CloudSpec innovator receives $25,000 boost from KiwiNet Emerging Innovator Fund for new spectroscopy instrument
HAMILTON, NZ – 6 October, 2016 – Victoria University of Wellington physicist Brendan Darby has received a $25,000 grant
from the KiwiNet Emerging Innovator fund to assess the impact of CloudSpec, a new technology that has the potential to
change the way industry analyses ‘cloudy’ solutions. The grant from the KiwiNet Emerging Innovator Fund is awarded to
help early career scientists develop clever new ideas and work closely with business to take it to market. This is third
of ten grants made possible by a donation from the Norman F. B. Barry Foundation.
Darby and the team at the Raman Lab at the School of Chemical and Physical Sciences in Victoria University of Wellington
are experts in spectroscopy - a technique used to identify the chemicals that make up a substance. Together they are
developing CloudSpec, a next generation spectroscopy instrument that allows cloudy or opaque liquids to be analysed
quickly and efficiently. Cloudy liquids typically require multiple steps to analyse via traditional spectroscopy
techniques. CloudSpec promises a transformational impact in substance analysis by significantly simplifying the process.
CloudSpec has potential applications in a wide range of industries including quality assurance for food, beverage, and
water, plus enhancement of forensics testing.
Conventional absorption spectroscopy works by shining a spectrum of light through the sample and monitoring which
colours get transmitted, and which are absorbed. This traditional spectroscopy technique becomes ineffective when a
sample solution is cloudy or opaque and contains large particulates that scatter light in all directions. This makes it
very difficult to discern the absorption spectrum and little information can be extracted about the sample.
Darby says, “At the core of CloudSpec is a new hardware configuration and novel processing techniques which are being
designed to be impervious to light scattering. Our new instrument enables cloudy or turbid solutions such as milk,
paint, blood, wastewater and algal suspensions, to produce equivalent results to traditional analysis methods without
the need for time consuming processing of samples.
“Consequently, we can reduce the number of expensive instruments, processing steps and preparation time required to
analyse products. In the food and beverage industry current processes can degrade the integrity of the product whereas
CloudSpec won’t compromise it.”
Originally from Ireland, Darby completed his PhD in Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy through the MacDiarmid Institute
for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology supervised by Raman Lab leader, Professor Eric Le Ru, earlier this year.
Darby says, “Professor Le Ru’s infectious passion for science created a fantastic environment for discovery and it was
in his lab that the idea for CloudSpec was born. KiwiNet is now enabling us to take the technology from the lab to
industry by providing the KiwiNet Emerging Innovator funding, expertise and networks.”
Professor Le Ru says, “The support from KiwiNet is also fostering Brendan’s entrepreneurial skills in the
commercialisation space as a young scientist. He’s very excited by the prospect of beginning his career in science
playing a key role in developing a potentially game changing product.”
The KiwiNet Emerging Innovator Fund, established thanks to the generous support of the Norman F B Barry Foundation, is
available to early career researchers based at universities and Crown Research Institutes across New Zealand who
demonstrate a clever new idea and a willingness to work closely with industry as they develop a prototype. Recipients
also receive expert legal advice from KiwiNet (www.kiwinet.org.nz) corporate partners, MinterEllisonRuddWatts and IP
advice from Baldwins.
In addition to funding, KiwiNet provided Darby with a mentor, Clive Seymour formerly of Bruker Daltonics, who shared his
expertise in scientific instrumentation, invaluable industry contacts and significant experience working with
multinational companies.
Phil Stucki, Commercial Projects Manager, from KiwiNet observed the transformational impact the KiwiNet Emerging
Innovator programme had for Darby. Stucki comments, “Brendan’s passion for science is now matched with a tremendous
enthusiasm for the business-side of taking research to market. Winning the fund and its associated suite of benefits,
has given him a significant understanding of the commercialisation process. He now brings a whole new skill set to his
science team.”
Darby’s business acumen has been displayed in subsequent pitches of CloudSpec to the KiwiNet Investment Committee which
have secured him an additional $188,000 of PreSeed Accelerator investment to help transform CloudSpec’s cutting edge
science into commercial reality.
ENDS