The University of California, Riverside has granted an exclusive license to The Idea Zoo, Inc., to commercialize nanotechnology research developed in the lab of Yadong Yin, an associate professor of chemistry.

• University of California (UC) Riverside and The Idea Zoo, Inc., sign license agreement to commercialize research performed at the University
• The Idea Zoo, a leading developer and licensor of advanced materials and technologies headquartered in Santa Clara, was granted exclusive rights to seven patents that cover various aspects of advanced superparamagnetic colloidal nanocrystals (CNCs).

The Idea Zoo, a leading developer and licensor of advanced materials and technologies headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., was granted exclusive rights to seven patents that cover various aspects of advanced superparamagnetic colloidal nanocrystals (CNCs).

Specifically, the patents focus on magnetically tunable photonic crystals and the ability to commercialize them.

Fig 1: Image shows a solution of iron oxide in water changing color under a magnetic field, with increasing field strength from left to right. Photo credit: Yin Lab, UC Riverside.

The Idea Zoo will undertake the development and commercialization of CNCs spanning several industries ranging from high-security applications to commercial applications for on-demand color-changing products. The agreement spans the life of the patents. UCR will receive royalties from products developed from these licensed technologies and will receive equity in The Idea Zoo, Inc.

UCR’s Office of Technology Commercialization facilitates the development, protection and commercialization of UCR’s campus research and intellectual property.  It assists in the disclosure, development, and legal protection of campus researchers’ inventions and encourages further technical innovations. The office provides information and counseling for UCR faculty and staff on all aspects of intellectual property arising from their research activities, consulting relationships and industrial collaborators.