HOUSTON, April 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- IPXnano today announces an agreement under which Rice University grants IPXnano the exclusive rights to over 90 US Patents and more than 140 foreign counterparts. This portfolio reflects the accumulation of research at Rice University's Richard E. Smalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, and covers a broad range of art from synthesis and manufacturing to applications and structure of matter.  IPXnano is a market-leading enterprise dedicated to the development and commercialization of nanoscale science and technology, with every day applications to society as diverse as energy and medicine.

"Our exclusive license granted to IPXnano represents the commitment of Rice University to utilize the new technologies developed at Rice to meet the changing needs of a growing, global society," commented Nila Bhakuni, Director of Rice's Office of Technology Transfer. "This arrangement reflects our stated academic, industrial, and public service mission to drive transformational technology that achieves innovation, wellness, and sustainability for the good of the public." 

"This agreement with Rice University is an important milestone for IPXnano," said Richard Jones, IPX Managing Director. "IPXnano works with companies and other organizations seeking commercial applications for the most important developments in nano-scale technology."  Some leading applications for nanotechnology include advanced batteries and solar cells in the energy industry; biomedical diagnostics and drug delivery in medicine; air and water filtration and purification; and touch-screen displays in electronics. 

"We established IPXnano as a patent pool so that it could pursue its mission of facilitating global adoption of nano-scale technology and disruptive innovation across multiple industry sectors," said G. Edward Powell, CEO of IPX.  "While we seek broad adoption, over the next few months we will be considering granting exclusive sub-licenses in defined fields of use."

Richard Smalley  (June 6, 1943 – October 28, 2005) was the Gene and Norman Hackerman Professor of Chemistry and a Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Rice University. In 1996, along with Robert Curl, and Harold Kroto, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery of a new form of carbon, buckminsterfullerene ("buckyballs").  He was a leading advocate of nanotechnology and its many applications, including its use in creating strong lightweight materials as well as its potential to fight cancer.

About IPXnano

IPX (www.ipxco.com) was established in 2003 for the purpose of assisting academic and commercial organizations in monitoring, managing, and monetizing Intellectual Property. IPXnano (www.ipxnano.com) was established by IPX to facilitate the adoption of the most transformative and disruptive nano-scale technologies.  IPXnano has entered into license arrangements with several organizations to assist in their adoption and commercialization.

About Rice University's Office of Technology Transfer

The Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) at Rice University assists the faculty, staff, and students in commercializing technology created and developed at Rice.  In doing so, the OTT strives to contribute to the public good, further economic development in Houston and Texas, and enhance the reputation of Rice University while maintaining a fiduciary responsibility to the university and its faculty, staff, and student body.

Media Contact: Perry Hall, [email protected], 615-297-7766

SOURCE IPXnano