Empire State Development announces 200th patent earned by FuzeHub board member

FuzeHub experts support more than 500 businesses statewide

Empire State Development has announced FuzeHub board member Santokh S. Badesha earned his 200^th patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Badesha plays a vital role at FuzeHub, working with board members and industry experts to connect New York's small and medium-sized manufacturing businesses to the resources and expertise needed to expand and succeed.

"This milestone underscores the success of FuzeHub, which offers solutions-based expertise to New York businesses and has already helped hundreds of companies statewide," Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Howard Zemsky said. "I applaud Santokh Badesha for his remarkable accomplishment and encourage more New York state businesses to utilize FuzeHub's manufacturing expertise to grow their footprint."

The USPTO issued Badesha and four Xerox co-inventors patent 9,042,796 for their "Transfer Assist Blade." The invention is part of a subsystem that aids the electrostatic transfer of developed images onto paper and is designed for use with high-speed, color-process printing press technologies. The invention allows for lower-cost, higher-quality material.

Badesha is manager of open innovation at Xerox Corp. and has been an employee since 1980. Badesha holds two Ph.D.s in organic chemistry and, in 2007, was awarded an honorary doctor of science degree from Clarkson University. He has been a member of FuzeHub's board of directors since 2014 and brings a breadth of knowledge and expertise to New York's manufacturing business landscape.

"Bringing researchers and manufacturers together with trusted resources to address obstacles preventing growth is key to spurring innovation and competiveness in New York's businesses," Badesha said. "To me, it's the drive and desire to make that scientific breakthrough, working with a team dedicated to solving a problem and tapping into the expertise of NYS's world-class universities to make it all happen."

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced the launch of FuzeHub in November 2013 to better connect small- and medium-sized manufacturers with state technology resources, solutions and expertise. FuzeHub aligns with the governor's strategic goals to foster partnerships between the public and private sector to help start-up companies statewide transform from concept and idea to implementation and commercialization. Since its inception, FuzeHub has assisted more than 500 manufacturers statewide.

Matt Watson, director of ESD's division of science, technology and innovation (NYSTAR), said, "FuzeHub offers what many small businesses need: a trusted network of individuals - like Santokh Badesha - all passionate about technology and innovation, seeking to share their experiences and assist those in need."

FuzeHub provides an online platform for companies to connect directly to industry experts 24/7 by submitting requests at www.fuzehub.com. A team of technical and manufacturing professionals will respond to requests within 48 hours and work with companies through live, one-on-one discussions to identify business challenges and opportunities, and to provide solutions.

In addition, FuzeHub hosts "Solutions Forum" events, which are hands-on, half-day workshops held across the state to match small- and medium-sized manufacturers with top-notch technology and business resources. To date, more than 20 events have taken place across the state. At these events, companies have the opportunity to strategize and analyze business options with invited experts from New York's universities and commercialization organizations that specialize in everything from research to engineering and design.

FuzeHub was established through a partnership between state and federal governments, with support from the U.S. Department of Commerce's NIST MEP and ESD NYSTAR.

Vital Vio CTO and co-founder James Peterson said, "We defined our requirements via FuzeHub's online portal and received a response within eight hours. FuzeHub was able to rapidly assess potential manufacturing partners and bring potential new candidates to the table, drastically expediting Vital Vio's acquisition of manufacturing partnerships."

Tidy Tots Diapers founder and CEO Sandra Beck said, "The FuzeHub team has been instrumental in helping me find the resources necessary to scale up manufacturing, including a $48,000 grant, and as a result I expect to double my production and access a much larger market segment. Answers that might take me weeks to obtain, they could ascertain with a single phone call."

Radiator Labs founder and CEO Marshall Cox said, "Through our engagement with FuzeHub partners, we were supplied with contacts that culminated in a first commercial system. I was able to offload a lot of worry about finding the right kind of manufacturer and supply chain for an early version of our product."