2016 OCI Articles

UTSA professor David Akopian named Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors

December 13, 2016
David Akopian, professor of electrical and computer engineering at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), has been named a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). He is the second NAI Fellow for UTSA, following the appointment of C. Mauli Agrawal in 2015.

UTSA hosts fourth annual Innovation Awards

December 8, 2016
The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) recognized professor Banglin Chen as its 2016 Innovator of the Year at the fourth annual UTSA Innovation Awards. His selection was based on a number of factors including productivity, new invention disclosures, filed patent applications (three in 2016), and licensing of his technologies.

Meet the 2016 Tech Titans Award finalists and winners

December 7, 2016
The San Antonio Business Journal announced the winners of the 2016 Tech Titans Awards during an evening event on Dec. 7 at Pearl Stable. The Business Journal recognized the winners and finalists in eight categories, in addition to giving out two special achievement awards to University of Texas at San Antonio Professors Dr. Greg White and Dr. Glenn Dietrich.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce in Austin to Award ATI, UTSA and True Wealth Ventures Federal Grants

November 15, 2016
At Austin City Hall, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Jay Williams Tuesday announced $15 million in grants for 19 states including $1.5 million earmarked for Texas with the bulk of that going to organizations in Austin and San Antonio.

Cardiovate Develops First Bioabsorbable Vascular Graft

October 7, 2016
For patients who suffer from peripheral vascular disease (PVD), there’s a promising option being developed in San Antonio that could help improve blood flow, and ultimately, prevent amputations. Cardiovate is a biomedical technology startup company that got its start in the labs at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA).

Women’s Startup Pitch Competition – San Antonio

September 28, 2016
On September 28, TWU’s Hub launched its inaugural Women’s Startup Pitch Competition, held in conjunction with the first Governor’s Business Forum for Women in San Antonio. The owners of 10 companies from various industries impressed the judges with their company pitches. In order to qualify to compete, participants had to be owners of established Texas-registered companies less than a year old.

For Fledgling San Antonio Companies, Startup Resources Trickling In

September 13, 2016
San Antonio—Echolase, a young startup with a product that crosses over between technology and life sciences, is on the brink of getting its first outside funding from a local investment group. But with the future of the company dependent on getting more money—Echolase needs funds to further test its medical imaging device, to rent office space, and to hire employees…

With Scaffold for Regenerating Arteries, Cardiovate Raises $350,000

September 1, 2016
An early stage San Antonio startup that aims to repair or replace clogged arteries with regenerated tissue has closed a small financing round from angel investors, The University of Texas Horizon Fund, and Targeted Technology, according to its CEO. Cardiovate, founded in 2012, closed a $350,000 round of convertible notes from the investors in August…

UTSA contributes to UT System’s No. 4 ranking for most U.S. patents granted

July 13, 2016
Innovation at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) has helped the University of Texas System earn a top spot among on the Top 100 Worldwide Universities Granted U.S. Utility Patent Ranking for 2015. The report, which is published by the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) and Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO), analyzes data acquired from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to highlight the important role patents play in university research and innovation.

UTSA researcher’s new study describes new way to reduce energy in plastics manufacturing

May 23, 2016
Plastic manufacturing is an energy-intensive process. Now, research performed in part by Banglin Chen, Dean’s Distinguished Professor of Chemistry at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) has revealed a way to reduce the energy demand in one key step of plastic manufacturing by using a class of materials that can filter impurities more efficiently than the conventional manufacturing process.

Additional Articles on Dr. Banglin Chen’s discovery

Medical device for locating veins wins UTSA entrepreneurship competition

April 28, 2016
InfraVein, a student team that created a biomedical engineering device for finding veins, won the top prize at The University of Texas at San Antonio $100K Student Technology Venture Competition. The challenge was sponsored by the UTSA Center for Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship (CITE), a collaboration between the College of Engineering and the College of Business.

UTSA seniors compete for funding for business startups

April 26, 2016
Thirteen groups of business and engineering seniors at UTSA competed for a $100,000 funding package Tuesday to get their business plans and products off the ground. They took their prototypes before a panel of 14 judges and had five minutes to pitch why they are the best of the bunch.

UTSA professor develops underwater virtual reality game to help people with multiple sclerosis

April 14, 2016
John Quarles, an associate professor of computer science at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), has developed a new virtual reality method of aquatic physical therapy. Quarles’s game, “Shark Punch,” was made with everyday items like smart phones and dive masks and is as therapeutic as it is entertaining.

UTSA Professor: Why digital forensics is wide open for SA tech startups

April 1, 2016
Historically, law enforcement has taken the lead in developing methods to collect physical evidence in investigations. But now, an emphasis on digital forensics is opening an avenue to the private sector. Digital forensics and gathering data from the cloud is leaving the market wide open for automated forensics-as-a-service technology companies, said one San Antonio-based researcher.

UTSA Finds its Niche in a Dangerous Digital World

March 31, 2016
Experts from across the University of Texas system gathered at UTSA on March 30 and 31 for the Texas FreshAIR (Academic Industry Roundtable) Conference. The event showcased vital research and innovation from all 14 system institutions, as well as industry talent aimed at commercializing that research.

Physics professor finds patent success for UTSA as 2015 Innovator of the Year

January 5, 2016
University of Texas at San Antonio physics professor Arturo Ayon was recognized as innovator of the year for the successful commercialization of his patented technology discovered during academic research at the institution in 2015.During the past 10 years, Ayon — who holds a Ph.D. in Nuclear Science and Engineering from Cornell University — filed 21 invention disclosures, was awarded five patents in the U.S. and abroad and had four technologies licensed by corporations.