| Technology |
The Center for Biotechnology was based on the phenomenon that fungi not only degrade organic materials, but inorganic materials as well. A technology was developed that breaks down pollutants such as TNT, DDT, and PCB. The process must be adapted based on where the chemicals are located, i. e., in soil or in water. If the pollution is in soil, the soil makeup
and moisture content must be considered.
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| Center History |
 During the years since its inception in 1987, the center was issued seven patents that provided for blanket environmental clean-up. Though Steve Aust filed some of these patents while he was at Michigan State University, he crafted an agreement to have the patents go with him to Utah State University. This is where the technology is currently licensed.
Greater interest in the process exists outside the United States at this time, and though the patents have been recorded, they have been largely ignored. International patents are difficult to enforce. Therefore royalties to Utah State University have been minimal. A spin-off of this center is INTECH, One-eighty, Corp. It was formed in 1990, primarily to serve as a research and development company. A license agreement was signed with Utah State University. INTECH sublicenses the technology to other companies, which physically do the clean up on sites throughout the world. INTECH One-Eighty had seven employees at its peak with an average salary of $40K -$50K annually. Today INTECH exists as a shelter to the licensing and employs one person, who does his work non gratis. It has one sub-license with EarthFAX Engineering and is currently in the process of forming additional sublicensing contracts.
EarthFAX Engineering Corp is based in Midvale, Utah. It recently finished a clean-up project overseas and is currently working on another one in New Zealand. EarthFAX is not as yet profitable in this division of its company, and so no royalties have been generated back to INTECH One-Eighty. As a result Utah State University has received no royalties.
It is important to note that even though the technology has taken longer to market than anticipated, it is potentially an incredibly valuable asset to the environment and our state.
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Highlights
- Funded 1987 - 1992
- INTECH One-Eighty, the start up company, has sub-licensed the process to EarthFAX, which is cleaning up sites abroad.
- Though USU has not yet received royalties, it may potentially in the future
Spin Off Companies & Licensees
Visit the Center's University Website
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