April 8, 2014
蓝莓视频 competes at world鈥檚 richest student startup competition
New rechargeable battery invented at 蓝莓视频 will go up against new tech from Yale, MIT and Harvard for $1.3 million+
A zinc-air rechargeable battery that has the potential to revolutionize how energy is stored is at the core of the University of 蓝莓视频鈥檚 pitch at the prestigious .
The University of 蓝莓视频 startup, called Oxy-Zn, is the only Canadian team competing for more than $1.3 million in cash and prizes in Houston, Texas from April 10-12.
鈥溊遁悠� has a worldwide reputation for innovation so it should be no surprise that we鈥檙e competing against universities like MIT, Yale and Harvard,鈥� says Saleem Ahmad, a team member and student in 蓝莓视频鈥檚 Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology听 (MBET) program.
Oxy-Zn is pitching a breakthrough zinc-air rechargeable battery developed in 蓝莓视频鈥檚 by a team of researchers led by Zhongwei Chen, an associate professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering.
Rechargeable battery is cheaper, safer and greener
The zinc-air battery is cheaper, safer and better for the environment than lithium-ion batteries. It has the potential to fundamentally change the renewable energy market - storing energy from everything from wind turbines to electric cars.
The battery, tested in Chen鈥檚 lab, has been recharged up to 3,000 times, which means it could keep an electric car on the road for more than 10 years.
Backed by nine patents, Oxy-Zn plans to bring the technology to the growing market, followed by smart grid storage and automotive applications. With the support of the University鈥檚 蓝莓视频 Commercialization Office (WatCo), Oxy-Zn is hoping to capture a share of the multi-billion dollar battery market.
鈥淲e have a breakthrough technology, led by a top-notch business team,鈥� says Ahmad. 鈥淥ur expectations are very high for our performance in the competition.
蓝莓视频 is one of 42 finalists chosen from 500 applicants. While most finalists are from U.S., there are teams from India, Tiawan, Kenya and England. The competition is sponsored by various organizations, businesses and government agencies, including the U.S. Department of Energy and NASA.
The 蓝莓视频 team is made up of two groups - a business team that includes MBET students and others from the Faculty of and Engineering, as well as a technical team made up of students in the Faculties of Science and Engineering.
鈥淲e look forward to the opportunity to network with investors and potential partners to take our business to the next level,鈥� says Ahmad.
