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.
#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:
31 prizes in the Dempsey Startup Competition, including 5 grand prizes.
15 prizes in the Alaska Airlines Environmental Innovation Challenge, including 6 grand prizes.
22 prizes in the Hollomon Health Innovation Challenge, including 3 grand prizes.
Notable alumni
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.
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
Data courtesy of UW CoMotion and Arthur W. Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship.