You are invited to attend a special event organized to recognize the three finalists of the inaugural 2018 ECE Innovator Program and to present the first 2018 ECE Innovator with $75,000 to help launch their commercialization effort on a technology developed through their research in ECE.

The “ECE Innovator Program” is aimed at inspiring and facilitating the commercialization of research conducted in ECE by providing financial support to a team of entrepreneurs with both technical and product management skills. ECE has long been a hub of top-notch research and significant innovation and commercialization of intellectual property. This new program is made possible through a donation by an ECE alumnus Rick Bolander, Managing Director and co-founder of Gabriel Venture Partners and eLab Ventures, who has been a successful serial entrepreneur himself. ECE has matched this generous donation to fund and launch this new program.

A panel of experts reviewed nine proposals submitted by ECE researchers, and selected three finalists. The finalists will present their proposed innovation and commercialization plan to the panel of experts and the public on September 21, 2018. The panel will then select the 2018 ECE Innovator.

The three finalist projects and proposing teams are:

Self-Powered IoT for Smart Manufacturing and Transportation (ActiveMEMS)
Dr. Ethem Erkan Aktakka

Advanced Wireless Technology
Ms. Avish Kosari, Dr. Armin Jam, Professor David Wentzloff

Large-Scale Ultra-thin Doped Silver Film for Flexible Transparent Electrodes
Mr. Yongbum Park, Mr. Chengang Ji, Professor Jay Guo

In addition, one of the nine proposers will present a short summary of their commercialization plan:

Small Precision Affordable Rotation Sensors (SPARS)
Dr. Jae Yoong Cho, Prof. Khalil Najafi


Program:

3:00pm: Introductions and Information about the program
3:15pm: Presentations by Finalist teams showcasing their groundbreaking technology
4:30pm: Closed Judges Panel Meeting to select the 2018 ECE Innovator
5:00pm: Announcement of 2018 ECE Innovator, and Reception

Panel of Experts:

Rick Bolander, Managing Director and co-founder of Gabriel Venture Partners and eLab Ventures

David Brophy, Professor and Director, Office for the Study of Private Equity Finance, Ross Business School, University of Michigan

Jonathan Fay, Dixon and Carol Doll Executive Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship, University of Michigan

Joseph A. Heanue, President and CEO, Triple Ring Technologies

Mingyan Liu, Peter and Evelyn Fuss Chair of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Michigan

Khalil Najafi, Schlumberger Professor of Engineering, ECE, University of Michigan
Bryce Pilz, Director of Licensing, U-M Office of Tech Transfer, University of Michigan