Tag: Science and Technology

Compact Membrane Systems Chooses Del.

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Compact Membrane Systems* Chooses New Castle, Delaware, for $3.1M Expansion to Help Meet Market Demands

Expanding with 15,080 square feet of lab, other space will allow company to add 38 new full-time jobs, tripling current staff by 2026

WILMINGTON, Del.  – Compact Membrane Systems Inc. (CMS), a 30-year-old Delaware company whose advanced membrane systems address the challenge of decarbonizing heavy industry, has chosen New Castle, Delaware, for a $3.1 million facility and workforce expansion that will help address massive market demand.

CMS formerly operated completely out of a location on Water Street in Newport. The company recently moved much of its operations to a temporary site on Reads Way in New Castle near where construction on its new facility is ongoing. The expansion includes building 10,864 square feet of research and development and manufacturing-focused lab spaces along with more than 4,216 square feet of additional new space. The company also plans to add at least 38 new full-time employees to its current staff of 19 over the next three years.

“We’re grateful that Compact Membrane Systems will build on its 30-year history in our state,” said Governor John Carney. “CMS has an important mission to decarbonize heavy industry. Their decision to grow in Delaware will help make our environment more sustainable and add jobs to our state.”

Founded in Wilmington, Delaware, in 1993 by former DuPont scientist Stuart Nemser and now led by his daughter, CMS delivers technology solutions that capture and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, avert global warming and transform the industry into a long-term sustainable enterprise. With a massive shortage of membrane fiber needed to meet industry demands, CMS is expanding to help fill the growing needs of the carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) market, which has tremendous growth potential in the fight against climate change.

CMS has been shifting from a small, research-based company utilizing federal grants for R&D projects to further its business objectives to a rapidly growing commercial entity with a double bottom line – marrying commercial success with social responsibility – by delivering innovative new products while also capturing and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. As the company has evolved, including raising $16.5 million in a Series A venture capital round in 2023, CMS has investigated where best to continue its growth.

The company considered moving to locations closer to investors and potential customers, including Houston, Texas, and areas further West. However, CMS’s First State roots, history of hiring local talent and commitment to community involvement and sector leadership here helped drive its decision to continue to expand its engineering, manufacturing and sales footprint in Delaware.

“It’s vitally important we keep legacy companies like CMS in our communities growing and thriving,” said New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer. “We have the talent right here in our state, and this expansion presents opportunities for our workforce to stay right here at home.”

Delaware Prosperity Partnership supported CMS’s request to the Council on Development Finance for a Graduated Lab Space Grant of up to $760,480 and a Jobs Performance Grant of up to $115,000 from the Delaware Strategic Fund. Distribution of these grants is dependent upon the company meeting commitments as outlined to the CDF, which reviewed and approved CMS’s request.

“CMS has grown up as a Delaware company and, through this state support, is excited to cement our future in Delaware,” said Erica Nemser, CMS’s CEO, who also chairs the Delaware Sustainable Chemistry Alliance Board. “We love the resources and opportunity Delaware has to offer, from excellent scientific and technical talent to the commitment to manufacturing advanced technology to address climate emissions.”

* Since the publication of this release, Compact Membrane Systems has rebranded as Ardent to reflect the company’s next chapter as an innovative, high-growth company ardently committed to accelerating decarbonization and transforming the global industrial and energy landscape.

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Delaware Hosts Hydrogen Hub Conference

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Carney, Carper, Coons, Blunt Rochester Host Energy Department at Hydrogen Hub Conference

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (all D-Del.) hosted U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Deputy Secretary David Turk at the Clean Hydrogen for the Mid-Atlantic Conference at the Chase Center on the Riverfront to discuss the economic and environmental benefits of clean hydrogen to Delaware with more than 300 stakeholders from around the region. In October, the DOE chose the Mid-Atlantic Clean Hydrogen (MACH2) proposal, a public-private partnership between Delaware, southeastern Pennsylvania, and southern New Jersey, as one of seven regional clean hydrogen hubs. This designation came with a $750 million federal grant that was made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Topics covered during the half-day event included how the hub would positively impact regional economies, public health, and the environment. Guests and panelists throughout the event included Bloom Energy’s Rick Buettel, Chesapeake Utilities’ Shane Breakie, First State Hydrogen’s Andrew Cottone, PBF Energy’s Matt Lucey, DART’s Michael McNeal, University of Delaware Center for Clean Hydrogen’s Yushan Yan, State Senator Stephanie Hansen (D), Cheyney University of Pennsylvania’s Pamela Keye, State Representative Larry Lambert (D), Steamfitters Local 420’s Jim Snell, and Delaware Workforce Development Board’s Joanna Staib.

MACH2 will advance President Biden’s goal of a 100% clean electrical grid by 2035 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, strengthen our nation’s energy security, and create an estimated 20,000 good-paying clean energy jobs, including union jobs. MACH2 will produce, distribute, and use clean hydrogen to power our vehicles, airplanes, industries, and more. The proposal was chosen largely due to the highly trained, unionized workforce in Delaware and the surrounding area, as well as the region’s strong manufacturing, chemical, and bioscience presence and existing infrastructure capable of transporting and storing hydrogen.

Mach2 logo

“Hydrogen hubs present a win-win-win for our climate, our communities and union workforce, and for the economy,” said David Turk, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Energy. “Clean hydrogen is the Swiss Army Knife of clean energy technologies. It can decarbonize some of our hardest-to-abate sectors, like heavy industry and transportation, and can provide long-duration energy storage. With this investment in the MACH2 Hub, DOE is eager to help build this indispensable network of hydrogen producers, consumers, and connective infrastructure in the region, while creating an estimated 20,000 jobs.”

“To be one of seven regional hydrogen hubs chosen by the U.S. Department of Energy – out of 79 that originally started the process – is a really big deal,” said Governor John Carney. “This designation will bring $750 million for Delaware and our partners in the region to build a clean energy industry that will create thousands of good union jobs. And Delaware communities are a significant part of this plan. The point of cleaner energy is to make things cleaner and better for people – especially those who live in disadvantaged communities. There will be an opportunity at each stage for the Delawareans to weigh in and shape these projects, and we encourage the public to participate.”

“Today’s conference brought together leaders from different levels of government, industry, labor, and academia to discuss how we are working together to grow the clean hydrogen energy sector in Delaware,” said Senator Tom Carper, Chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. “Clean hydrogen has a critical role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping us meet our nation’s climate goals, while also creating good-paying jobs. Thanks to our region’s first-class labor workforce, existing infrastructure, and research and development capabilities, the future of the Mid-Atlantic Clean Hydrogen Hub is bright.”

“As the nation’s lowest-lying state, Delaware faces particularly acute challenges from climate change-related natural disasters, and so a transition to energy sources like clean hydrogen is crucial for our state,” said Senator Chris Coons, Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Senate Climate Solutions Caucus. “To do that, we can’t leave behind the workers and the infrastructure and the systems that we’ve built. MACH2 is a critical opportunity to transition the skills of Delaware workers, upgrade the facilities of our local refineries and industrial pipelines and manufacturing facilities, and innovate, innovate, innovate. We have an opportunity here to show that we can transform, and that we can compete, and if we do that, we won’t just save our world and our climate – we will save our communities, as well.”

Clean Hydrogen for the Mid-Atlantic Conference logo with speakers and time.

“The big takeaway from today’s conference is that we all have a part to play in turning the vision of MACH2 into action – from elected officials and universities to businesses and environmental justice advocates – as we invest in clean hydrogen production and create-good-paying jobs in an equitable, just, and sustainable way,” said Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester, member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. “Delaware has the ideal infrastructure, workforce, and positioning for the MACH2 framework, and I am eager to see the First State take its place at the center of our clean energy future.”

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DE Helps Region Earn Tech Hub Status

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Delaware Part of Greater Philadelphia Region Precision Medicine Tech Hub Designated by Biden-Harris Administration

Image by macrovector on Freepik

Area is one of 31 selected from nearly 400 applicants, is identified as ‘primed for technological innovation and job creation’ under President’s Investing in America agenda

WASHINGTON, DC — The Biden-Harris administration, through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA), today announced the designation of 31 Tech Hubs in regions across the country, including the Greater Philadelphia Region Precision Medicine Tech hub encompassing Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania

This is the first phase of the new Tech Hubs program, which is an economic development initiative designed to drive regional innovation and job creation by strengthening a region’s capacity to manufacture, commercialize and deploy technology that will advance American competitiveness. The program invests directly in burgeoning, high-potential U.S. regions and aims to transform them into globally competitive innovation centers.

The Greater Philadelphia Region Precision Medicine Tech Hub, led by the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern PA, aims to become a global leader in end-to-end precision medicine. This Tech Hub will leverage the region’s density of life sciences assets and research and development expertise to weave together disparate technology applications: biotechnology, medical technology, genomics, synthetic biology supported by artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics and more. Together, these tech-enabled efforts will deliver new ways to diagnose, prevent and treat disease, increasing evidence-based technology applications that improve morbidity and mortality and decrease health disparities.

Tech Hubs was authorized by the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, a key part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, which he signed into law in August 2022. Winners are located across 32 states and Puerto Rico and represent a cross-section of urban and rural regions. Designation is an endorsement of the region’s plans to supercharge their respective technological industries to create jobs, strengthen U.S. competitiveness and protect national security. The Tech Hubs focus on industries ranging from autonomous systems, quantum computing, biotechnology, precision medicine, clean energy advancement, semiconductor manufacturing and more, and they highlight how the Biden-Harris Administration is investing in innovation and economic growth in every region of the United States.

The Phase 1 winners were selected from nearly 400 applications from regional consortia that include industry, academia, state and local governments, economic development organizations, and labor and workforce partners. As part of the Tech Hubs competition, each consortium outlined plans for strengthening its region’s capacity to manufacture, commercialize and deploy critical technologies.

These designated Tech Hubs may now apply to receive between $40 million and $70 million each for implementation funding, totaling nearly $500 million.

Read the full Tech Hubs announcement release here.

Read more about the Tech Hubs program here.

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RiKarbon Chooses to Grow in Delaware

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Homegrown environmental solutions firm RiKarbon chooses to continue growing in Newark, Delaware

Expansion of early-stage business focusing on carbon capture and utilization includes quadrupling lab space and creating 12 new full-time Delaware jobs

WILMINGTON, Del. (October 23, 2023) – RiKarbon Inc., an early-stage company specializing in developing innovative technologies for carbon capture and utilization, has chosen to continue growing in its hometown of Newark, Delaware, with an expansion from its Delaware Technology Park incubator space to nearby Delaware Industrial Park.

RiKarbon was founded in 2018 with support from a federal Small Business Innovation Research Grant from the Department of Energy and a mission to develop and commercialize sustainable proprietary technologies that capture and repurpose carbon emissions. The company has grown steadily since then, winning a 2019 Tech Connect Innovation Award, receiving several Delaware Technology Innovation Program Grants and outgrowing its 600 square feet of laboratory space in the startup incubator of Delaware Technology Park.

To maintain the momentum of its growth so far, RiKarbon will renovate and fit out 2,540 square feet of new chemical research and development lab space in a former electronic device manufacturing facility on Dawson Drive in Delaware Industrial Park. The company also will add 12 full-time positions to its current roster of six full-time employees and two part-time employees.

“We’re pleased that RiKarbon Inc. – a recognized leader in carbon capture – has chosen to expand in Delaware,” said Governor John Carney. “The company that started in a Delaware Technology Park incubator space will quadruple its square footage and add full-time jobs to continue to make Delaware a leader in the environmental space.”

The larger facility and staff will allow RiKarbon to continue its commercial scaleup of 100% bio-based oils for emollients to formulate personal care products, bio-poly-alpha-olefin base oils for performance lubricants, products for upcycled plastics manufacturing and other cost-competitive offerings for domestic and international markets. A recently announced partnership with BASF – the world’s largest chemical producer – includes bringing one of its emollient products to market by 2024. The company also has received letters of intent from global customers to deliver products and is now raising investment funding to do so.

“Congratulations to Delaware’s own RiKarbon, born right here in the First State, on their continued growth in the field of carbon capture,” said New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer. “It’s with great pride that we can say this company was incubated right here in Newark and has chosen to continue to expand where the talent lies, right here in Delaware.”

Delaware Prosperity Partnership supported RiKarbon’s request to the Council on Development Finance for a Graduated Lab Space Grant of up to $34,000 and a Jobs Performance Grant of up to $26,000 from the Delaware Strategic Fund. Distribution of these grants is dependent upon the company meeting commitments as outlined to the CDF, which reviewed and approved RiKarbon’s request.

“We are recreating similar ingredients that we use every day in our shampoo, conditioner, facial products or automotive engines, but making them in a socially responsible way from organic wastes that are causing environmental challenges globally,” said Basudeb Saha, president and CEO, RiKarbon. “It is very satisfying that we are able to deliver green and upcycled products to our customers to promote health and environmental efficacy while tackling climate challenges.”

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About Delaware Prosperity Partnership

Created in 2017, Delaware Prosperity Partnership (choosedelaware.com) is the nonprofit public/private organization that leads Delaware’s statewide economic development efforts to attract, grow and retain businesses; build a stronger entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem; and support private employers in identifying, recruiting and developing talent.

About RiKarbon

RiKarbon (rikarbon.com) develops technologies for cost-competitive renewable products that use non-conventional and typically unused carbon feedstocks to serve the domestic and international specialty and performance chemicals market.

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Evernorth Will Grow Accredo In Delaware

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Evernorth Health Services to Expand Operations in Delaware with New 200,000-Square-Foot Specialty Pharmacy and Distribution Facility

WILMINGTON, Del. –  Evernorth Health Services, The Cigna Group’s health services business, has chosen Newark, Delaware, as the location of a new approximately 200,000-square-foot specialty pharmacy and distribution facility. Within the facility, Accredo, Evernorth’s specialty pharmacy, will dispense lifesaving medications to patients across the Northeast. Additionally, Evernorth intends for its specialty pharmaceutical distributor, CuraScript SD, to operate from the facility alongside Accredo and distribute specialty medications to health care providers who treat rare and complex conditions.

The Newark, Delaware, facility will expand and replace Accredo’s existing location in New Castle, Delaware, which it has operated since 2007. The facility will be staffed by nearly 90 existing Delaware employees consisting of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, warehouse associates, operations staff and more. Evernorth anticipates more than doubling the number of Delaware employees at the Newark facility over the next several years. These employees are dedicated to supporting patients diagnosed with some of the most rare and complex conditions known today, as well as providers who help treat these patients.

“Delaware is a health care hub for the Mid-Atlantic region. That’s one of the reasons Evernorth chose Delaware to grow their existing specialty pharmacy services and fulfillment facility,” said Governor John Carney. “We are pleased Evernorth plans to make a significant investment in the First State to expand their operations, which will enable the company to retain and add jobs over the next several years.”

“Congratulations to Accredo on their expansion in New Castle County,” said New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer. “Increasing job opportunities here in the first county in the First State is important to continue to make our state a great place to live, work and raise a family.”

Delaware Prosperity Partnership supported Evernorth’s request to Delaware’s Council on Development Finance for a Jobs Retention Grant, a Jobs Performance Grant, a Capital Expenditure Grant and a matching Training Grant.

“This new facility will help us meet the growing demand and need for specialty medications, which have risen by 280% over the past two decades,” said Matt Perlberg, President, Pharmacy, Evernorth Health Services. “Evernorth is a leader in specialty pharmacy, dispensing millions of medications to patients and providers every year. As more complex medications come to market in the years ahead, our expanding location in Delaware will enable us to more efficiently and effectively distribute these lifesaving medications to individuals throughout the country, particularly in the Northeast.”

“Delaware has been home to one of our Accredo specialty pharmacy facilities for many years, and we look forward to deepening and expanding our ties in the community as we develop our new location,” said Perlberg.

About Delaware Prosperity Partnership

Created in 2017, Delaware Prosperity Partnership (choosedelaware.com) is the nonprofit public/private organization that leads Delaware’s statewide economic development efforts to attract, grow and retain businesses; build a stronger entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem; and support private employers in identifying, recruiting and developing talent.

About Evernorth Health Services

Evernorth Health Services creates pharmacy, care and benefits solutions to improve health and increase vitality. We relentlessly innovate to make the prediction, prevention and treatment of illness and disease more accessible to millions of people. Evernorth capabilities are powered by our businesses, including Express Scripts, Express Scripts® Pharmacy, Accredo, CuraScript SD, eviCore and MDLIVE, along with holistic Evernorth platforms and solutions that move people and organizations forward. All Evernorth solutions are serviced and provided by or through operating affiliates of Evernorth Health, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Cigna Group (NYSE: CI), or third-party partners. Learn more at evernorth.com.

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$750M Grant Funds DE/PA/NJ Hydrogen Hub

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Mid-Atlantic Clean Hydrogen Hub Wins $750 Million Federal Grant

Delaware/Pennsylvania/New Jersey Clean Energy Collaboration Will Bring 10,000 New Jobs to Region

The Mid-Atlantic Clean Hydrogen Hub (MACH2) has been approved for $750 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs Program – one of just seven hubs so funded nationwide.

MACH2 aims to reduce pollution – particularly for frontline communities experiencing the “first and worst” environmental consequences – and advance clean energy. With a network of hydrogen producers, consumers and infrastructure throughout Delaware, Southeastern Pennsylvania and South Jersey, MACH2 will create more than 10,000 jobs in the production, delivery and use of zero-emission green and pink hydrogen for industrial, transportation and agricultural uses. It also will further Delaware’s prominence in the clean energy economy.

According to Delaware Governor John Carney, who co-chairs the Delaware Prosperity Partnership (DPP) Board of Directors, Delaware companies and institutions already have led on hydrogen and now will play a key role in this initiative.

Photo illustration by David Barczak

“This is a big deal,” Carney said. “Hydrogen is a clean fuel of the future, one of the ways we can pollute less. Our region has been chosen for a federal infusion of hundreds of millions of dollars that will create thousands of jobs and show how hydrogen can be made, transported and used in a real-world way. When we have talked about the opportunities for Delaware from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law championed by President Biden and our Congressional delegation, this has been one of the big ones, and we got it. I’m looking forward to getting to work with our partners in the region.”

Dora Cheatham and the Delaware Sustainable Chemistry Association (DESCA) were among the critical organizations that spearheaded development of the winning proposal and public-private regional collaboration structures. Delaware partners – including DPP – worked alongside entities in Southeastern Pennsylvania and South Jersey on this winning plan. DPP, a proud member of the MACH2 collective, was able to financially support the more than year-long process that will have a substantive impact in Delaware and region for years to come. The October 13 announcement is another milestone in furthering DPP’s mission of advancing prosperity for all Delawareans.

“The exciting news coming from the Department of Energy about MACH2’s selection as one of our nation’s hydrogen hubs is great for the region and tremendous for the State of Delaware,” said CSC President and CEO Rod Ward, who co-chairs the DPP Board with Governor Carney. “DPP’s investment in the initiative made a lot of sense at the onset of the process. That forethought will help advance our region’s economic and environmental goals, positively impact families who live in environmentally challenged neighborhoods and provide more well-paying jobs for individuals who are part of our state’s workforce.”

The White House release about the grant awards is here. 

Additional details about MACH2 are here. 

An article about the University of Delaware’s role in the initiative is here. 

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DE Project Wins $3.2M NIH IDeA Grant

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National Institutes of Health awards iRED University project $3.2 million IDeA Grant

Photo Illustration by Jeffrey C. Chase/University of Delaware

DESCA, University of Delaware and InsiteHub partnership will use funding to advance biomedical entrepreneurship in Delaware

WILMINGTON, Delaware – On August 21, 2023, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded a grant through the IDeA Program to iRED University – a new collaboration between DESCA, the University of Delaware and InsiteHub – that will deliver an online entrepreneurial curriculum geared to early-stage innovators and startups that will help them identify their most viable applications as early as possible and subsequently connect them to the broader innovation and mentoring ecosystem. The program is funded through a three-year grant totalling up to $3.2 million, of which more than $980,000 will be directed to DESCA. The Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant is now in Phase I, with follow-on funding expected in Phase II.

According to the National Science Board 2018 Science & Engineering Indicators, university invention disclosures totaled 22,507 in 2015 (compared to 13,718 in 2003) and patent applications almost doubled over the same period. In 2016 alone, over 6,600 patents in chemistry and the sciences were awarded – yet many of these patents never realize their full commercial value. iRED University aims to change that.

The iRED University team is working on a simple premise: in order to increase the number of patents and innovations commercialized, we need to increase the funnel of viable technology startups at the front end, and in order to do that we need to meet the very specific and unique needs of technology driven innovators. iRED University will be delivered through a rigorous and engaging online curriculum that will be critical to supporting the project goals and bridging the gap of sufficient training and knowledge for innovators in the biomedical field through a high-availability on-demand learner experience platform. The curriculum will lead innovators from ideation, identifying market gaps, to execution of a product strategy that translates customer requirements into effective commercial execution of new products. The platform will also provide the ability to assess participants at the point of registration and allow them to develop and access a personalized curriculum that can be customized for their specific gaps. This helps both new and experienced innovators to focus on areas of need and provide direct learning interventions.

The product will be initially launched in Delaware and will be open to the entire Northeast when launched. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) established the IDeA (Institutional Development Award) Program in 1993 to broaden the geographic distribution of NIH funding and enhance competitiveness for funding in states with historically low NIH funding. The states that fall within the Northeast Region besides Delaware include Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. Other regions include the Southeast Region (West Virginia, Kentucky, South Carolina, Puerto Rico, Missouri), Central Region (North & South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Omaha) and the Western Region (Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii).

The core team for this new partnership includes Dr. Julius Korley, Associate VP UD Office of Economic Innovation & Partnerships (OEIP), Louis DiNetta, Technology Business Development Manager Delaware Small Business Development Center SBDC, John Royer, CEO, Insite Hub, and Dora Cheatham, Executive Director, DESCA, and combines expertise in technology development and commercialization, online curriculum development and execution, business development and new product commercialization and SBIR/STTR expertise.

About DESCA

Formed in 2010, the mission of DESCA is to enable science innovators commercialize their technologies faster, as well as driving the new legacy of ChemTech. Today, DESCA has 3 key areas of focus around which it builds its programming:

    • Driving innovation and collaborative partnerships between major strategics, startups and universities;
    • Convening industry leaders in the public and private sectors on emerging issues and driving adoption of emerging trends & technologies that will be the key drivers of sustainability for the future;
    • Connecting students to industry and vice versa, with a goal of harmonizing the development of talent with the validated needs of industry.

    About OEIP

    The Office of Economic Innovations and Partnerships brings together the collective and integrated resources of the University of Delaware and the State’s business, academic and entrepreneurial communities to achieve new levels of innovation and economic development. The Office strives to:

    • Be the partner of choice in matters of economic development, commercialization of innovation, entrepreneurship and building businesses;
    • Enable entrepreneurs and innovators to accelerate ideas into the marketplace, grow businesses and form partnerships through access to University assets, space, capital, counsel and connections;
    • Deliver a unique, integrated model centered on long term, productive partnerships.
    • Support the University, state and region’s entrepreneurial, technical and business communities to reach new levels of economic development.
    • Create a culture where ideas and innovation thrive.

      About INSITE HUB

      • InsiteHub has been a provider of learning technology, medical education, and product training to the life science and medical device industries for over 10 years. InsiteHub has established itself as a leader by developing innovative learning technology solutions and earning key industry awards for application design and impact. In addition, InsiteHub’s platform was featured in an extensive Department of Education grant focused on researching student engagement at the university level. InsiteHubs’s instructional design paradigm is based on the ADDIE model whose steps include Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation.

      About Delaware SBDC

      • For over 35 years, the “T” accredited DSBDC has assisted Delaware’s small businesses through information, counseling, and education. DSBDC’s technical assistance has resulted in more than 1,500+ new business starts, 4,200+ new jobs created (since inception), and $267M capital raised (since 2010). In 2009, DSBDC became only the eighth SBDC accredited as a “technology” designated program after demonstrating significant efforts to target and support Delaware’s technology-based businesses as well as its pivotal role as an essential connector and resource within the state’s entrepreneurial and technology ecosystems.

      This article was originally posted on the Delaware Sustainable Chemistry Alliance website at: https://desca.net/f/desca-ud-insite-hub-win-3m-grant-to-advance-entrepreneurship

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      Patrick Callahan of LabWare

      Written on . Posted in Success Stories.

      Entrepreneur Patrick Callahan, Head of Data and Analytics for LabWare

      An Ongoing Series Highlighting Delaware Innovators

      LabWare’s acquisition of Patrick Callahan’s CompassRed data analytics firm in February 2022 started with a chance first encounter between Callahan and LabWare President and CEO Vance Kershner and Callahan at Buckley’s Tavern in Centreville.

      “Developing a relationship with Vance is the perfect example of things that happen in Delaware that just don’t happen anywhere else, in my opinion,” Callahan said. “We met over a bar stool.”

      Callahan built CompassRed into a visionary company in machine learning and predictive analytics. As head of data and analytics at LabWare, he is now developing a dedicated advanced data analytic arm as part of efforts to elevate the company’s position as the global leader in the laboratory information management market.

      Previously, the Drexel University and Widener School of Law graduate was a founding partner of The Archer Group. The award-winning, interactive internet marketing firm, founded in 2003, serves a diverse roster of clients in the financial services, retail, pharmaceutical and entertainment industries – including numerous Fortune 500 clients.

      Callahan also serves on the boards of several Delaware organizations. These include the Delaware Data Innovation Lab, the Pete du Pont Freedom Foundation, Girls on the Run and Delaware Prosperity Partnership.

      He spoke with DPP about innovation in Delaware and what it takes to innovate successfully.

      Why is Delaware a great state to be an innovator?

      I’m sure we’ve heard this a million times, but the accessibility to me is the big thing. If you’re looking to be in one of the best labs or chemical spaces, you can drive 40 feet and find people who are customers, thinkers, funders and legislators. There’s a reason why we have the biggest banking, biggest chemical companies and a lot of the other things right here in the Northeast corridor. When people talk about what made the country great, you can see that diversity here in the state – socioeconomic levels, education levels, diversity of thoughts and backgrounds.

      How I met Vance is a great example. You couldn’t just go to San Francisco and get a meeting with founders like Reid Hoffman (LinkedIn), Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook) or Marc Andreessen (Mosaic, Netscape). You just don’t go to a restaurant, introduce yourself and then strike up a conversation there. That’s unheard of.

      In your view, what qualities should a successful innovator have?

      I think humility is one thing. If you’re humble, that means you’re always learning, you’re always trying to figure out things, and you’re always knowing you don’t have the answer. People who say, “I know the answer,” are the ones who nine times out of 10, don’t. Getting out there and meeting people is very, very important if you want to sell your product or address the problem that you’re trying to address. That could be over Zoom or in person, but curiosity about another person’s view and experiences is just so important. Expanding what we’re doing at LabWare requires me to get to know the customers in the labs and the end user of the product.

      Intellectual curiosity and the willingness to listen to someone no matter how different they are is something you can learn and build into your product and innovate.

      You can do that over Zoom. We’ve shown over the last two years that’s essential, and maybe even easier. Before COVID, we’d have meetups where only 30 or 40 people would show up in person. But during COVID, we’d get hundreds of people from all around the world, which would lead to follow-up calls. I don’t know if we’ll go back. We want to have a mixture of both because there are things you can learn on the side before the meeting.

      What advice would you give an innovator who’s just starting?

      First, go meet people, go to these meetups. Many are free, but I find myself asking if someone will spend $1 on it. To me, that is a good qualifier because if you give it to them for free, they won’t necessarily assign value to it. When we were doing these meetups, people would sign up but two-thirds of them wouldn’t show up. The minute we started charging $5 and giving the money away to a nonprofit, really engaged people showed up because they thought of it as value. If you’re providing value, you should get value back for it. It’s not just time.

      Second, follow your interest. Doing good is good for business. I feel passionate about Girls on the Run, but speaking at a networking event also landed Archer one of our largest clients. Don’t go into it thinking you’re going to get something out of it. Be genuine, but give back to the community – and encourage your team to do the same — and I’ll tell you, you’ll get it back tenfold. There are so many nonprofits in Delaware that do so many good things that you’ll meet your next customer, hear about the next important problem that you can help solve or just meet someone with a different perspective that will help you back at the office.

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      Jalaal Hayes, Ph.D., Founder of Elyte Energy

      Written on . Posted in Success Stories.

      An Ongoing Series Highlighting Delaware Innovators

      At 22, Dr. Jalaal Hayes made Delaware State University (DSU) history as its youngest doctoral degree candidate. The native of North Philadelphia earned this honor in 2015 by successfully defending his thesis “Thermodynamic and Kinetic Studies of Alkali-Metal Doped Lithium Amide-Magnesium Hydride Hydrogen Storage System.”

      He then taught in Philadelphia for the Universal Companies and Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School for nearly two years in pursuit of his teaching mission to make science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) simple. He spent the following two years as a visiting assistant professor of physical chemistry at DSU and then was an assistant professor of chemistry at Lincoln University for almost four years.

      In 2020, Hayes founded Elyte Energy, a Dover, Delaware-based clean-energy company that uses patent-protected hydrogen technology to build a highly efficient power supply for fixed and portable devices. The startup won an Encouraging Development, Growth and Expansion (EDGE) Grant from the Delaware Division of Small Business in 2021. The grant helped fund laboratory space and equipment to develop a commercial prototype of Elyte’s hydrogen-based system, and the technology has application in the greater global vehicle market.

      Dr. Jalaal Hayes, second from left, accepted a 2021 EDGE Grant for Elyte Energy during a ceremony with Governor John Carney in 2021.

      Hayes previously founded Elyte Universal Network, a STEAM-based content entity that focuses on making difficult and complex sciences simple and accessible to all communities. He also has authored two books and spoken at numerous events, including TEDxWilmingtonSalon, delivering “The Chemistry of Community Building,” and the Innovative Applied Energy Conference held at the University of Oxford in England. In addition, he released a documentary about his journey to becoming the youngest applied chemistry Ph.D. candidate in America called “Exploding Dreams: A STEAM Story” in 2021.

      Speaking with Delaware Prosperity Partnership, Hayes shared his views on innovation in Delaware along with advice he’d give to hungry innovators.

      Why is Delaware a great state to be an innovator?

      Due to the state’s cost-effective living and growth potential, economically and socially, Delaware is a great state to innovate, communicate and elevate the status quo of the country for generations to come.

      In your view, what qualities should a successful innovator have?

      Excellent communication skills, the ability to see and create the future and the ability to provide solutions and opportunities to their respective industries and communities – financially, socially, etc. Along with these qualities, you must be resilient and willing to learn and apply lessons fast in every trial and tribulation that comes your way that tries to block you from achieving your minimum viable product or even that first contract to pay for your idea. In addition to the qualities above, production, quality and speed are the keys to innovation, especially in our current times.

      What advice would you give innovators just starting?

      When discussing your innovation, be clear and concise on how your technology or idea can apply to specific problems and make things easier, better, faster or cost-effective for the overall “big picture.” For innovators just starting, draw or write out your idea and ask people if they would buy into it and why. You can start with friends, but you’ll need to ask outside your trusted group. If there’s a positive response, go for it and begin to build the most cost-effective product possible. Get a team or expert advisors to assist with every checkpoint along the journey. In addition, it helps to constantly check your technology readiness level for your technology as you gain more information and new results from each experiment and iteration.

      How do you decide whether a new idea is worth pursuing or should be set aside?

      You need to ask the following questions:

      • Is it the right time to solve this problem?
      • How many people can buy into the idea? Is it greater than 100 people? If so, go for it. If not, what is next?
      • Are you willing to disrupt the status quo for the greater good?

      Once you answer these questions and the answers indicate that you are ready to move forward, begin setting up SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound) goals for the development of the project.

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      Agilent Investing $22M in Delaware Site

      Written on . Posted in Press Releases.

      Agilent Chooses Delaware for $22M Investment in Manufacturing to Meet Growing Demand for Biopharma Consumables

      Investment in Newport facility will support economic and job growth over next decade

      WILMINGTON, Del. – Agilent Technologies Inc., a global leader in analytical instrumentation development and manufacturing and one of Delaware’s largest private-sector employers, has chosen to modernize and expand its Newport, Delaware, manufacturing facility to meet growing global demand for its biopharma consumables.

      Agilent plans to invest nearly $22 million to increase the capacity of its lab-based manufacturing site in Newport, leasing 12,000 square feet adjacent to its existing facility and fitting out 9,900 square feet as lab space with new infrastructure, equipment and instrumentation. Over half of the remaining square footage will become a warehouse, storage and shipping/receiving area, and the balance will be used for offices.

      This latest expansion follows another investment by Agilent last year to its Wilmington-area Little Falls R&D labs. Agilent employs 18,000 people worldwide, including more than 950 in Delaware. The Newport site employs 110 workers, and the expansion is expected to create additional new jobs over the next 10 years.

      “Delaware has a strong manufacturing history, and this latest investment by Agilent Technologies confirms the company’s commitment to innovating in the First State,” said Governor John Carney. “We are pleased Agilent will be expanding and bringing more good-paying jobs to the state’s strong science, technology and biopharmaceutical sectors.”

      The Newport facility, one of several Agilent manufacturing sites across the United States, produces liquid chromatography columns used for chemical and biochemical analysis, drug discovery, environmental control and analytical chemistry. Growing worldwide demand for these analytical consumables led the company to review its U.S. facilities to determine the best opportunity to grow production capacity. Agilent’s decision to invest in its Newport site in New Castle County reflects confidence in Delaware’s dynamic business environment and the large pool of regional talent.

      “Agilent’s latest expansion is proof that New Castle County is a great place to create and grow your business,” said New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer. “It’s become well known that we have the resources and the talent to continue to be a leader in the chemical and biopharma industry.”

      DPP’s Noah Olson, left, and Megan Kopistecki, joined Agilent Technologies Manufacturing Site Manager Graham Margetts, center, in presenting to the Delaware Council on Development Finance.

      DPP’s Noah Olson, left, and Megan Kopistecki, joined Agilent Technologies Manufacturing Site Manager Graham Margetts, center, in presenting to the Delaware Council on Development Finance.

      Delaware Prosperity Partnership has been engaged with Agilent as the company explored growth possibilities in Delaware. Today, DPP supported Agilent’s request to the Council on Development Finance for a Delaware Graduated Lab Space Grant of up to $693,000 from the Delaware Strategic Fund. Distribution of grants from the Delaware Strategic Fund are dependent on the company meeting commitments as outlined to the CDF, which reviewed and approved Agilent’s request.

      “Agilent has been operating in Delaware for more than 20 years, and we are pleased to continue investing in our manufacturing and R&D facilities in the First State,” said Henrik Ancher-Jensen, Agilent’s Order Fulfillment and Supply Chain president. “We are honored to be part of this dynamic community that supports innovation and growth and attracts top talent.”

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      About Delaware Prosperity Partnership

      Created in 2017, Delaware Prosperity Partnership (choosedelaware.com) is the nonprofit public/private organization that leads Delaware’s statewide economic development efforts to attract, grow and retain businesses; to build a stronger entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem; and to support private employers in identifying, recruiting and developing talent.

      About Agilent Technologies

      Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is a global leader in analytical and clinical laboratory technologies, delivering insights and innovation that help customers bring great science to life. Agilent’s full range of solutions includes instruments, software, services and expertise that provide trusted answers to customers’ most challenging questions. The company generated revenue of $6.85 billion in fiscal 2022 and employs 18,000 people worldwide. More information about Agilent is available at agilent.com.

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      DTP Hub to Grow Delaware Life Sciences

      Written on . Posted in In the News.

      Photo courtesy of South Duvall

      LIFE SCIENCE SYNERGY

      New facility at the Delaware Technology Park has major potential for UD and Delaware

      For more than 20 years, the Delaware Technology Park (DTP) in Newark has been one of the state’s main economic drivers, bringing jobs in research and development and helping to educate and train future innovators through synergy and partnerships with the University of Delaware.

      The park will build on that rich history of success on the eastern edge of the UD campus by leasing out the final parcel for construction of a three-story, 100,000-square-foot facility that aims to become a hub for life science and research companies. In addition, it could potentially provide wet-lab space for commercial spinouts from the University.

      “The life sciences community continues to grow in Delaware and the region, with UD contributing critical research, innovation and workforce development,” UD President Dennis Assanis said. “Our previous partnerships with DTP companies have yielded outstanding opportunities for students, such as internships, guest lectures and employment. We anticipate that the companies in this new facility will open new avenues for federally funded research collaborations with UD’s faculty and research centers.”

      The developer, Rockville, Maryland-based South Duvall, has signed an agreement to begin construction on the last remaining parcel — a nearly seven-acre piece of land fronting Wyoming Road. The property’s adjacency to UD was a major factor for the company, said Robert Scheer, South Duvall’s president and a life science real estate industry veteran. Among the reasons for his excitement: the University’s elite engineering programs, the potential to house UD facilities and that university research parks have proven to be dynamic spaces for growth across the country.

      “We are excited to play a role in the next stage of the Delaware Technology Park’s growth,” Scheer said. “An impressive ecosystem has been built in Newark and this building will foster continued growth in Delaware’s life science community.”

      Mike Bowman, president and CEO of DTP, said its management and board have wanted to fill the remaining parcel with a signature multi-tenant life science building for a while, but have been waiting for the right market conditions.

      “That time has arrived,” Bowman said. “Several local companies are seeking to expand, and new ones are interested in coming to Delaware. The proximity to UD is vital for tenants to collaborate with UD’s facilities, research talent and future workforce.”

      Like the other five buildings at the technology park, the new facility will have a multitude of benefits for UD and its faculty and students.

      Bringing more companies close to campus provides students — especially those who don’t have access to private transportation — the ability to take advantage of experiential learning and employment. Also, DTP@STAR, the incubator on STAR Campus, has limited space and is best suited for very small businesses. The new building will enable growth for these and other companies and encourage job retention in Delaware.

      South Duvall officials expect to bring in the first of its tenants — which will join 10 others at Innovation Way — at some point in 2025.

      Kurt Foreman, president and CEO of the Delaware Prosperity Partnership (DPP), lauded the University, Delaware Technology Park and South Duvall for their efforts, which will further DPP’s mission to attract, grow and retain businesses in Delaware.

      “Increasing Delaware’s inventory of affordable, high-quality lab space invites companies from both within and outside the state to choose to grow here will support Delaware’s continued momentum in life sciences and other lab-based fields,” said Kurt Foreman, president and CEO of Delaware Prosperity Partnership. “DPP appreciates DTP’s decades of leadership in promoting the long-term growth of Delaware’s science and technology sector through projects like this and welcomes South Duvall’s recent engagement that will bring their considerable industry expertise to our state’s innovation ecosystem.”

      This article by Peter Bothum was originally posted by the University of Delaware at: https://www.udel.edu/udaily/2023/june/science-research-technology/

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      global water tech company expands in Delaware

      Global Water Tech Leader Expands in Delaware

      Written on . Posted in Press Releases.

      Global Water Technologies Leader Solenis Chooses Delaware for $40M Expansion

      Growth in Wilmington Driven by Increasing Market Demand for Company’s Sustainability-focused Products and Expertise

      WILMINGTON, Del. — Delaware-based global water technologies leader Solenis has chosen its hometown of Wilmington as the site for a $40 million research and development expansion.

      In response to increasing market demand for its sustainability-focused products and expertise and with an eye toward long-term growth, Solenis will expand its R&D operations with a move to the 100,000-square-foot Building 713 at Chestnut Run Innovation and Science Park (CRISP). CRISP is a former DuPont campus that MRA Group is developing into a hub for a range of life sciences and advanced chemical companies.

      Solenis is a global leader in supplying innovative specialty chemicals and services for process, functional, and water treatment applications to consumer and industrial markets.

      The new CRISP facility will provide Solenis with 20,000 square feet more lab space than the company currently has at its existing R&D center on Ashland’s Wilmington campus. In addition to more space, the larger, upgraded site will allow Solenis to add up to 46 new highly skilled Delaware jobs — including lab technicians, scientists and R&D supervisors — within the next three years.

      “Solenis chose to build their global water technologies in Wilmington. This week’s announcement shows their continued commitment to our state and workforce,” said Governor John Carney. “Solenis will expand its research and development operations to a 100,000-square-foot building. Thank you to Solenis for continuing to strengthen Delaware’s workforce and science and technology sector.”

      Solenis is a vital part of Delaware’s science and technology sector and is a significant Delaware employer. Choosing to invest in a new facility in Wilmington will provide Solenis with the opportunity to grow its R&D team to support projected growth while solidifying its commitment to Delaware.

      Originally spun off from Ashland and headquartered at Wilmington’s Avenue North since 2020, Solenis has 48 manufacturing facilities and more than 6,400 employees around the world to serve an array of industries in 120 countries. Solenis currently employs more than 300 in Delaware, with approximately 185 employees at the Avenue North headquarters and 140 employees at its Ashland R&D site. Both are located in Northern Delaware’s New Castle County.

      “What the MRA Group has done for the CRISP campus is transformative for our County,” said New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer. “The redeveloped campus gives our existing Delaware companies that are expanding a home to grow and thrive. New Castle County is proud to continue to be the home of Solenis, which provides great jobs in our community producing innovative and sustainable solutions for everyday life.”

      Solenis officials presented an application to Delaware’s Council on Development Finance (CDF) for a Jobs Performance Grant of $552,000 and a Delaware Lab Space Grant of $3.5 million from the Delaware Strategic Fund to support the company’s investment of $40 million. Distribution of grants from the Delaware Strategic Fund are dependent on the company meeting commitments as outlined to the CDF, which reviewed and approved the Solenis team’s request for up to $4.052 million in total grant funding.

      “Solenis has deep roots in Delaware, so we are pleased to announce our continued commitment to growing in the state at CRISP,” said John Panichella, CEO, Solenis. “This investment of moving our Wilmington research center to a contemporary new location, in combination with our recently opened headquarters at Avenue North, allows us to continue to attract, retain and recruit the highest caliber of employees.”

      ###

      About Delaware Prosperity Partnership

      Delaware Prosperity Partnership leads Delaware’s economic development efforts to attract, grow and retain businesses; to build a stronger entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem; and to support employers in place marketing Delaware to potential employees via livelovedelaware.com. The DPP team works with site selectors, executives and developers focused on where to locate or grow a business and helps with reviewing potential sites, cost-of-living analyses and funding opportunities, including available tax credits and incentives. DPP advances a culture of innovation in Delaware, working with innovators and startups to spotlight and celebrate successes and connect them with the resources they need to succeed. DPP and its partnerships throughout Delaware support and advance the missions of companies of all sizes and sectors.

      About Solenis

      Solenis is a leading global producer of specialty chemicals focused on delivering sustainable solutions for water-intensive industries, including the pulp, packaging paper and board, tissue and towel, oil and gas, petroleum refining, chemical processing, mining, biorefining, power, municipal, and pool and spa markets. Owned by Platinum Equity, the company’s product portfolio includes a broad array of water treatment chemistries, process aids and functional additives, as well as state-of-the-art monitoring and control systems. These technologies are used by customers to improve operational efficiencies, enhance product quality, protect plant assets, minimize environmental impact and maintain healthy water. Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, the company has 48 manufacturing facilities strategically located around the globe and employs a team of over 6,400 professionals in 120 countries across five continents. Solenis is a 2022 US Best Managed Company. For additional information about Solenis, please visit www.solenis.com or follow us on social media.

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