## Mechanical equipment

# Connectable Clean Box with ISO Class -1 for Clean Unit System Platform (CUSP)

Keyword: Ultra high cleanliness, Assist of a coordinator in early stage, Technology transfer by venture company

Organizations Involved

Akira Ishibashi, Professor, Hokkaido University

☐ Yoshiisa Ohashi, President, C's TEC Co., Ltd.

☐ Takashi Hata, Coordinator, Noastec Foundation

## 【Abstract】

Professor Ishibashi, Research Institute for Electronic Science, Hokkaido University, newly developed a clean unit system platform (CUSP), in which provided is ultimate cleanliness of ISO class -1, i.e., the number of all the particles being larger than 0.1 $ \mu $ m in diameter is less than 1 per 10 m $ ^{3} $ , no matter how dusty the ambient is. CUSP can be set up upon users' demands extensively and inexpensively like "LEGO" by connecting unit boxes, offering not only dust-free but also bacteria/virus-free environment. A venture company, C's TEC, is now established to accept orders and to provide the market with the CUSPs.

## [Summary of the technology transfer]

## Technological Impact

Conventional clean room/box uses a system in which fresh air is introduced through filters, and then exhausted out of the clean room/box. Contrarily, CUSP employs a closed-system in which the exhaust air is fed back inside through the filters continuously. CUSP achieves ISO class -1 cleanliness, which is hundred times cleaner than that in conventional systems.

## Market Impact

CUSP requires small initial investment and low running-cost, and can be used in many fields of precision machining, electronics, nano-bio technology and medicine. Small/medium sized companies can use CUSP easily. The sales target of future years are listed below.

Financial year 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Sales (million ¥) 4.5 15 42 182 280

## ● Social Impact

Highly clean environment is widely required for production industries as well as for development of science and technologies that lead to inventions. CUSP, which does not need large rooms nor high running-cost, offers suitable circumstances for fine processing, assembling and integration of semiconductor. Furthermore, bacteria/virus free environment assists development of regenerative medicine and other biotechnologies.

## ●Special Features of the Collaboration

Hokkaido University “Research & Business Park”, managed by NOASTEC Foundation, has an incubation facility and business coordinators. Mr. Hata, one of the coordinators, found this research and assisted it to establish a venture company.

Prof.

Ishibashi

## Project Background

Mr.

Ohashi

Mr. Hata

Professor Ishibasi needed a company to make a trial product. Mr. Hata, a coordinator of NOASTEC foundation, recognized future in the business of his idea. He coordinates a research project.

## Funding History

1.2003. NEDO Feasibility Study

2.2004. JST Feasibility Study

3.2006-7. Hokkaido University Research & Business Park project

4.2006-7. Sapporo Venture Support Program (Sapporo City)

## I ntellectual property protection

Intellectual properties

• Jpn. Pat. 3932334 (granted 30 Mar. '07)

• PCT-JP2004/008842 (filed)

• PCT-JP2005/017003 (filed)

· JP2006-080998 (filed)

## Experiments of CUSP

Commercial product of the CUSP unit.

Inside the box, ISO class –1 cleanness is achieved.

Relation between number of dusts (vertical axis) and diameter of dusts(horizontal axis)

## Turning point in the Project

To meet a suitable coordinator in early stage to attain regional consensus

Trial production is not only for commercialization, but also for research of Dr. Ishibashi own, laser science. In this meaning, it is "need oriented research".

☐ Expansion of uses

For more information, contact : Tsunehisa Araiso, Liaison Center, Creative Research Initiative “Sousei”, Hokkaido University, +81-11-706-7187, caster@cast.hokudai.ac.jp