Projects demonstrate the impact of applied research investments

PHOENIX, Ariz. (February 26, 2025) – The WearTech Applied Research Center, created by the Partnership for Economic Innovation (PEI), hosted its WearTech Demo Day on February 11, 2025, at the WearTech Center in Central Phoenix. The event showcased three projects, Medtronic, BlackTeal Energy, and Censyn, demonstrating the impact of investing in applied research and fostering innovation in Arizona’s technology ecosystem.

The Arizona Commerce Authority recently awarded $1.7 million to support seven new applied research projects through its WearTech Applied Research Center. State funding matches $1.9 million in private and nonstate funds committed by Arizona’s industry partners. This partnership plays a crucial role in bridging research and practical applications, turning ideas into market-ready innovations.

WearTech Demo Day brought together business leaders, healthcare professionals, and startup companies to share the progress of cutting-edge technology projects. The event featured an interactive Q&A session, allowing attendees to engage directly with project teams and gain valuable insights from ecosystem leaders and investors.

“WearTech Demo Day reveals how Arizona’s tech innovators are transforming the industry directly through projects we’re nurturing,” said Kathleen Lee, Director of Applied Research Centers at PEI. “Arizona produced more patents in medical devices, including wearables, than other bioscience segments. Our collaborative approach accelerates the process of transforming novel inventions into commercial products. This leads to job creation and cements Arizona’s position as a leader in this vital sector.”

Highlights from Demo Day included:

• Anna Belle, Principal Scientist at Medtronic, presented advancements with a wearable trisensor for acute kidney injury risk monitoring.
• Ayushi Patel from Censyn shared a brain monitoring device for concussion management.
• Representing PEI’s recent expansion into other technology areas, Derek Chung of BlackTeal Energy introduced new battery technology by integrating AI for energy storage and enhanced efficiencies.
• WearTech Advisory Board members Andy Lombard and Chris Yoo joined researchers, industry leaders, and healthcare professionals in lively discussions.

“Our journey with WearTech transformed our startup. We moved from California because HonorHealth invested in our technology, but it was WearTech’s support that anchored us in Arizona. WearTech’s support opened critical doors to resources like our NSF grants, while their workspace became our innovation hub,” said Ayushi Patel, Co-Founder & CEO. “Now, we’re connected to a network of investors and collaborators, accelerating our path to market. For startups like us, this ecosystem is the key to turning concepts into life-changing wearable technologies.”

The technology leaders shared some of their plans for the future, including:

• Medtronic aims to extend its device’s lifetime to seven days and begin live patient studies next year, keeping operations in Arizona. The company plans to move toward human clinical trials for its acute kidney injury risk monitoring system.
• Censyn conducts usability studies on its PenEEG platform for brain monitoring and concussion management. The startup prepares for FDA 510(k) submission, completes compliance testing, and seeks new pilot partners.
• BlackTeal Energy works with Arizona tribes to establish agreements for future manufacturing and transform the mining economy to focus more on green energy. The company targets 2026 for market entry of its AI-integrated energy storage solutions for data centers, utilities, and EVs.

WearTech’s innovative model propels the development of breakthrough wearable health and performance technology. To learn more about the center’s projects and how to engage with this transformation ecosystem, visit azweartech.org.