Bringing research to industry: MENISC and INHYTECH projects take off

Joint Unit KTT Industry

13th February 2025 – The Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ) has received funding through the Knowledge Industry programme 2024, an initiative led by the Agència de Gestió d’Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (AGAUR). This competitive call aims to bring the knowledge created in universities and research institutions closer to the productive sector.

Through this programme, ICIQ recently started the following two projects:

MENISC – Metal Nitrides for Semiconductors

MENISC is funded under the “Modalitat B. Producte” grants, which are aimed at innovation projects that have finalized the conceptualization of a transfer plan and identified a candidate for the development of a product or service.

For several decades now, transition metal nitrides (TMNs) have become important materials in a wide range of applications, especially in the fields of abrasive and refractory materials, catalysts, energy storage or semiconductors. This initiative, led by Dr. Sébastien Lethu, Innovation & Valorisation Laboratory Manager at ICIQ, is dedicated to expand the scope of materials that can derive from technology to a broader market.

MENISC application would help the development of a scale-up TMNs production process and its suitability to be implemented for the further production of semiconductors, topic of this proposal.

INHYTECH – Innovative hydrogen technology commercialization through spin off creation

This project has been selected under the “Modalitat C. Innovadors” grants, which are intended to support projects focused on hiring individuals with an entrepreneurial profile, who will be responsible for carrying out activities necessary to transfer technologies or knowledge generated within the public research system to the productive sector.

As the global energy sector shifts towards greener alternatives, hydrogen is set to play a pivotal role in the transition to carbon-neutral economies. INHYTECH, with the involvement of Prof. Galán-Mascarós’ research group and Sergio Sopeña, ICIQ’s Business Development Manager, aims to work on the business plan to commercialize a technological solution to produce green hydrogen through the creation of a deep tech ICIQ spin off. This technological solution relies on the utilization of multi-metallic nitrides that can be used as catalysts to improve hydrogen generation processes while reducing associated costs and environmental impact.

Securing funding through the Knowledge Industry programme from AGAUR reaffirms ICIQ’s position as an institution in the field that is committed to seeking collaborations with industrial partners to transferring scientific knowledge into commercial and real-world solutions.

MENISC: Convocatòria 2024 dels ajuts d’Indústria del Coneixement. Modalitat B. Producte destinats a l’obtenció de prototipus i a la valorització i transferència de resultats d’investigació generada per equips de recerca de Catalunya. Referència: 2024 PROD 00208. Amb el suport del Departament de Recerca i Universitats de la Generalitat de Catalunya.

INHYTECH: Convocatòria 2024 dels ajuts d’Indústria del Coneixement. Modalitat C. Innovadors destinats a l’obtenció de prototipus i a la valorització i transferència de coneixement desenvolupats per persones innovadores en estades en entitats del sistema de recerca i innovació de Catalunya. Referència: 2024 INNOV 00052. Amb el suport del Departament de Recerca i Universitats de la Generalitat de Catalunya.