Editor's note:It's Friday, so let's round up the top innovation news in Houston from the past few days.. InnovationMap's Houston tech and startup trends articles included important announcements from Rice University, innovators you should know about, and more.
Rice University launches $12.5 million climate technology accelerator
Rice University announced a new climate technology initiative supported by Woodside Energy. Photo credit: Natalie Harms/InnovationMap
Rice University announced its latest effort to advance clean energy technologies to commercialization through a new partnership with a global energy company.
Woodside Energy, headquartered in Australia and with global operations in Houston after acquiring BHP Group in 2022, has committed $12.5 million over the next five years to create the Woodside Rice Decarbonization Accelerator did.
“The goal of the accelerator is to rapidly advance the commercialization of the innovative decarbonization technologies created at Rice Research Institute,” Rice University President Reginald Desroches told the Aeon crowd at the announcement of the initiative. spoke to. “These technologies have the potential to produce better batteries, transistors, and other materials critical to energy technologies. Additionally, this accelerator will produce these high-value materials from captured and converted carbon dioxide and methane. We will also work on manufacturing the product.” Keep reading.
Driverless semi-truck technology to be introduced between Houston and Dallas later this year
Kodiak Robotics this month announced driverless semi-truck technology that will be on Texas roads later this year. Photo via Kodiak
Kodiak Robotics is expanding its fleet of unmanned semi-trucks, initially to carry cargo on a route from Houston to Dallas that is expected to officially enter service this year.
The latest version of the Kodiak truck recently debuted at the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Mountain View, Calif.-based Kodiak Robotics says the truck is equipped with safety-focused software and hardware, including brakes, steering and sensors.
Kodiak's sixth generation trucks are built on the company's five years of real-world testing, including hauling 5,000 packages over 2.5 million miles. Keep reading.
Houston innovation leader appointed to new role driving strategy and programming
Brad Burke has been named vice president of industrial and new ventures for Rice University's Department of Innovation. Photo by Jeff Fitlow/Rice University
The longtime innovation leader in Houston has added a new title to his role at Rice University.
Brad Burke, who has served as executive director of the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship for 20 years, has been named vice president for industry and new ventures, the university announced this week. He will assume this new role within the Office of Innovation and continue to lead the Rice Alliance.
Rice's Office of Innovation was established in 2022 by appointment of Chief Innovation Officer and Vice President of Innovation Paul Cerkulli to foster new and innovative initiatives and technologies in the Rice community through mentorship, funding, and piloting. We exist to support you. Keep reading.
Houston augmented reality company pivots, secures NASA contract
The Houston company's technology will help space operators predict coronal mass ejections. Photo courtesy: nasa.gov
After rebranding, a Houston technology startup has won a contract with NASA for space weather technology.
Dauntless XR has received a contract from NASA to advance its spatial computing platform, Aura. The technology uses satellite sensor data and mixed reality to help space operators predict weather, including solar activity.
The company was founded by Lori-Lee Elliott in 2018 as Future Sight AR, which focuses on industrial construction, but rebranded last year as it pivoted to the space and defense industries. Keep reading.
3 Houston innovators you need to know this week
This week's roundup of Houston innovators includes TrueLeap's Sunny Zhang, BiVACOR's Jim Dillon, and Baylor College of Medicine's Livia Schavinato Eberlin. Photo provided
Each week, I highlight three Houston innovators you should know about. Here are three of the people behind InnovationMap's recent innovation and startup news stories in Houston. Click on each article below to learn more about them and their latest news. Keep reading.
