Harvard Nanotechnology Patents to Nano-Terra

6 June 2007

Professor George M. Whitesides, a renowned technology specialist and a chemist at Harvard University is the cofounder of Nano-Terra Inc. There are a number of patents that have been generated during the last 25 years based on the work that has been continously going forward in Professor’s lab.

In recent news, Harvard and Nano-Terra Inc. plan to announce exclusively licensing of 50 current or pending Harvard patents to Nano-Terra. With the transfer of these patents, Nano-Terra Inc. will become one of the Nanotechnology’s fast start-up. The representative of Nano-Terra based in Cambridge, have said that the patent filing and maintenance costs alone top $ 2 million.

Nano-Terra at present do not sell any products, however it offer manufacturing and design skills especially where low cost or flexibility are most crucial. Although, the terms and conditions of the deal are not disclosed, however Harvard is expected to receive equity in Nano-Terra in addition to royalties.

The patents are generally related to nonbiological applications. These were the results of the work done by Professor Whitesides and his doctoral students during the last decade and best-known patents include soft lithography. Professor Whitesides has developed methods of depositing thin metallic layer onto surfaces and in designed patterns. Soft lithography has a potential to replace photolithography (process for making microchips) on highly irregular and rounded surface where photolithography is practically impossible.

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