Viaspace

Viaspace was a United States technology commercialization company established in 1998 as a Caltech and NASA spin-off. Its original purpose was to move technologies developed for space, defense, sensing, and advanced materials applications into commercial markets. Rather than operating as a conventional consumer brand, Viaspace functioned as a holding and development platform for specialized ventures, subsidiaries, licenses, and joint ventures. The company's activities covered several technically distinct areas. Its early portfolio included quantum-well infrared photodetectors, active-pixel imaging technology, gas and humidity sensors, radio-satellite patents, and online commerce initiatives. Some of these projects were discontinued, transferred, or spun off. The quantum-well infrared photodetector venture, QWIP Technologies, was formed with RGC in 1998 and was acquired entirely by RGC in 2000. A proposed active-pixel-sensor partnership with Omicron Technologies also ended after Omicron encountered financial difficulties, and Viaspace abandoned further commercialization because the project was considered too costly. Viaspace developed a stronger position in chemical sensing through SpectraSensors, which obtained exclusive NASA and Caltech patent rights for gas-sensor applications in 1999. Although related businesses were later spun off, acquired, or reorganized, the sensing work helped define Viaspace's connection to advanced instrumentation. The company also pursued direct methanol fuel cells through Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Corporation, or DMFCC. Formed in 2002, DMFCC worked with Caltech and the University of Southern California to license a substantial portfolio of fuel-cell patents. Its intended products included disposable methanol cartridges for portable electronics, notebook computers, mobile phones, and military systems. Aviation restrictions on carrying methanol and unresolved safety standards were identified as obstacles to broad commercial adoption. A strategic alliance with Hewlett-Packard announced in 2000 provided reported funding for technology commercialization, including development of the Viachange.com project. Viaspace later shifted emphasis toward security, homeland defense, alternative energy, and renewable fuels. Its Arroyo Sciences security subsidiary was renamed Viaspace Security in 2006. The subsidiary developed SHINE Expert System software licensed from Caltech; the system received a NASA Space Act Award in 2007. The company's renewable-energy strategy became more prominent in the late 2000s. Viaspace Energy was established in 2007, and Viaspace entered the biofuels and biomass market in 2008 through the announced acquisition of Inter-Pacific Arts Corp. That transaction provided access to a license for cultivating Giant King Grass, a fast-growing, non-genetically modified hybrid grass. Viaspace Green Energy was created in 2009 to develop the grass as a source of liquid transportation fuels and as a renewable substitute for coal in stationary power generation. The business also introduced Green Logs and announced a memorandum of understanding for its first power plant in 2010. Viaspace therefore represented a portfolio-based commercialization model linking public research institutions, patent rights, specialist subsidiaries, and prospective industrial applications. Its documented initiatives ranged from space-derived sensors and defense software to fuel-cell cartridges and biomass energy. The available reference material does not establish the company's current operating status, current leadership, website, ownership, or whether its former products and subsidiaries remain active.

Viaspace was founded in 1998 as a spin-off associated with Caltech and NASA. Its stated mission was to commercialize technologies originating in space and defense research, particularly work connected with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The company developed a portfolio model in which individual technologies were placed into joint ventures, subsidiaries, licensing arrangements, or specialized operating units. One of its first initiatives concerned quantum-well infrared photodetectors. In 1998 Viaspace signed a memorandum of understanding with RGC, leading to the incorporation of QWIP Technologies in December of that year. Carl Kukkonen initially served as the venture's chief executive. RGC acquired the remaining interest in QWIP Technologies in 2000, after which Viaspace no longer held an interest in the venture or its quantum-well infrared photodetector patents. Viaspace also pursued active-pixel-sensor technology in 1998 through a proposed joint venture with Omicron Technologies. The parties expected the technology to compete with charge-coupled-device imaging systems, but Omicron withdrew in 2000 because of financial problems. Viaspace ended its commercialization effort because further development would have been too expensive. It later reacquired three patents associated with radio-satellite technology from the failed relationship; those patents were connected with the inactive eCARmerce subsidiary rather than a revived imaging business. The company entered chemical sensing in 1999 when SpectraSensors obtained exclusive NASA and Caltech rights for gas-sensor technology. SpectraSensors became a Viaspace subsidiary, with Kukkonen serving as chief executive. Tunable Photonics was spun out of SpectraSensors in 2001, acquired by FiberSpace in 2002, and followed by SpectraSensors' reacquisition of the remaining intellectual property in 2003. The reference material describes SpectraSensors as later operating profitably as a separate company. Viaspace also sold its humidity-sensor line in 2008 as part of a focus on nearer-term projects. On August 14, 2000, Viaspace and Hewlett-Packard announced a strategic alliance under which HP would provide reported funding for commercialization. A portion of that support was allocated to Viachange.com, an initiative that Viaspace later ceased operating. Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Corporation was formed in 2002. DMFCC, Caltech, and USC entered a letter of intent concerning rights to a broad portfolio of direct-methanol-fuel-cell patents, including foundational technology using methanol dissolved in water. Caltech and USC became equity holders and were to receive royalties on sales. DMFCC later exercised an option for a worldwide license covering additional issued and pending patents. Its intended market included portable electronics and military equipment, but aircraft fuel restrictions and unresolved safety and regulatory standards delayed adoption. Viaspace became public in 2005 through a merger with Global Wide Production. At that point, Kukkonen remained chief executive, Amjad Abdallat became vice president and chief operating officer, and Stephen Muzi assumed the finance, secretary, and treasurer roles. The company subsequently expanded its security and energy portfolio. Arroyo Sciences was renamed Viaspace Security in 2006, and its SHINE Expert System, licensed from Caltech, received a NASA Space Act Award in 2007. Viaspace Energy was established in 2007. The company moved into biomass and alternative energy in 2008. It announced the acquisition of Inter-Pacific Arts Corp., which held a license to grow Giant King Grass. The acquired art business was retained as a source of funding for the grass initiative. Viaspace Green Energy was created in 2009 to develop the grass for transportation biofuels and as a renewable replacement for coal in power generation. By June 2010, the company reported 279 acres under cultivation. In 2010 it launched Green Logs and announced a memorandum of understanding concerning a first power plant. The available material does not document the later status of Viaspace, its subsidiaries, its products, or its public listing.

• 2010

  Green Logs is launched

  [1]Viaspaceen.wikipedia.org

  Viaspace announces its first Green Logs product and a subsequent power-plant memorandum of understanding.

• 2009

  Viaspace Green Energy is created

  [1]Viaspaceen.wikipedia.org

  A dedicated subsidiary is established for Giant King Grass and related alternative-energy opportunities.

• 2008

  Viaspace enters the biomass market

  [1]Viaspaceen.wikipedia.org

  The company announces the acquisition of Inter-Pacific Arts Corp. and begins pursuing Giant King Grass applications.

• 2007

  SHINE Expert System receives NASA Space Act Award

  [1]Viaspaceen.wikipedia.org

  The Caltech-licensed expert-system software associated with Viaspace Security receives NASA recognition.

• 2006

  Arroyo Sciences is renamed Viaspace Security

  [1]Viaspaceen.wikipedia.org

  The security and homeland-defense subsidiary adopts the Viaspace Security name.

• 2005

  Viaspace becomes public through merger

  [1]Viaspaceen.wikipedia.org

  The company enters the public market through a merger with Global Wide Production.

• 2002

  Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Corporation is formed

  [1]Viaspaceen.wikipedia.org

  DMFCC is created to develop and commercialize direct-methanol-fuel-cell technology licensed from Caltech and USC.

• 2000

  RGC acquires QWIP Technologies

  [1]Viaspaceen.wikipedia.org

  RGC acquires full ownership of the venture, ending Viaspace's stake in the business.

• 2000

  Hewlett-Packard alliance is announced

  [1]Viaspaceen.wikipedia.org

  Viaspace announces a technology-commercialization alliance with Hewlett-Packard.

• 1998

  Viaspace is founded as a Caltech/NASA spin-off

  [1]Viaspaceen.wikipedia.org

  The company begins with the goal of commercializing space- and defense-derived technologies associated with JPL and related institutions.

• 1998

  QWIP Technologies joint venture is established

  [1]Viaspaceen.wikipedia.org

  A memorandum with RGC leads to the incorporation of QWIP Technologies for quantum-well infrared photodetector commercialization.

A research-commercialization company translating NASA, Caltech, JPL, USC, and defense-originated technologies into specialized energy, sensing, security, and renewable-resource ventures.

• Fuel-cell energy products

  Direct methanol fuel-cell cartridges

  DMFCC developed disposable cartridges intended to supply methanol fuel to portable direct-methanol-fuel-cell devices. The target applications included notebook computers, mobile phones, and military systems. The technology was supported by a patent portfolio licensed from Caltech and USC. Commercial deployment faced barriers related to aircraft rules governing methanol carriage and the development of safety standards for fuel-cell systems.

• Security and homeland-defense software

  SHINE Expert System

  SHINE Expert System was software licensed from Caltech and associated with Viaspace Security, the renamed Arroyo Sciences subsidiary. It was intended for security and homeland-defense applications and received a NASA Space Act Award in 2007. The available material does not identify later customers, product versions, or current availability.

• Biomass and renewable-energy feedstock · 2008

  Giant King Grass

  Giant King Grass was a fast-growing, perennial, non-genetically modified hybrid grass cultivated under a worldwide license obtained through China Gate. Viaspace Green Energy pursued it as feedstock for liquid transportation fuels and as a renewable substitute for coal in stationary power generation. The company reported 279 acres under cultivation by June 2010.

• Biomass fuel product · 2010

  Green Logs

  Green Logs were presented as an early commercial product from Viaspace's renewable-energy activities. The product was associated with the company's effort to convert Giant King Grass and related biomass resources into renewable solid fuels. The reference material does not provide technical specifications, production volumes, markets, or subsequent sales information.

• Chemical sensing and analytical instrumentation · 1999

  Chemical and hazardous-material sensors

  Viaspace-related sensing ventures commercialized or sought to commercialize technologies derived from NASA and Caltech research. Ionfinity collaborated with Caltech and JPL on mass-spectrometry-based sensors intended to detect very small quantities of explosives, chemical and biological weapons, toxic gases, and drugs. SpectraSensors separately developed gas-sensing technology under exclusive institutional licenses.

• 2008

  Shift toward biomass and renewable energyStrategy

  Background

  Viaspace sought nearer-term commercial opportunities while maintaining activities in fuel cells, sensing, and security.

  Action taken

  The company announced the acquisition of Inter-Pacific Arts Corp., obtained access to Giant King Grass cultivation rights, and used Viaspace Energy and later Viaspace Green Energy to pursue biomass fuels and power-generation markets.

  Aftermath

  The renewable-energy business became one of the company's principal documented operating areas, including cultivation, Green Logs, and a proposed power plant.

  Source

• 2005

  Public-market merger with Global Wide ProductionM&A

  Background

  Viaspace pursued public-company status through a transaction with Global Wide Production.

  Action taken

  The merger made Viaspace a public company and the company adopted the Viaspace name in its new capitalization.

  Aftermath

  Carl Kukkonen remained chief executive, while Amjad Abdallat and Stephen Muzi assumed senior operating and financial roles.

  Source

• 2000

  Exit from QWIP Technologies after RGC acquisitionM&A

  Background

  Viaspace had helped establish QWIP Technologies with RGC to commercialize quantum-well infrared photodetectors.

  Action taken

  RGC acquired full ownership of QWIP Technologies. Viaspace no longer retained an interest in the venture or its associated photodetector patents.

  Aftermath

  The quantum-well infrared photodetector business ceased to be part of Viaspace's portfolio.

  Source

• 2000

  Active-pixel-sensor commercialization is discontinuedStrategy

  Background

  Viaspace and Omicron Technologies had explored active-pixel-sensor applications as a potential competitor to charge-coupled-device imaging.

  Action taken

  After Omicron withdrew because of financial problems, Viaspace ended commercialization efforts because continued development would have been too costly.

  Aftermath

  The imaging initiative did not reach commercialization, although Viaspace reacquired three radio-satellite-related patents from the failed partnership.

  Source

1. 1Viaspaceen.wikipedia.org