University at Buffalo

Founded in 2022, Copprium, Inc. develops copper-based conductive inks for flexible electronics. The company’s technology was developed at the University at Buffalo through funding from the National Science Foundation, U.S. Army, and U.S. Air Force Research Labs. Copprium received support from the Center for Excellence in Materials Informatics (CMI), which assisted in developing project plans and provided guidance in securing the Fuzehub Jeff Lawrence Manufacturing Innovation Fund in 2022. Copprium was also recognized with an innovation award at the 2023 TechConnect World Innovation conference in Washington, D.C.

Similarly, another company benefiting from federal funding and UB’s innovation is POP Biotechnologies (POP BIO). POP BIO develops therapies for cancer and infectious diseases. The company’s core Spontaneous Nanoliposome Antigen Particleization (SNAP) vaccine platform technology was developed through funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). POP BIO has received a $600,000 NIH contract for HIV vaccine development and additional funding from the University at Buffalo for Alzheimer’s research. Recently, POP BIO was accepted into the National Cancer Institute Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory to support the development of a potent cancer vaccine system, further advancing its cancer vaccine development efforts.

Copprium’s inks offer a cost-effective alternative to silver inks in the $3.8 billion conductive ink market. The company received initial funding from the Buffalo Innovation Accelerator Fund and has since raised $325,000 in non-dilutive funds, including a recent $100,000 investment from UB through the Buffalo Innovation Seed Fund.

POP BIO has made substantial progress in vaccine development. The company recently received a $2.84 million Phase II Small Business Innovation Research grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. They are using this funding to develop a vaccine called SNAP-Flu that uses their proprietary SNAP technology and can protect against multiple strains of the flu.

UB serves as a catalyst for economic growth in Western New York through its research activities and support for startups. UB is among New York’s top 10 recipients of federal grant dollars from the NIH, receiving 220 grants totaling $87.8 million in 2023. The university’s Business and Entrepreneur Partnerships (BEP) office provides crucial support to startups, including initial funding, guidance, and resources such as incubator space. BEP has supported the launch of 397 startups, created 1,700 jobs from FY22-24, and contributed to an economic impact of $788 million, further solidifying UB’s role as a catalyst for regional innovation and economic growth.

UB’s technology transfer program assists in patenting and licensing university-developed technologies, as seen with both Copprium and POP BIO. The university’s Center for Advanced Technology awarded more than $495,000 to companies working with UB researchers on innovations for drug development, medical diagnostics, and other health sciences projects in 2024.

UB is also part of the NY SMART I-Corridor Tech Hub, advancing domestic semiconductor manufacturing and contributing to the region’s growth as a national center for semiconductor innovation.

Through these efforts, UB is playing a crucial role in transforming federally funded research into economic growth and innovation in Western New York, supporting job creation in high-tech sectors and attracting investment to the region.