and Entrepreneurship, College of Engineering at the University of Delaware; Michael Bowman, State Director, Delaware Small Business Development Center; and Michael Sanders, former Global Marketing Director – Energy Storage at DuPont
WHAT HAPPENED: Liu was a senior chemist at DuPont until the company closed its Central Research Department in 2016. In the wake of the closure, Liu licensed a lithium titanate battery-material technology from DuPont, continuing the effort to commercialize it. The technology “could enable lithium ion batteries to be used more safely, run longer, charge faster and survive in colder weather,” Liu says. In 2016, Professor Yushan Yan organized and hosted a series of entrepreneurship seminars, where he encouraged ex-DuPonters to start businesses and keep working in Delaware. “He is now a co-founder and scientific adviser of TalosTech, providing strong support and guidance,” says Liu.
Michael Bowman helped Liu get TalosTech off the ground by reviewing and discussing Liu’s business plan. “He gave me a personal tour of the DTP@STAR incubator even before it was completely built up,” Liu says. TalosTech started an 18-month incubation period there after winning a project through the Department of Defense’s Small Business Innovation Research program. “The DTP@STAR incubator did an excellent job helping small businesses like TalosTech at their earliest point,” says Liu. Michael Sanders, now a business consultant for TalosTech, helped Liu build up a partnership with a large materials manufacturer to scale up TalosTech’s production of battery material. Through this partnership, TalosTech was able to start scaling up its material production and move into a 2,500-square-foot space at New Castle Airport Industrial Park in 2018.
SINCE THEN: In 2019, TalosTech received a Unidel Foundation Startup Grant to help with business development. “This grant will have a significant impact on TalosTech’s growth, moving the company from the stage of prototype demonstration to the early stage of product manufacturing,” says Liu. The grant will also
HANSAN LIU
strengthen the company’s collaboration with University of Delaware researchers to develop new advanced battery technologies. Liu’s vision for TalosTech is “to be a leading innovator of advanced battery technology that can be better at powering our future life,” he says. “I highly appreciate the help and support from Delaware’s state government and communities.”
Why is this important to researchers and entrepreneurs?
We are all aware of how federal research funds are tightening. Consequently, all universities are eyeing the corporate sector to help faculty diversify their research areas.
But it’s not all about the funds. Corporations can direct faculty to do more translational and commercial product-oriented research. Students can get jobs with our partners and receive mentoring. It builds an entrepreneurial mindset and encourages startup interest amongst faculty and students. These are some of the benchmarks that our office uses to track success.
Do you only assist UD innovators?
While our general mission is to assist UD faculty students and staff, most of our services extend statewide.
We provide several consulting and advisory services to other universities within the state, such as Delaware State University and Delaware Technical Community College. We serve the Delaware community through pro bono offerings. Our affiliate offices, such as the Delaware Small Business Development Center (SBDC), serve our entire state.
OEIP’s mission uses a unique model — centered on long- term, productive partnerships — that facilitates access to space, capital, counsel and connections. These relationships empower entrepreneurs and innovators to accelerate their ideas to market, grow their businesses and form partnerships of their own.
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