TEXTILES.ORG
A coalition of technological innovators from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), U.S. Department of State and NIKE formed LAUNCH in an effort to identify, showcase and support innovative approaches to sustainability challenges. Its 2013 Systems Challenge identified 10 top concepts, but attracted many others, including a newly formed company, BioSLIPS, that has worked with Harvard University and the Wyss Institute to identify a range of coating applications for slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS). The nano-structured coatings can provide energy savings for refrigeration condenser coils and water aeration membranes, safety features for protective fabrics, antimicrobial coating for catheters and other applications. The overall market for nano-structured coatings such as SLIPS is estimated to be $3.5 billion by 2015. Find out more at Harvard’s SLIPS page.