UCLA Engineering Spinoff Holomic named World Economic Forum Tech Pioneer

Holomic, LLC, a company spun off from technology developed by the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science, was named a 2015 Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum on Wednesday. Holomic’s diagnostic technologies, which use smartphones and biophotonic technologies to improve patient care, are based on research led by Aydogan Ozcan, Chancellor’s Professor of Electrical Engineering and Bioengineering at UCLA.

The World Economic Forum’s Technology Pioneer program was started in 2000 to recognize early-stage companies from around the world that are “involved in the design, development and deployment of new technologies, and are poised to have a significant impact on business and society.” Previous recipients of the honor include Google, Kickstarter; Twitter; SoundCloud and Airbnb. Forty-nine companies out of hundreds of applicants around the globe were selected for the honor this year.

Holomic’s first product is a suite of rapid diagnostic test readers for advancing accuracy and access of in-home healthcare test results. Other products in development include a lens free holographic microscopes and handheld analyzers for blood cell count and allergens.

World Economic Forum Technology Pioneers are companies from the life sciences and healthcare; energy and environment; and information technologies and new media. An external selection committee composed of technology experts reviews the candidates. The companies are selected based on five criteria, including a truly innovative product; the potential for substantial and long-term impact; the development of a working prototype or product; smart plans for future development; and a visionary leadership team.

Image: The smartphone display and portable albumin tester created by the Ozcan Research Group at the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science.