Grant: Idea to Innovation
University of British Columbia
$125,000.00
Phase I: Development of a low-cost scanning electron microscope
FY 2020-21
Summary
Our team at UBC is developing a compact, atmospheric scanning electron microscope named "AweSEM". Our system leverages a novel electron emission effect on a carbon nanomaterial that was discovered in our lab to develop a system with a smaller footprint, lower power consumption, and considerably less cost than a typical scanning electron microscope. Our goals for this proposal are to develop a minimal viable product that can image at a resolution of 1 micrometre robustly and repeatably in atmosphere with a backscattered electron detector. These technical milestones were set based on feedback from companies that were interviewed during the NSERC-funded I2I market assessment phase. The results from that assessment indicated a need for AweSEM within the microelectronics and materials manufacturing space. These sectors represent a beachhead market opportunity of ~$450M. 75% of the interviewed companies indicated their willingness to beta-test our minimum viable product in an industrial setting following the successful completion of this I2I phase 1, with a view to becoming an early adopter.
Program
Idea to Innovation
Recipient
Location
British Columbia, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
548806-2020
Name nom
Nojeh, Alireza
Department département
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Organization id
2
Institution établissement
University of British Columbia
Province en
British Columbia
Province fr
Colombie-Britannique
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2020
Competition year année de concours
2020
Award amount
125000
Program id
I2IPJ
Program name en
Idea to Innovation
Program name fr
De l'idée à l'innovation
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
1201
Area of application group en
Advancement of knowledge
Area of application group fr
Avancement des connaissances
Area of application en
Life sciences (including biotechnology)
Area of application fr
Sciences de la vie (y compris biotechnologie)
Research subject code
2518
Research subject group en
Electrical and electronic engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie électrique et électronique
Research subject en
Instrumentation and measurements
Research subject fr
Instrumentation et mesures
Installment
inst:1 - 1
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
Phase I: Development of a low-cost scanning electron microscope
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
Our team at UBC is developing a compact, atmospheric scanning electron microscope named "AweSEM". Our system leverages a novel electron emission effect on a carbon nanomaterial that was discovered in our lab to develop a system with a smaller footprint, lower power consumption, and considerably less cost than a typical scanning electron microscope. Our goals for this proposal are to develop a minimal viable product that can image at a resolution of 1 micrometre robustly and repeatably in atmosphere with a backscattered electron detector. These technical milestones were set based on feedback from companies that were interviewed during the NSERC-funded I2I market assessment phase. The results from that assessment indicated a need for AweSEM within the microelectronics and materials manufacturing space. These sectors represent a beachhead market opportunity of ~$450M. 75% of the interviewed companies indicated their willingness to beta-test our minimum viable product in an industrial setting following the successful completion of this I2I phase 1, with a view to becoming an early adopter.
