Five innovative companies that were born at UBC
Anomotion Interactive Inc. offers an AI-based natural-motion technology to assist game and virtual reality studios to create compelling cinematic and character-driven experiences. Anomotion CEO Shailen Agrawal graduated from UBC in 2016. He says he took full advantage of UBC mentorship and business accelerators to develop the company. Anomotion is working with clients including Gunfire Games, Big Red Button and Pure Imagination. The most fulfilling part of the business? Helping to create characters that offer emotional connection. “When your character moves like a superhero, you feel like one too,” says Agrawal.
Boreal Genomics develops breakthrough technology for noninvasive, real-time detection and monitoring of tumour mutations to allow physicians to target therapeutics to a patient’s specific cancer. The company was born of research by UBC professors Dr. Andre Marziali and Lorne Whitehead. “Now we’re in oncology with a product called OnTarget,” says Marziali. “We place synthesized DNA strands matching cancer mutations in a gel and amplify binding with strands of the patient’s own DNA. By effectively identifying potential cancer in the patient, it solves a needle in a haystack problem.”
Microdermics The hypodermic needle was developed in 1844. Enter Microdermics and its new microneedles measuring between 0.3 and 1.0 millimetres in length, developed at UBC. Microdermics delivers drugs into the skin, above pain receptors, a more efficient method of drug transportation. “Using microneedles, you wouldn’t even feel an injection,” says Grant Campany, CEO of Microdermics. Using Microdermics, vaccines can be delivered using five to 10 per cent of the traditional dose and offer the same level of protection. Campany foresees patients administering their own vaccines and even taking blood samples for analysis.
Cambridge Energy Partners The problem with solar-energy systems at remote mining sites is the high risk of them becoming stranded when operations shut down. Cambridge Energy Partners offers factory-assembled solar systems that can be delivered in shipping containers and later redeployed. UBC alumnus Trevor Bruce, principal at CEP, returned to UBC to take advantage of business accelerators to further develop the company. “Our first goal is to serve commercial and industrial applications at remote sites in Africa and Latin America and prove to them that solar energy is accessible and affordable,” he says.
Westport Fuel Systems was founded on technology invented by UBC’s Dr. Phil Hill to enable diesel engines to run on cleaner natural gas, while retaining high efficiency and performance. The company was launched in 1996 and partnerships with diesel-engine manufacturers soon followed. Today, Westport’s next generation of HPDI technology, Westport HPDI 2.0, is an integral part of the full spectrum of measures that the transportation sector will need to combat greenhouse gas emissions effectively. “We embarked on a mission to make the world a better, cleaner place,” says Brad Douville, vice-president business development for Westport.