Hummingbird Scientific will develop nanoscale imaging technology in partnership with University of Washington’s Department of Mechanical Engineering.

SEATTLE – Washington Technology Center has awarded $100,000 in state funding to the University of Washington to support a research collaboration with Hummingbird Scientific.

Hummingbird Scientific, a developer of electron microscopy products located in Lacey, Washington, is partnered with the University of Washington Department of Mechanical Engineering to develop a system for nanoscale imaging of materials in temperature-controlled fluid environments. Hummingbird Scientific expects their system could prove to be a core technology for a range of scientific advances, from developing efficient solar cells to targeting cancer cells. In this Phase III project, UW will receive $100,000 in research and technology development funding from Washington Technology Center.

UW Professor Dayong Gao will serve as the principal investigator for the project titled, “Development of an Integrated Environmental Specimen Holder for Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM).”

“This project is aiming to develop a generic integrated environmental fluid cell for the TEM to conduct real-time observations of inorganic and organic specimens, with the capability to control temperature inside the cell,” said Professor Gao.

“Some of the most important scientific questions in the fields of chemistry, nanoscience, bioscience and materials science revolve around high resolution imaging of materials. The technique developed in this project will allow these materials to be studied at atomic scale resolution in their native environment inside the TEM,” said Daan Hein Alsem, director of research at Hummingbird Scientific. “The technology that will result from this project is transformative which will have substantial impact across these scientific fields.”

“It’s exciting that this outstanding scientific business in Lacey that’s hard at work advancing our understanding of how things operate at the cellular level has been awarded this important funding,” said Sen. Karen Fraser, D-Thurston County (22nd Legislative District). “Hummingbird Scientific represents exactly the kind of cutting-edge research that the Legislature should be in the business of encouraging and supporting as we seek to grow the innovation sector of our economy. I’m told a number of different commercial applications may follow from Hummingbird Scientific’s winning project, and I offer them my congratulations.”

“In these challenging times we cannot pull back from investing in our future economy. I’m proud to see a Lacey company at the cutting edge of that future,” said state Rep. Brendan W. Williams, D-Olympia (22nd Legislative District).

“This is exactly the sort of entrepreneurial and academic partnership we need to be emphasizing as we compete with other folks and communities around the world for 21st century economic development,” said state Rep. Sam Hunt, D-Olympia (22nd Legislative District). “It’s certainly great technological news for Lacey and Thurston County, of course, but more importantly it’s great news for folks in terms of advancements in the field of health care.”

About Hummingbird Scientific

Hummingbird Scientific offers custom engineering services and products for cutting-edge electron and ion microscopy applications, with an emphasis on products for Transmission Electron Microscopes (TEM). We handle all aspects of these complex systems — from mechanical, electrical, and software design to fabrication and assembly. In close collaboration with our customers, we develop solutions for applications in nanotechnology, materials science, and biology. http://www.hummingbirdscientific.com/

About the Research & Technology Development (RTD) Grant Program

Washington Technology Center competitively awards applied research funding through the Research & Technology Development Grant Program for technology projects that show strong potential for commercializing products and creating jobs in Washington. Since 1996, this state-funded program has supported 345 research commercialization projects developed between companies and non-profit research institutions. Applications for the next round of funding will be available in January 2011. More information about the research and technology development program is available online at http://www.watechcenter.org/rtd.

About Washington Technology Center

The mission of Washington Technology Center is to assist companies in the creation of innovative products and technologies that provide job opportunities for the citizens of Washington state. Through the Investing in Innovation program, Washington Technology Center provides companies with access to critical resources and support such as state and federal funding. Our 15,000-square-foot Microfabrication Laboratory provides companies and university researchers access to state-of-the-art process tools for micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) research and product/process development. The impact of Washington Technology Center’s work has generated more than $600 million in additional investment for Washington companies and researchers. Learn more at http://www.watechcenter.org/ or call 206-685-1920.