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Research

Innovation and impact

ME is a leading department at the University of Washington for innovation, commercialization and industry collaboration.

As an international epicenter for turning ideas into actions, the UW is launching hundreds of companies across a wide range of fields based on UW research and technology. Read about industry partnerships.

#1
The UW’s ranking for most innovative public university in the U.S. by Reuters in 2019

#3
ME’s ranking at the UW for number of faculty or student startups emerging from an academic unit

Market impact

Since 2012, ME has been responsible for:

 


923 
new patents filed


25%
of all UW Engineering patents


238
individual licensed technologies


41
companies that have licensed ME technologies


14%
of all startups at the UW

 

Source for data: UW CoMotion, November, 2023.

Student entrepreneurship

ME students are highly involved in the activities provided by the Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship, which include competitions in health and environmental innovation, funding and mentoring for student-led startups and courses that lead to minors and certificates in entrepreneurship.

Entrepreneurship competitions

Since 2009, teams including ME students have won:

star 31 prizes in the Dempsey Startup Competition, including 5 grand prizes.

star 15 prizes in the Alaska Airlines Environmental Innovation Challenge, including 6 grand prizes.

star 22 prizes in the Hollomon Health Innovation Challenge, including 3 grand prizes.

Notable alumni

star Sally Jewell, BSME '78, has served as U.S. Secretary of the Interior (2013-16) and as president and CEO of Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), the nation’s largest consumer cooperative.

star Peter Janicki, MSME '89, is the founder of Janicki Industries. His pioneering work in composite tooling has enabled significant transformations in the aerospace, wind energy and transportation industries.

Read about more Notable ME Alumni.

ME startups

Dozens of companies have formed as a result of ME research. Below are a selection of recent startups that have emerged from the department.

Alchemai

Alchemai provides advanced data analytics for supply chain risk management.

Contact: Steve Brunton, ME Associate Professor

Aquagga

Aquagga is developing solutions to water treatment and environmental remediation challenges.

Contact: Brian Pinkard, Ph.D. ’20

Alpenglow Biosciences

Alpenglow Biosciences is developing 3D microscopy technology to enable nondestructive slide-free pathology of clinical specimens for better disease treatment.

Contact: Jonathan Liu, ME Professor

CathConnect

CathConnect created a device to provide safety with indwelling urinary catheters.

Contact: Jonathan Posner, ME Professor

Curi Bio

Curi Bio has licensed UW technology for 3D engineered muscle tissues for the discovery, safety and efficacy testing of new therapeutics.

Contact: Nate Sniadecki, ME Professor

Marine Construction Technologies

Marine Construction Technologies has developed technology to reduce noise from pile driving and protect wildlife while improving the efficiency of marine construction projects.

Contact: Per Reinhall, ME Professor

MarineSitu

MarineSitu makes marine environmental monitoring instruments accessible to turbine developers and other renewable marine energy companies.

Contact: James Joslin, ME PhD ’15, UW Applied Physics Lab mechanical engineer

MedsForAll

MedsForAll is developing an affordable alternative to the epinephrine auto-injectors currently on the market for communities worldwide.

Contact: Jonathan Posner, ME Professor

Micro Phone Lens

Micro Phone Lens turns cell phones and tablets into microscopes, making microscopy accessible and affordable.

Contact: Thomas Larson, BSME ’13

Phoresa

Phoresa is developing an innovative test for infectious diseases to help doctors better diagnose and treat patients in a single visit.

Contact: Jonathan Posner, ME Professor

SonoMotion

SonoMotion is harnessing the power of ultrasound technology to develop non-invasive solutions for kidney stone disease.

Contact: Michael Bailey, ME Associate Professor

SpecTree Inc.

SpecTree Inc. develops novel technologies related to particulates sampling and analysis, combustion pollution control, and sensors for air quality and personal exposure monitoring.

Contact: Igor Novosselov, ME Research Associate Professor

Stasys Medical Corporation

Stasys Medical Corporation is commercializing a device to quickly assess platelet function in trauma patients to prevent bleeding and in cardiology patients to assess antiplatelet drugs.

Contact: Nathan Sniadecki, ME Professor and Lucas Ting, PhD in ME '13

VerAvanti

VerAvanti is developing a laser-based medical camera to help cardiologists better diagnose and treat individuals who are at risk for stroke and/or heart attacks.

Contact: Eric Seibel, ME Research Professor

Visiongate

Visiongate is a clinical stage pharmaceutical and diagnostics company developing products for the early detection and treatment of lung cancer and lung dysplasia.

Contact: Eric Seibel, ME Research Professor

XFlow Energy

XFlow Energy is developing robust, inexpensive, and efficient vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT) technologies focused on reducing the cost of wind energy generation.

Contact: Ben Strom, ME PhD ’19