UCLA spin-out Water Planet Engineering enters into joint development agreement with 3M on polymer material.
Water Planet Engineering (WPE) is partnering with conglomerate 3M on an agreement to jointly develop a new polymer material with a number of industrial applications.
WPE, a California-based spin-out of the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), is commercialising polymeric-ceramic membrane materials. The UCLA developed technology could find widespread use in industrial separations, water and wastewater treatment, membrane reactors, and other applications.
Paula Hubbard, global business manager of 3M’s Advanced Materials Division, said: “Partnering with Water Planet Engineering to develop novel polymer solutions strengthens the build-out of our polymer platform into new markets. The WPE technology demonstrates exciting performance advantages over current membrane materials, and we are energised to take this science to the next level.”
Eric Hoek, CEO of Water Planet Engineering, added: “We are very excited to be working with a world-class organization like 3M. Accessing 3M’s industry-leading expertise in polymer synthesis is game-changing for WPE as it allows us to focus on our core expertise in membrane formation and application.”
