Upcycled Aromatics was hard at work during Summer-Fall 2012 – listed below are the accomplishments directly attributable to student members of our team.

Technology Development

Process
~ Obtained feedstock stream characteristics, mass balance and volume data
~ Conceptual design of process
~ Feasibility assessment (where is this on the wiki?)
~ Established design requirements
~ Addressed potential process-related hurdles
~ Toured Edmonton Waste Management Centre
~ Researched and selected bioreactor type
~ Researched and selected bioreactor conditions

Genetics
~ Researched and selected host organism
~ Researched metabolic pathways of P. putida
~ Researched and planned metabolic engineering strategy
~ Designed key BioBricks in silico

Business Development

~ Researched Specialty Chemicals market and wrote assessment
~ Researched major global competitors
~ Economic evaluation of process
~ Developed milestones schedule (Gantt Chart)
~ Developed novel funding model
~ Developed long-term funding strategy
~ Developed marketing strategy
~ Addressed potential finance-related hurdles
~ Assessed environmental and social impacts
~ Compiled Business plan

Intellectual Property Work

~ Researched IP landscape in USA & Canada

~ Sent 4 representatives to the McCarthy Tétrault Workshop: Patents and Regulation & Licensing-2012 Trends and Issues

~ Currently negotiating for a license from Michigan State University valued at an initial cost of $25,000 and 2% of our overall profit.

Public Outreach

~ Connected with industry representatives and obtained feedback on project

~ Hosted the "Standardization and Industrial Biotechnology – The Role of Synthetic Biology panel discussion

~ Hosted seminar “Biotech & SynBio” at St. Francis-Xavier High School

~ Helped to host the regional aGEM Jamboree held at the University of Alberta in September

Technical

~ Contacted potential sponsors

~ Raised funds to attend iGEM Jamboree & other events

~ Designed team logo and branding

~ Created “Upcycled Aromatics – Elevator Pitch” video

~ Created “Upcycled Aromatics – Project idea” video

~ Designed and built Upcycled Aromatics Wiki from scratch (special thanks to wiki-mentor Stephen Jahns)

~ Attended and presented at aGEM 2012 jamboree

Key Industrial Contacts - Advisory Board

Gaining effective contacts and turning them into robust networks is essential for the start-up of a new business. It rings true to the saying that it's 'who you know, not what you know'. Although we still believe that we rely on 'what we know' to create a strong technological base, 'who we know' helps us get much further, much faster. Building communities of individuals that provide real value and share a common interest is invaluable for business function. This requires high-quality communications and valued knowledge exchange through information or even potential business opportunities. We have obtained contacts from an array of industries that have provided pertinent and applicable information to our project. We have also received recommendations as well as introductions to new individuals via our current network. The following individuals are members of the Upcycled Aromatics Industry Advisory Board:

Christian Felske Ph.D., P. Eng

Technical Specialist

Environment, Research & Regulatory

Waste Management Services

City of Edmonton

Laura McIlveen, P. Eng.

Business Development Coordinator

Alberta Biomaterials Development Centre

Alberta Innovates - Technology Futures

Mike Gauthier, P. Eng.

Process Engineer - Biorefining

Daishowa-Marubeni International Ltd

Peace River Pulp

Industrial Contacts - Information Providers

Student members of Upcycled Aromatics have had correspondence with the following industry representatives by email, telephone or in-person: