More pleasant indoor climate with new energy-efficient technology

Development is progressing rapidly at the new company Duck Technologies. If everything goes according to plan, the hope is that the company’s first product will be ready for the market within two years. What remains is to scale up and package a new opportunity to save energy by reducing heat intake through, among other things, windows in buildings and cars. UU Invest is investing in the company and contributing with know-how in the company’s board.

The driving force in the work and the solution Duck Technologies is working with offers a new way to reduce energy consumption for cooling indoor environments in buildings and vehicles. At the same time, it can offer a comfortable indoor climate. Somewhat unexpectedly, it is a solution that countries in the northern hemisphere may benefit the most from, as buildings here are often not designed to effectively block heat or have the technology installed to solve the problem.

Window film to capture and reflect radiation

– The solution we’re working on is about preventing heat from entering the building, thus eliminating the need to use energy to cool the indoor climate. Simply put, it’s about a new way to apply a completely transparent coating to windows that prevents heat from passing through the glass, says Jacinto Sá, professor at the Department of Chemistry – Ångström; Physical Chemistry, and CEO of Duck Technologies.

Essentially, it is the coating itself—where special solar nanomaterials remove the radiation so it doesn’t pass through the windows into the building—that does the job. What remains is to scale up production and develop partnerships envisioned to quickly bring the product to market in various ways.

Collaboration with various players in the market

– We currently have several ongoing collaborations. Both with major window manufacturers for new windows in new buildings, and with other players regarding the possibility of applying the coating to windows in existing buildings. We also see a future opportunity to offer our coating directly to property owners to spray their own apartment or house windows—thus reducing the need to cool the home.”

Schools in focus

When it comes to buildings, schools are a prioritized target group for Jacinto. Contributing to solutions that clearly show it’s possible to save energy is important and hopeful for everyone—especially for future generations who will need to address environmental and limited energy resource issues.

Investment from UU Invest brings several benefits

Jacinto believes the value of an investment from UU Invest is multifaceted. Early capital makes it possible to start development and, not least, secure patents that are crucial to eventually offering new technology to the market. As Jacinto sees it, investment from UU Invest also provides a “gatekeeper” for development and ensures that progress doesn’t have to be rushed.

– The investment from UU Invest is not just about important seed capital. The company’s long track record of investing in promising research means that valuable experience is immediately added to the project. Gaining access to that knowledge so early means a lot—especially when it comes to measuring risk and assessing what is normal and what should raise concern. When that experience is integrated directly into the company, it’s easier for us to keep going. And that’s very positive.

Stable foundation in development work

Another important aspect of having UU Invest involved early, Jacinto says, is that external investors don’t always understand how long it takes to turn research into innovation. And that some processes, no matter how much one wants to, simply can’t be rushed. Starting out with UU Invest, he says, helps build a better and more stable foundation for the company. This has been reinforced by experience from working with a previous spin-off company.

Involving students offers advantages

– When innovation is based on research, I also believe it’s necessary for us researchers to keep one foot in the academic world. With UU Invest on board, there is a mindset that complements a researcher’s way of working. I believe it’s important to continue working and involving students in the project whenever possible, to help transition research into successful innovation in society.

International collaboration leads to better solutions

Jacinto has his roots in Portugal and has actively chosen to conduct research at several universities across Europe. This is not the first time he’s taken his research forward. The driving force behind his work is to find new ways to conserve energy and contribute to smart solutions that make it possible. He sees collaboration, the pursuit of new knowledge, and cross-border cooperation as crucial in tackling the challenges we need to solve.

Read more about Jacinto Sá and his research group here.

Jacinto Sá’s research group explores fundamental aspects of plasmonic materials, with a focus on applications in photocatalysis, photonics, and photovoltaics. Plasmonic materials are unique materials that can capture and control light with precision, making them valuable for a range of applications—such as efficiently absorbing or reflecting unwanted light.