The sustainable chemical company, which was acquired in late 2025, is the latest company incubated at the UMD Technology Venture Center
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In Fall River, a vibrant ecosystem where ideas take shape and early-stage companies grow into industry leaders is happening at the UMass Dartmouth Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE). For many startups, the journey from concept to commercialization requires infrastructure and community support, as well as a flexible environment that supports entrepreneurs at every stage of their development.
With access to fully equipped research laboratories, proximity to peers facing similar challenges, and partnership with UMass Dartmouth faculty and students, this blend of physical space and intellectual capital creates fertile ground for collaboration and creativity.
"Positioned as the anchor institution of Southeastern Massachusetts, UMass Dartmouth is uniquely positioned to drive the region's innovation economy. The CIE is not just a building; it is a gateway to our greatest assets - the world-class expertise of our faculty and the energy of our students," said Dr. Yanlai Chen, Chief Research Officer at UMass Dartmouth. "By connecting startups directly with our rich academic programs, advanced research infrastructure, and this intellectual capital, we are creating a powerhouse for securing the private, state, and federal investment needed to turn local ideas into regional and global commercial successes."
Recently, Catalytic Innovations, a company that has pioneered sustainable chemical technologies, graduated from the UMass Dartmouth Technology Venture Center (TVC) at the CIE. This milestone coincides with the acquisition of certain company assets by companies in the chemical and sustainability sectors, including Ascensus Specialties, ensuring the continued availability of key capabilities to customers in the chemical industry.
"We are incredibly proud of what we've accomplished at Catalytic Innovations," said Dr. Stafford Sheehan. "Yale provided essential early support during our spin-out, and UMass Dartmouth's TVC was truly transformative by providing the lab space, the prototyping resources that enabled real growth, and the faculty and staff who brought needed expertise to our sustainability mission."
Founded in 2015 by cofounders Dr. Stafford Sheehan and Dr. Paul Anastas, Catalytic Innovations specializes in products for the clean energy and metal refining sectors, focusing on advanced electrochemical processes that reduce environmental impact while enhancing efficiency. Dr. Sheehan earned his Ph.D. from Yale and served as the company's CEO. Dr. Anastas, known as the "Father of Green Chemistry," is the Teresa and H. John Heinz III is a Professor at Yale, a former Science Advisor to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and a global pioneer in sustainable chemical design. The company's products included catalytic anodes for electrowinning, materials for fuel cells and water electrolysis, and hardware for chemical processes.
Dr. Paul Anastas, who is himself a UMass alumnus, added, "The partnerships with Ascensus Specialties and UMass Dartmouth have been outstanding. Yale laid the scientific foundation, Ascensus helped us establish distribution channels, and the TVC's support and access to skilled talent helped us scale effectively to make a lasting impact and accelerate our green chemistry goals."
From acoustics and optics to marine technology and life sciences, the incubator has hosted a diverse array of startups. Another notable TVC graduate is OceanServer Technology, which launched at the CIE in 2003 and developed autonomous, lightweight unmanned undersea vehicles for military and commercial applications. OceanServer was acquired by L3 Technologies (now L3Harris) in 2017, highlighting the TVC's growing track record in nurturing high-impact technologies for national security.
Prospective startup companies interested in joining the TVC at CIE are encouraged to apply by contacting the center directly. Applications typically involve submitting a business plan and demonstrating alignment with the CIE's focus on technology innovation. For more details, visit the CIE's website.