Sensor testing and development infrastructure from $24 million Ohio Third Frontier Grant available to support private commercialization efforts

July 2, 2014 ­— CLEVELAND – Sensor technology development partners in the Wright Center for Sensor Systems Engineering (WCSSE) are fully operational and available to support private commercialization efforts, Cleveland State University announced. CSU served as the lead grantee for the $24 million Ohio Third Frontier program that concluded this year.

The program created a network of commercialization partners in Ohio with goals of reducing time to market for sensor products and supporting job creation. The collaborating institutions will continue to offer facilities to companies interested in developing sensors and systems.

Examples of available capabilities include microelectronics packaging and testing at Lorain County Community College’s SMART Center, semiconductor design and energy management at University of Akron, human motion and control at CSU, terahertz applications and development lab at Ohio State University, machine imaging and quality assurance at Youngstown State University, as well as biomedical prototyping and evaluation facilities at Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Center and Austen BioInnovation Institute in Akron.

“The Wright Center collaborative has helped spur the creation of several start-up companies with sensor technology and we are open for business to others interested in utilizing our resources,” said Dr. Jerzy Sawicki, Principal Investigator for WCSSE and Vice President for Research at CSU.

One company that has emerged from the grant is Columbus-based Traycer Diagnostic Systems, Inc., which raised more than $5 million in private equity to advance its terahertz imaging technology.

Traycer Systems’ CEO Brad Beasecker said WCSSE offered his company essential access to test equipment that is unaffordable for most early-stage companies. “When you’re a start-up, every dollar and minute saved help you survive another day and speed the path to the market,” said Beasecker.

A complete listing of available capabilities as well as contact information at these and other facilities can be found at www.csuohio.edu/research/wcsse and www.ohiosensors.com. Interested companies can also contact Cleveland State University’s Office of Research at 216.687.9364.