In the third quarter of 2011, Lux Research analysts profiled 286 companies in 11 different emerging technology sectors. Here are the 10 they thought were the most compelling. Some are already enjoying great commercial success, and should continue to do so. Others are promising upstarts that could yet fail but have the potential to achieve great things. Let us know your thoughts and watch this space for the next quarter’s results.
1. Semprius – Positive – Solar systems
If the company can maintain high yields in automated mass manufacturing, it will have the market’s most attractive high-concentration PV module.
2. Qingdao Institute of Bio-energy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences – Positive – China Innovation, Alternative Fuels
With multinationals such as Boeing and Shell undertaking joint research partnerships, Qingdao has emerged as a leading Chinese institute in alternative fuel technologies.
3. Ice Energy – Positive – Green Buildings
As a complete solution provider of ice-based thermal storage systems for peak-demand load shifting, Ice Energy has secured valuable channels to market via partnerships with Trane and Carrier.
4. Oxis Energy – Wait and See – Electric Vehicles
Although still too early in development to declare success, next-generation energy storage solutions are potentially disruptive in the transportation market, and UK-based Oxis Energy could be one of the first to reach market with its lithium-sulfur battery.
5. Aerogen Therapeutics – Strong Positive – Targeted Delivery
Aerogen is targeting both health and consumer applications, as well as the medical device market, with a versatile electronic micropump technology that aerosolizes liquid drug formulations.
6. Modumetal – Strong positive – Advanced Materials
This leading developer of electroplated metal coatings has shown great savvy in procuring high-profile customers and partners across the aerospace/defense, automotive, and oil and gas industries, despite long development lead times.
7. Sensus – Strong Positive – Smart Grid
A dominating player in the North American advanced metering infrastructure market that spans the entire value chain.
8. Breivoll Inspection Technologies – Wait-and-see – Water
Technology adoption in the $20 billion water infrastructure repair market is notoriously slow, but is inspiring innovations from the likes of Breivoll, which has developed a nondestructive metal water pipe profiling to locate and fix water system weak points before they cause blowouts.
9. E-Ink – Strong Positive – Printed Electronics
Having captured most of the market for e-reader displays with its electrophoretic film technology, E-Ink is looking to other applications as the leisure e-reader market saturates.
10. Avantium – Positive – Bio-based Materials and Components
With its novel furanic platform, Avantium is pushing towards the polyester markets and fanning the flames of the drop-in versus novel chemical debate.
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