When single-use electronics are discarded, they often end up in U.S. landfills or are exported overseas for processing. EnduraCure, a University of Utah startup, is addressing this sustainability challenge by developing high-performance polymer substrates that can be chemically degraded to recover valuable electronic components. The company recently received the National Science Foundation's Phase 1 Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) award, funding continued research and commercialization efforts.
A critical environmental issue
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, electronic waste is one of the fastest-growing environmental problems in the world, posing significant risks both to workers who handle these materials and to the environments where they're disposed.
These materials contain precious metals found in circuits that have inherent value for reuse, but current disposal processes often leave them in landfills. Toxic materials like lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic can leach into the environment and expose disposal workers to high levels of contaminants. In response, the NSF and related organizations have encouraged researchers to develop reusable and reclaimable solutions.
Lightening the load on landfills
EnduraCure is answering that call. Their technology uses a photocured polymerization process to create flexible substrates that match the durability of conventional materials during use but can be broken down in a mild chemical bath at end-of-life—recovering valuable components in the process.
“It's all about making these products degradable by design,” says EnduraCure CEO Dennis Pruzan. “We're pushing towards a circular economy and reducing loads on landfills.”
The company's initial focus is on flexible electronic substrates and encapsulants—materials used in medical sensors, smart packaging, and wearable devices. These applications demand both performance and flexibility, making them ideal candidates for EnduraCure's sustainable alternative to conventional nonrecyclable materials.
Freedom to innovate
The company originated in Dr. Chen Wang's lab in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, where sustainable polymers are the central research focus. Pruzan completed his PhD in Materials Science at the U in 2018, then spent several years in industry working on carbon fiber products at DPS Skis. Wang recruited him back to the lab as a research associate, and when EnduraCure needed dedicated leadership, Pruzan's combination of academic training and industry experience made him a natural fit to take the lead.
“One of the things I admire most about the way Chen operates his lab is that it's with an eye on translational research,” Pruzan explains. “We don't want to do research for the sake of doing research. We want to do research that has economic value.”
In recent months, Pruzan and his team have shifted their work from the lab into a separate business and commercialization space, seeking both funding and collaborators as they establish themselves in this new environment.
A university-supported funding pipeline
To bridge the funding gap between academic research and commercialization, EnduraCure secured an Ascender Grant from the Technology Licensing Office— stopgap funding that proved critical while the team pursued the STTR.
“It was incredibly efficient,” Pruzan recalls. “We were notified of funding within a month. Relative to the NSF process, which is eight months to a year, it was very nice that it moved so quickly.”
Pruzan also participated in the NSF I-Corps program through the U of U, an intensive customer discovery process that reshaped how the team thought about their market. The team's successful pursuit of the NSF STTR Phase 1 Award provides funding to establish themselves as a company and move beyond the university research environment—an important milestone in their translational research journey.
Looking ahead
In coming months, the EnduraCure team plans to seek out a manufacturing partner—ideally an electronics company with whom they can demonstrate environmentally sustainable and cost-effective ways to degrade used devices and recover valuable materials at scale. Success would position the company for Phase 2 NSF funding.
“A big part of my job right now is making connections and getting to know people in the landscape of entrepreneurship and small businesses,” Pruzan says. “It's very clear that Utah has a wealth of resources to make those connections.”
Get involved
- For U of U researchers: Interested in exploring commercialization for your own work? The Ascender Grant and I-Corps program help bridge the gap between lab discoveries and market applications.
- For industry partners: EnduraCure is actively seeking manufacturing partners in flexible electronics, medical devices, and consumer electronics. Contact the Technology Licensing Office to learn more.
