The Cornell Center for Materials Research (CCMR) has selected four projects for funding through the JumpStart Program for the Fall 2023 semester. The JumpStart Program, designed to support New York state small businesses in partnership with Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR), provides technical assistance and matching funds to advance collaborative research initiatives.

The selected projects encompass a diverse range of industries and technologies, showcasing the program's commitment to fostering innovation and economic growth in New York state. These projects were chosen for their potential to create significant impact and leverage the expertise of CCMR researchers.

The funded projects for this semester are:

• Novel Bioplastic for Clothing, Beauty, and Healthcare. Capro-X (Ithaca, Tompkins County, Southern Tier Region) will partner with Margaret Frey, the Vincent V. C. Woo Professor in Fiber Science & Apparel Design in the College of Human Ecology, to investigate carbon-negative bioplastic non-woven textile using upcycled platform chemicals from food waste.
• Paper-Based Food Packaging. RETRN Bio (Syracuse, Onondaga County, Central New York Region) will partner with Juan Hinestroza, the Rebecca Q. Morgan ’60 Professor of Fiber Science & Apparel Design in the College of Human Ecology, to investigate upcycling of agrowaste streams into biodegradable polymers for next-generation sustainable packaging.
• Sopax Toilet Cleaning System. All By 4D (Brooklyn, New York City Region) will partner with Christopher Umbach, senior lecturer in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering in the College of Engineering, to investigate their eco-friendly toilet cleaning system, "Sopax," which utilizes microencapsulation technology to eliminate odors and break down waste blockages.
• Roll-to-Roll Leather Alternative. TômTex (Brooklyn, New York City Region) will partner with Tamer Uyar, associate professor in the Department of Human Centered Design in the College of Human Ecology, to characterize bio-based textiles for fashion applications.

These projects were selected after a rigorous evaluation process by Cornell staff and the CCMR JumpStart Advisory Board. Industry participation and projects selected for funding represent the ongoing commitment of CCMR and its partners to supporting the growth and development of small businesses in New York state.

"We are proud to continue our collaboration with New York state small businesses through the JumpStart Program, said Frank Wise, M.S. ’86, Ph.D. ’88, director of CCMR and the Samuel B. Eckert Professor in the College of Engineering. "These projects exemplify the potential for impactful innovation that exists within our region. We look forward to working closely with these companies to accelerate their research and development efforts."

The JumpStart Program offers financial assistance, technical expertise and access to state-of-the-art facilities at Cornell University to facilitate the successful completion of these projects. Applications are now being accepted for the Spring 2024 semester until October 31, 2023 on the CCMR website.

The Cornell Center for Materials Research (CCMR) is an interdisciplinary research center at Cornell University dedicated to advancing materials science research and innovation. CCMR collaborates with industry partners to drive economic growth and promote innovation in New York state. Support for the Cornell Center for Materials Research is provided by the National Science Foundation (DMR-1719875) as part of the Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSEC). Additional Support for Industrial Partnerships is provided by Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology, and Innovation (NYSTAR).