Founder Professor in Mechanical Science and Engineering Nenad Miljkovic has been named the recipient of the 2026 Award for Excellence in Translational Research from The Grainger College of Engineering.
This award honors faculty or staff researchers for special achievement in translational research such as entrepreneurial activities related to research outcomes, technology transfer of research through licensing of intellectual property, and research leading directly to products/outcomes with notable societal impact.
Among other achievements, Miljkovic has co-founded four companies in just the past three years based on research conducted in his lab: Helix Earth Technologies, NovoLINC, ThermalPixels, and CAPSLocks.
Several companies associated with the Center on Power Optimization of Electro-Thermal Systems (POETS) worked with him on early-stage research on thermal management that led to prototypes and early demonstrators, and one thermal management project for an electrified aircraft, performed with the startup company Ampaire Inc., resulted in an R&D100 Award in 2023 and successful flight testing of an actual aircraft in 2024. Ampaire is also pursuing follow-on technology development with Miljkovic’s group for an innovative electro-thermal pulse deicing system specifically needed for electrified aircraft platforms.
Miljkovic has created a path for dozens of companies, working with researchers in his and other labs to develop world-changing technologies to improve HVAC efficiencies to ultimately slow the effect on climate change. His group has developed and translated several technologies to the point of real system implementation and product development by MechSE’s Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Center (ACRC) member companies. His leadership of ACRC over the last six years has resulted in research discoveries in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) space that have led directly to translational impact in the industry.
Miljkovic will formally receive the award at the Engineering Awards Convocation on April 27.