Center for Materials Research grants aid New York companies

The Cornell Center for Materials Research JumpStart program, funded by Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR), has helped 71 New York state small businesses develop and improve their products through university collaborations.

The ultimate goal is revenue growth and job creation. JumpStart projects receive up to $5,000 in matching funds for project costs that include faculty and research staff, facilities, services, supplies and materials. During the upcoming semester, four companies have been awarded funding:

• Advanced Design and Consulting, Lansing, New York, a developer and supplier of complex scientific components and instruments, will collaborate with Stuart Leigh Phoenix, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, to develop a synthetic rope to replace steel cables in hoists used by Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmers.
• Dynamic Boundaries will collaborate with Brett Fors, assistant professor in chemistry and chemical biology, to scale up synthesis of a brush-like copolymer that mimics Lubricin, a protein found on the surface of joint cartilage. The synthetic lubricant will harness the abilities of the natural protein to treat osteoarthritis.
• Mayo Linoleum, Port Morris, New York, will collaborate with Anil Netravali, professor of fiber science and apparel design, and engineers at the Hudson Valley Technology Development Center, on the reformulation and manufacturing of a natural linoleum material for writing and work surfaces.
• XS4 Inc. of New York City will collaborate with professor Rumit Singh Kakar, Department of Physical Therapy and the Movement Analysis Laboratory, Ithaca College, to develop a standardized test to compare the load-carrying efficiency of its patented harness design to a traditional double strap harness design used by first responders on self-contained breathing apparatus equipment.

Funded by the National Science Foundation and New York state, the Cornell Center for Materials Research is an interdisciplinary research center whose mission is to advance and explore advanced materials through fundamental, experimental and theoretical studies. CCMR also conducts educational outreach to teachers and students, industrial outreach and knowledge transfer, and operates shared instrumentation in support of materials research on and off campus.

This article originally appeared in the Cornell Chronicle.