Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s (HBKU) Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (Qeeri) continues to achieve significant milestones. This year, the Disruptive Technology research program secured a noteworthy patent portfolio in next-generation energy conversion and electronic devices, marking a critical step in driving impactful research outcomes.
Strategic Research and Intellectual Property for Maximum Impact
Aligning research outcomes with both academic and market-level impacts is essential for fostering a knowledge-based economy. Over the past two decades, the benefits of innovative licensing in modern business thinking have become evident. For instance, IBM generates a little more than $1bn annually from licensing in the electronics industry, according to TechTarget, highlighting the importance of robust patent strategies.
In 2019, Qeeri’s Disruptive Technology program developed an intellectual property (IP) strategy based on a comprehensive study that provided a global analysis of current scenarios, trends, and solutions developed by various technologies related to energy and electronics. This strategic planning led to the granting of four US non-provisional patents, the filing of three non-provisional patent applications and five provisional patents.
In the highly competitive and rapidly evolving field of advanced technology, strategic management of scientific research and IP is crucial. Success ultimately depends on the ability to propose and generate completely uncharted technologies, which require strategic research methods. Solid IP strategies are important for navigating this complicated and highly challenging technology segment.
Overcoming Industry Limitations with Strategic Innovation
Despite its rapid advancements, the electronics industry faces significant challenges due to the physical limitations of materials at nanoscale, which in turn impedes further miniaturisation and enhancement of performance in electronic devices. Additionally, conventional industrial fabrication processes often fail to meet demands for precision, cost-efficiency, and environmental sustainability. Recognising these challenges, Qeeri’s Disruptive Technology program has strategically focused on developing technologies that offer innovative solutions.
The market opportunity for Qeeri’s disruptive technologies is strong in terms of novelty, operational stability, efficiency, cost, and environmental impact. One notable achievement includes securing a non-provisional patent for a new generation of 3D printing tailored for energy conversion and electronics industry applications. Qeeri has demonstrated proof-of-concept for a molecular building-block 3D printer, a pioneering method that seamlessly integrates molecular self-assembly with additive manufacturing technology.
Qeeri’s molecular building-block 3D printer represents a significant departure from conventional 3D printing technologies, which are often limited by the materials they use and precision they can achieve. By contrast, Qeeri’s molecular 3D printer integrates the principles of molecular self-assembly with additive manufacturing, enabling the creation of hybrid metal/organic materials with unprecedented properties. This method is faster, more precise, and cost-effective, opening new avenues for the development of advanced electronics, sensors, and other devices.
One of the key IP innovations from Qeeri is the development of a new generation of direct lithography-using electron and photon radiation, based on materials generated by its 3D printing machine. This cutting-edge technique addresses the limitations of traditional lithography methods, which are expensive and struggle with resolution and throughput issues at the nanoscale. By leveraging the unique materials produced by the 3D printer, Qeeri’s approach introduces a new method for patterning nanostructures, crucial for the next generation of electronic devices.
The program’s secured background patents in innovative solar cell fabrication further exemplify its strategic focus. By utilising building block self-assembly, Qeeri has proposed a low-cost method for producing defect-free solar cells with controlled morphology and crystallinity.
The research conducted at Qeeri is designed to address the gaps related to efficiency and cost in current materials and devices. By addressing the inherent limitations of existing technologies, Qeeri aims to create new opportunities for innovation and technology development.
Global Collaborations and Future Vision
HBKU recently entered into a research collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to jointly develop a full-scale system utilising the Self-Assembled Molecular 3D printing approach in real-world applications. Professor Youcef-Toumi, Director of MIT’s Mechatronics Research Laboratory, highlighted the synergistic relationship between both organisations. “Qeeri’s disruptive technological expertise in materials and nanofabrication, perfectly complements MIT’s strengths in mechatronics, robotics, and automation. Working in uncharted areas of technology, such as 3D printed techno-materials, offers significant competitive advantages for disruptive technologies programs. This pioneering approach can elevate their significance by redefining standards in the electronics and energy industries, while also creating potential IP portfolios and new competitive avenues.”
Future Directions and Strategic GoalsLooking forward, Qeeri is committed to further advancing its research and development initiatives. The next phase of the Disruptive Technology program will focus on leveraging 3D printing and AI and exploring its applications in various industries. Potential applications include material discovery, where precision manufacturing at the molecular level could revolutionise the production of new devices.
Through strategic innovation, robust IP management, and global collaborations, Qeeri is driving significant advancements that promise to shape the future of technology and contribute to a sustainable, knowledge-based economy.
• Dr Hicham Hamoudi is a senior scientist at HBKU’s Qeeri.
This piece has been submitted by HBKU’s Communications Directorate on behalf of its author. The thoughts and views expressed are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect an official University stance.