BERKELEY, Calif., Sept. 20 -- Berkeley Laboratory has licensed a new type of biological probe to a start-up firm in Palo Alto, Calif. The probe was developed last fall by Lab researchers, who discovered a means of labeling and measuring biological molecules using nm-sized crystals of semiconductors, such as cadmium selenide and cadmium sulfide. This technology has now been commercially licensed through the Lab's Technology Transfer Department to Quantum Dot Corp. exclusively.
Established expressly for the purpose of developing and commercializing this technology, Quantum Dot Corp. also has a non-exclusive license to manufacture semiconducting nanocrystals as molecular-scale light-emitting diodes and transistors. Under the terms of the licensing agreement with the Lab, Quantum Dot Corp. has issued shares to the University of California through Berkeley Lab in partial payment of the licensing fees.