Title: Technology transfer approaches for early stage desalinisation technologies: a case study

Authors: Christos S. Ioakimidis; Sérgio Casimiro; Sung Jae Kim; Jongyoon Han

Addresses: DeustoTech, Energy Unit, University of Deusto, Avenida de las Universidades, 24 – 48003, Bilbao, Bizkaia, Spain; MIT Portugal Programme – IN+, Instituto Superior Tecnico (IST/UTL), Sustainable Energy Systems, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 77 Massachusetts Avenue, E18-470, Cambridge, 02139, MA, USA. ' MIT Portugal Programme – IN+, Instituto Superior Tecnico (IST/UTL), Sustainable Energy Systems, IST Campus Tagus Park, Av. Anibal Cavaco Silva, 2744-016 Porto Salvo, Portugal. ' Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Research Laboratory of Electronics, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Room 36-831, Cambridge, 02139, MA, USA. ' Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science/Department of Biological Engineering, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Room 36-841, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA

Abstract: Fresh water scarcity is one of the major challenges facing our society. Established technologies exist, though they are still very expensive preventing them from the immediate use and possible final solution. In this work it is analysed an innovative technology developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for desalination, using ionic concentration polarisation (ICP). The economic viability and a potential business model to deploy this technology are described further in this work. Construction of a prototype with several microchannels, and product development are still necessary, but the adoption of the niche market for small emergency devices to produce fresh water for boats can potentially be a successful path to deploy this technology.

Keywords: desalination technology; ionic concentration polarisation; ICP; business models; early stage technology; boats; technology transfer; fresh water scarcity; niche market; small emergency devices.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIRD.2012.047560

International Journal of Innovation and Regional Development, 2012 Vol.4 No.3/4, pp.250 - 266

Published online: 23 Aug 2014 *

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