Agriculture             

• Pea production; market research, protein characterization, supply opportunities in nutraceutical food products.
• Raspberries – market research, production quantities in North America, company growing practices and advanced germ techniques for a company looking to enter the business.

Economic & Social Projects

• “Successful Start-Ups” visit by to Seattle by Global Management Study Team - (Japan Center for Productivity and Socio Economic Development 2007).
• Article: “Health Information Systems in the U.S.” - 2006

Environmental – Water & Wastewater Treatment:

• Identification of new technology and investment opportunities in innovative desalination membranes and water production technologies (2008).
• Research cryptosporidium releases into drinking water from water treatment plants and the trend in North America to control those releases.
• Trends in using biocides in cooling towers in North America.
• Survey on cryptosporidium control protocols in US water treatment plants.
• Multi-year (on-going) projects to promote an innovative wastewater treatment/sludge reduction technology that was developed by a Japanese client for North America and European markets.  Activities included advising the client on the best approaches; assessment of market size and potential; preparing promotional materials; arranging for series of technical presentations by the client at different North American A&E firms; identifying, researching, and communicating with different North American potential licensees; identifying, researching, and communicating with interested potential end-users (utilities in the US and UK); arranging and accompanying the client in visiting interested parties; and following up activities.
• Investigating the possibility of introducing an ozone-based mobile water treatment system developed by the client to the North American water treatment market.
• Several research and locating alternatives to chemical treatment for biological control in cooling water applications in North America and Europe in response the movement in Japan to lessen the use of these chemicals or totally eliminate it.
• Research on the membrane treatment market in the US with emphasis on the emerging trend of using micro-filtration (MF) and ultrafiltration (UF) membrane systems for municipal drinking water production.
• Multi-year research and follow-up including site visits and attending related events on the actual implementation of the emerging supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) technology for destruction of municipal wastewater sludge.  Resulted in the client taking important strategic business directions.
• Trends in Point-of-Use (POU) products incorporating RO membranes and activated carbon for residential drinking water applications.
• Research on the North American market of catalytic reaction technology for aqueous treatment.  The scope included commercially (or near) available applications and R&D efforts at universities or institutes.
• Locating products, which can be used as biological carriers in a client’s developed bioreactor for treating textile wastewater.
• Research and preliminary assessment for the US marketability potential of certain sludge measuring devices developed by the client.  Feedback from potential users helped the client modified and enhanced the capabilities of these devices.
• Research on the recent developments in the field of electrochemical technologies for waste treatment and the impact on the North American market.  The project resulted in the client, a leading Japanese environmental firm, collaborating for R&D work with a leading US firm to address a specific contaminant problem.
• Research on the size of wastewater treatment market for the metal finishing industry in 6 specific U.S. states namely: Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, California, Washington, and Oregon.
• Research to determine and evaluate the US market potential for a client's proprietary technology(s) for treatment of wastewater from stockbreeders and food industries with main emphasis on hog farms in North Carolina.
• Research on the issue of using organic poly-electrolytes, particularly poly-acrylamides, in drinking water treatment flocculation/coagulation applications.  Another follow up research on the issue of monitoring/analysis of poly-acrylamide/acrylamide monomer in water.
• Research on North American suppliers and technology of skid-mounted or compacted wastewater treatment and/or recovery systems for small to medium-size industrial facilities.  The client was interested in expanding their scope of business into this area.
• Research on the situation in the deionized (DI) water market in North America.
• Overview research and report on the existing and expected new environmental regulations in the US with emphasis on water-related regulations.
• Several researches on the status of a certain class of biocides (Stabilized Inorganic Bromine Liquid) in the US market with emphases on growth potential of this class and current and future applications.
• Research on the subject of advanced remote monitoring/operating of water/wastewater treatment plants.
• Research on the status in North America concerning remote monitoring / operation of drinking water MF/UF membrane plants.  The client believed that remote monitoring / operation is among several membrane supporting services with expected significant growth potential in the Japanese market.
• Research on the status in North America with regard to after-sales or aftermarket services that were requested by owners of drinking water membrane filtration plants, MF and UF in particular.
• Research on technology status with regard to removal of selenium, boron, and fluoride from aqueous streams.
• Research on the status of the European water treatment industry.
• Research on the nature, history, current and future status of water treatment privatization efforts in the US.
• Research on processes that were either proposed or utilized to remove selenium from contaminated waste stream especially wastewater in North America.
• Research on the current status in North America with regard to organic coagulants and their use for industrial wastewater treatment.  Of particular interest were the cationic polymers that are based on polyamines and poly-di-allyl-dimethyl ammonium chloride (PolyDADMAC)
• Research on the future possibility of expanding or tightening the MARPOL treaty to include gray water, other geographic regions or the high seas and locating active participants in the development and commercialization of marine WW treatment systems.
• Research and locating suppliers of chlorine dioxide and sodium hypochlorite generators for biological control applications in North America.
• Locating a suitable North American collaborator for the client who developed an alternative technology to traditional sand filtration.  Several prospects were introduced as a result.
• Research on membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology suppliers in North America and Europe.
• Research and survey of North American end-user opinions on a certain installed municipal water treatment technology that the client was expecting to become a licensee of.
• Research on software products that are used for design/model, simulation, or optimization of processes related to water production/utilization or wastewater generation/treatment.
• Research on the situation in North America regarding trends in boron removal and related analysis technologies for ultrapure water production and wastewater treatment systems.
• Research on specific filtration issues related to the treatment of power plant condensate.
• Research on biological nitrogen removal from methane fermentation wastewater.
• Research on the ATAD processes for treatment of biosolids and other concentrated organic waste streams.
• Research on innovative technologies and research efforts to remove heavy metals from wastewater focusing on a specific technology type per the client’s request.
• Research on current trend and available technologies for phosphorus and COD removal from wastewater.
• Research on ultrapure water market trends, composition, and players in North America.
• Research on zinc in aqueous media: current / future regulations & removal technologies.
• Research on fine bubble diffuser systems for wastewater treatment applications.   Quotations from different North American suppliers were obtained for the client’s evaluation.
• Identifying suppliers of ceramic membranes, obtaining proposals and quotations for client’s specific applications.
• Research on super high-rate clarification equipment in North America for wastewater treatment.
• Research on nitrogen removal technologies from wastewater in North America focusing on electrolytic processes.
• Research on North American technology / product suppliers in the area of foaming control in municipal wastewater treatment.
• Research on wastewater excess sludge reduction technologies in North America and Europe.
• Research on technology suppliers in the area of catalytic oxidation and advanced oxidation technologies (AOTs) of COD and other contaminants.

Environmental – Waste Treatment, Recycling, and Others:

• Identify available technologies to immobilize heavy metals in municipal solid waste incinerator fly ash.
• Locating a possible North American licensor of a PCBs destruction technology in transformer oil.  Resulted in a licensing agreement and is currently considered one of the most profitable businesses for the client.
• Research on medical waste treatment technology suppliers in North America.  Several potential collaborators were identified and visited with the client.  Follow up communications and negotiation of a licensing agreement.
• Research on supercritical fluids (SCFs) technologies and existing and promising new environmental applications.
• Research on electrostatic separation of mixed plastics in North America.
• Research to identify innovative industrial sludge treatment or destruction technologies/processes.
• General research on pre-treatment and recycling of waste streams.  The client desired to go with the wave of promoting waste minimization and recovery of valuable resources for further use.
• Research on the market and technologies for acid recovery in North America.
• Research on recycling of electronics in North America.  In response to a client’s concerns with the new regulatory development in the Japanese recycling market.  The Japanese law for household appliance recycling "Recycling Promotion Law", enacted in 1998.
• Research on trends and issues related to endocrine disruptors.
• Research on landfill leachate treatment practices and trends in North America market, drying & crystallization technologies, and the use of incineration to dispose the leachate.
• Research on supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) technology suppliers and potential waste treatment applications.
• Research on the governing environmental regulations, generators, and consumption issues related to TCE in different countries: Venezuela, Brazil, Pakistan, and Portugal.  The client was considering building a TCE manufacturing facility in one of these countries.
• Research on gas turbine (GT) compressor cleaning/washing with emphasis given to the current environmental and health concerns associated with alkylphenol ethoxylates (APE’s)/nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPE’s) that were used to be the active ingredients of the different brands of detergents used for the cleaning purpose.
• Research on status of ClO₂ business in the US with regard to the gas generating technologies/suppliers and the applicable environmental applications.
• Research to locate an appropriate system or technology to completely dry concentrated landfill leachate.
• Research on the new field of sono-chemistry and current or future utilization in environmental applications.
• Research on the situation in North America market (trends, driving factors, and suppliers) with regard to ozone / UV-related technologies.
• Research on the impact of introducing garbage/food waste disposers (grinders) on wastewater collection and treatment practices in the US.
• Research to support a client’s R&D efforts in developing a system to wash (clean) ash from solid waste incinerators.
• Research on cell separation using membrane processes in waste fermentation processes in North America and Europe.
• Research on recycling of fiber reinforced plastics (FRP) waste in the US.
• Research on Molten Salt Oxidation (MSO) technology for hazardous waste treatment in the US.  A visit to an active processing site was arranged for the client.
• Research on conversion technologies of organic waste into valuable chemicals such as ethanol.
• Several research projects related to different waste treatment technologies in North America that can be candidates for further evaluation for technology transfer to the client.
• Several research projects to supports clients in patent disputes related to environmental technologies.
• UASB (Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket) market research, technologies.
• Acid Retardation.

Environmental – Air Pollution Control:

• Research to identify North American potential licensors of different types air pollution control (APC) technologies.  Several prospects were introduced to the client and licensing agreements for wet electrostatic precipitator and scrubber technologies were successfully signed.
• Research on the situation in North America with regard to controlling PFCs emissions from the semiconductor industry.
• Research on technologies that could help a Japanese client find higher margin, niche markets for their gas phase air filters.
• Research on different specific issues related to the utilization of catalysts and activated carbon for removal of dioxins and related compounds in incineration processes.
• Research on the status of VOCs control market in the US.  The client, a leading Japanese environmental company, was considering venturing into the air pollution control (APC) market as a future strategic move with the regulatory agencies shifting toward integrated multimedia approaches for particular industrial sectors.
• General research on the issue of controlling dioxins in the environment in North America.
• Research on cold plasma technologies for odor abatement applications in North America.
• Research on North American and European suppliers and potential technology licensors of a specific type of Regenerative Thermal Oxidizers (RTOs) for VOCs destruction in industrial applications. Several prospects were introduced to the client.
• Research on the applicability of using wet scrubbing technologies to remove dioxins from flue gas streams.
• Research on North American suppliers of odor control technology / product for municipal wastewater treatment.

Environmental – Site Remediation:

• Research current practices in North America concerning remediation approaches and technologies for contaminated sites.
• Research on Health & Safety (H&S) issues associated with specific types of remediation projects.
• Research on current trend and technology suppliers for remediation of oil-contaminated sites.
• Research status in North American market for PCBs-contaminated soil remediation.
• Research on remediation practices and technology in North America for heavy metals contaminated soils.
• Research on remediation practices and technology in North America for Persistent Organic Pollutants or (POPs) contaminated soils and sediments.
• Attending different site remediation conferences and seminars on behalf of clients and reporting on them.  Example: The International Conference on Remediation of Chlorinated and Recalcitrant Compounds.

Energy and Alternative Energy:

• Multi-year research and follow-up projects related to alternative energy especially hydrogen generation, fuel cells, energy storage, standards, safety, market intelligence and market trends and government policies, etc.
• Attending numerous hydrogen energy conferences and seminars on behalf of clients and reporting on them.
• Several research projects on North American suppliers of innovative technologies and components for hydrogen systems (PEMs, metal hydride, etc).  The project resulted in a licensing agreement for catalyst applying process and other contracted R&D works.
• Research on existing hydrogen fuelling stations in operated by transit authorities and organizations in North America.  Visits to some of these suppliers were arranged for the client.
• Research on North American suppliers of compressed natural gas and/or hydrogen gas dispensing equipment for automotive applications.  Visits to suppliers were arranged for the client.
• Multi-year projects to promote the sales of an energy-related system that was developed by the client.  Continuous monitoring of applicable new power plants projects.  Technical presentations and meetings at the leading power plant developers and A&E firms were arranged for the client.
• Several research projects on alternative energy technologies (hydropower, solar, wind)
• Research on innovative hydrogen storage technologies (compressed, metal hydride, nano-carbons).
• Research on present and future regulatory status and trends concerning automobile exhaust emissions in the US addressing to the issue of zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) introduction to different States' automobile markets in the future.
• Research on suppliers of hydrogen gas membrane dryer that satisfies the client’s requirements and operating conditions.
• Basic research on Pacific NW smart energy companies for a major Japanese utility.
• Research on North American and European market and locating suppliers of Micro Gas Turbines (MGTs) with particular interest in biogas applications.
• Research on specific wind energy farms in specific states in the US for a major Japanese utility.
• Research on water removal from crude oil practices in North America.

Biotechnology/Medical Devices/Pharmaceuticals:

• For two major Japanese pharmaceutical firms, identification of available innovative compounds in development for the treatment of diseases related to CNS, cardio-vascular, metabolic, and immune system diseases.
• Identification of pre-market OTC products that could be profitable for Japan.
• Assist in the development of generic and branded products strategies for a medium-sized pharmaceutical firm.
• Assist a Canadian firm with a fetal monitor software system find and assess potential Japanese distribution partners.
• Business development and strategic support for identifying innovative topical transdermal technologies to deliver non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs. (NSAIDS).

Industrial:

• For a leading Japanese industrial client, a multi-year (on-going) project to identifying products and technologies related to the client’s existing business areas for the client’s participation either through licensing, co-development, distribution, investment or manufacturing in Japan and/or China.  The project has resulted so far in one licensing agreement and several other opportunities under current evaluation.
• Research on North American organizations developing enzyme treatment systems to replace chemical bleaching (chlorine or hydrogen peroxide) that were usually utilized in the process of cotton bleaching that occurs after the scouring process.  The project resulted in the client, a leading Japanese textile company, collaborating for R&D work with a leading US researcher.
• Research on chiral separation technologies and existing and promising markets.  The client possessed a unique separation technology that was limited to customers in a low margins industry.  The project resulted in introducing several potential customers and licensees in other higher margins industries.
• Research on the different membrane separation products and technologies that are provided by membrane separation companies in North America to the pharmaceutical / biotechnology industry especially for fermentation applications (enzymes, antibiotics, genetically recovered products, proteins, vitamins, and amino acids.),
• Research supercritical fluids technologies for pharmaceutical applications in North America.  Several potential collaborators were identified for the client.
• Research on the current status of functional water technologies for wafer cleaning applications in the North American and European semiconductor manufacturing industry.
• Research on trends in the use of ultra pure water (UPW) for wafer cleaning at <45nm.
• Research on the existing and future potential of membrane filtration technology in food & beverage applications especially sugar industry with emphasis on the application of replacing diatomaceous earth (DE) filtration.
• Research on the potential use of ceramic cross-flow membranes for downstream fermentation liquid applications in biopharmaceutical industry.
• Research on the demand for flat-panel-displays in North America.
• Research and preliminary assessment for the North America marketability potential of a client’s technology for wet cleaning/processing in semiconductor and related industries’ applications.
• Research on the current status of developing solvent resistant membranes for industrial separation applications.
• Research on suppliers of freeze dryers for pharmaceutical applications.
• Several projects contacting different polymeric membrane manufacturers to find suitable or alternative membranes for filtration systems offered by the clients.
• Research on the current and future market of glass-lined steel equipment in North America.
• Research on E-Business practices among major corporations in North America such as UPS and General Mills.
• Investment opportunities in nanomaterials / nanotechnologies in the U.S and Europe for Japanese clients.
• Market research using amines to capture carbon dioxide
• Market research – identification of innovative carbon capture technologies; materials and processes.
• Innovative technology to produce peracetic acid for disinfections using electrochemical techniques.