Hebrew U Tech Transfer Company Launches Million-Dollar Cleantech Fund

Yissum, the technology transfer arm of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, is launching a million-dollar program to support the development of clean-tech inventions by scientists at the university. Initially, five technologies have been chosen for funding, three of which aim to reduce the polluting effects of toxic substances and create alternative, clean energy sources. These inventions involve the generation of clean fuel, detoxification of gasses emitted by burning fossil fuels, and detecting toxic chemicals.

"We hope that this initiative will assist in bridging the gap between the Hebrew University's cutting-edge research in these fields and the product-based industry, leading eventually to the commercialization of new 'green' technologies for the benefit of us all," said Nava Swersky Sofer, president and CEO of Yissum.

Researchers at the Institute of Chemistry have invented a method for the effective clearing of poisonous mercury from gases emitted into the atmosphere by coal-fired power plants. A novel technology created by professor Yoel Sasson and his team is based on a unique type of fluid called "Room Temperature Ionic Liquid" that swiftly reacts with the mercury in the gas phase and immobilizes it in a stable oxidized form in the liquid. The method has demonstrated continuous efficiency of 99.8 percent in absorption of mercury from flue gas over a few weeks using a laboratory scale apparatus. In addition, it is cost-effective compared to competing activated carbon injection (ACI) process. Sasson is currently working on designing a pilot scale unit that will be installed in a typical coal-fired power station following the other standard air pollution control devices.

Members of the Department of Applied Physics and the Silberman Institute of Life Sciences have invented a device that enables the simultaneous monitoring of an array of biological sensors designed to detect toxic substances. Professors Aharon Agranat and Shimshon Belkin have invented an optoelectronic device for the simultaneous ultra-sensitive detection of diverse signals from an array of biosensor bacteria, each genetically engineered to sense the presence of a specific substance or group of substances. The technology provides a potential means for cost effective, simultaneous monitoring of chemical and biological substances and materials in varied environments and atmospheric conditions.

Researchers from the Institute of Chemistry and the Harvey M. Krueger Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology have invented a family of photocatalysts based on new nanomaterials. Photocatalysis is the acceleration of a photoreaction in the presence of a catalyst and provides a way to harness solar energy for useful chemical work. Photocatalysis has important commercial applications in additional areas including water and air purification, degradation of organic contaminants, and in photoelectrochemical cells. It provides the ability to harness free and clean solar energy, turning it into energy stored in chemical bonds. A new family of photocatalysts developed by professor Uri Banin and his team is based on hybrid metal-semiconductor nanoparticles. The first generation of such materials is presently under investigation and development.

Yissum was founded in 1964 to protect the Hebrew University's intellectual property and commercialize it. Annually, the company generates about a billion dollars in sales by products based on Hebrew University technologies.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • glowing brain, connected circuits, and abstract representations of a book and graduation cap on a light gray gradient background

    Snowflake Launches Program to Upskill 100,000 People in Data and AI

    Cloud data platform Snowflake is embarking on an effort to train and certify more than 100,000 users on its AI Data Cloud by 2027. The One Million Minds + One Platform program will provide Snowflake-delivered courses, training materials, and free access to Snowflake software, at no cost to learners.

  • two abstract humanoid figures made of interconnected lines and polygons, glowing slightly against a dark gradient background

    Microsoft Introduces Copilot Chat Agents for Education

    Microsoft recently announced Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat, a new pay-as-you-go offering that adds AI agents to its existing free chat tool for Microsoft 365 education customers.

  • hand touching glowing connected dots

    Registration Now Open for Tech Tactics in Education: Thriving in the Age of AI

    Tech Tactics in Education has officially opened registration for its May 7 virtual conference on "Thriving in the Age of AI." The annual event, brought to you by the producers of Campus Technology and THE Journal, offers hands-on learning and interactive discussions on the most critical technology issues and practices across K–12 and higher education.

  • Three cubes of noticeably increasing sizes are arranged in a straight row on a subtle abstract background

    A Sense of Scale

    Gardner Campbell explores the notion of scale in education and shares some of his own experience "playing with scale" — scaling up and/or scaling down — in an English course at VCU.