PHILADELPHIA‐‐(June 28, 2012) – Search giant Google and startup Graphene Frontiers are at very different stages of development, yet they have much in common. Both have taken space in the University City Science Center’s Port business incubator in Philadelphia, and both demonstrate that when it comes to the Science Center, “science” doesn’t always mean biotech. Google and Graphene Frontiers are among the sector of Port Companies focusing on emerging technologies.
Google established its new office in the Science Center’s Hubert J.P. Schoemaker Center for Advanced Technology at 3624 Market Street with the goal of helping local businesses and organizations increase and optimize their online presence through the use of Google products, such as Google+, the new social layer within Google.
Google’s Philadelphia team will work one‐on‐one with businesses to help them create a Google+ page and use its rich features to promote their message and connect with their audience. Google will act as a local resource that businesses can partner with to achieve their online, Google‐based goals.
“Although Google is a well‐established corporation, these field teams essentially work the same way as startups. Our team chose the Science Center due to its ideal location within Philadelphia and the excellent resources it provides its residents. The Science Center promotes growth, innovation and networking, all of which are crucial for new teams and businesses. The environment here is one of constant learning and exploration which creates a great community that aligns with our ideals” says Jeffrey Salvitti, Local Field Marketing Team Lead – Philadelphia for Google. “Our team works hands on with many of the local nonprofits and universities in the area and the Sciences Center's ability to foster networking and relationships with these organizations is an amazing resource. In addition to its excellent network of partnering businesses and organizations, the Science Center also provides top‐tier amenities to support smaller teams such as ours.”
Alongside Google, a promising start‐up company, Graphene Frontiers has also taken lab space in the Hubert J.P. Schoemaker Center for Advanced Technology. Incubated over the last two years through the University of Pennsylvania’s UPstart Program in partnership with Professor of Physics A.T. Charlie Johnson, Dr. Zhengtang Luo, and entrepreneur Mike Patterson, Graphene Frontiers manufactures graphene films and graphene‐coated transmission electron microscope (TEM) grids. The company's technology will enable electronics manufacturers to make high‐quality, low‐cost graphene films in industrial volumes for use as a transparent, flexible conductor in displays, touch screens, photovoltaic panels, and thermal management solutions.
The company’s patent‐pending atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition (APCVD) process solves the problems of scale and cost, and will allow producers of next‐generation thin, flexible mobile devices, such as Apple and Nokia, to take their prototypes to production.
“We decided on the Science Center’s Port business incubator because, unlike other sites we considered, the Science Center allowed us to be up and running within a matter of weeks” comments Graphene Frontiers CEO, Mike Patterson. “The Science Center was very supportive of Graphene Frontiers while we were preparing our funding applications. Aside from the being a turnkey solution for our R&D needs, we felt that locating at the Science Center gave us a certain level of credibility and offered us a place where we’re proud to bring prospective customers and investors.”
Graphene Frontiers was selected by the National Science Foundation (NSF) as a member of its inaugural class of NSF Innovation Corps, or I‐Corps, awards. The I‐Corps Awards recognize research that has the potential for commercial applications and connects scientists to entrepreneurial resources. Also a recipient of SBIR Phase I and Phase IB awards, Graphene Frontiers expects to be generating revenue this summer.
About The Science Center
The University City Science Center accelerates technology commercialization, regional economic development, and the market availability of life‐enhancing scientific breakthroughs by bringing together innovations, scientists, entrepreneurs, funding, laboratory facilities, and business services. Established in 1963 and headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, the Science Center was the first, and remains the largest, urban research park in the United States. Graduate organizations and current residents of the University City Science Center’s Port business incubators have created more than 15,000 jobs that remain in the Greater Philadelphia region today and contribute more than $9 billion to the regional economy annually. In addition to offering physical resources to start‐up companies, the Port business incubator surrounds emerging ventures with the other ingredients required to grow and be successful. For more information: www.sciencecenter.org.
