Stony Brook University, SWFTLabs Partner to Unlock Nature Through Zero-Waste Biotech Innovation in Agriculture

SWFTLabs, a biotechnology startup transforming organic waste into high-value, sustainable materials has secured an exclusive patent license agreement for its core proprietary technology from the Research Foundation for the State University of New York (SUNY), a private, non-profit, education corporation that manages research administration and intellectual property for and on behalf of SUNY.

This milestone marks the company's transition out of what CEO and Co-Founder David W. Clausen calls "stealth mode" and sets the stage for broader engagement with inventors, industry, academia, and the community.

SWFTLabs has grown within the innovation ecosystem at SBU, from its early days in the Long Island High Tech Incubator (LIHTI) to collaborative projects with the Strategic Partnership for Industrial Resurgence (SPIR); the Center for Grid Innovation, Development and Deployment (GrIDD, formerly CIEES); and the Advanced Energy and Technology Center (AERTC). Along the way, SWFTLabs has built a team that blends scientific expertise with entrepreneurial drive, and SBU students have played a key role as interns and early-career professionals who bring fresh skills and energy to the company's growth.

"The facilities, talent pipeline, and entrepreneurial resources at Stony Brook have been instrumental in advancing our technology," Clausen said. "They've empowered us to think bigger. That combination of research excellence and a powerful innovation engine has given us the foundation to scale, the confidence to lead, and the opportunity to shape new solutions that will drive a healthier planet and a stronger economy."

Clausen remarked that successful innovation depends on talent, resources, and access to the right equipment, advantages SWFTLabs found in SBU's facilities. "Working with facilities like LIHTI and AERTC has provided us with the space and, in some cases, the specialized equipment to perform critical tests and essential experiments," he said.

Today, SWFTLabs occupies six incubator spaces, giving the company flexibility to expand its operations. Clausen also highlighted SPIR as a driver of growth, a bridge between academia and industry, and a catalyst for the local economy. "This year, SWFT has continued to support and leverage SPIR, creating four new jobs directly through its support," he said.

Kevin Gardner, Stony Brook vice president for research and innovation, emphasized the broader impact of this license agreement: "This milestone reflects the power of partnership between our faculty, students, and entrepreneurs. By moving discovery from the lab to the marketplace, SWFTLabs is helping to ensure that groundbreaking research directly benefits society and drives economic growth."

Michael Kinch, chief innovation officer at SBU, highlighted the significance for innovation: "SWFTLabs is a perfect example of how the right combination of talent, persistence, and support can turn world-class science into real-world solutions. Their success underscores the strength of our innovation ecosystem and its potential to transform industries."

At its core, SWFTLabs is reimagining waste as a resource, turning agricultural byproducts and other organic feedstocks into materials that improve soil health, reduce dependence on plastics, and advance circular and regenerative economies. SWFTLabs was founded on groundbreaking research and background intellectual property generated by Stony Brook Distinguished Professor of Chemistry Benjamin S. Hsiao, whose work focused on functionalized, nanocellulose fibers and a patented zero-waste, nutrient-recapture process.

What began as a way to create safe and sustainable water filtration media has grown into a platform technology with wide-ranging applications. Today, SWFTLabs develops next-generation fertilizers that return nutrients directly to the soil without the addition of harmful microplastics, biodegradable coatings and packaging to replace petroleum-based plastics, hydrogels for agriculture and healthcare, and specialty biomaterials with potential uses in energy storage, building materials, and even aerospace.

SBU's patented process uses advanced chemistry to break down plant matter and other organic feedstocks to unlock nature into their fundamental building blocks in just a few hours. The technique separates and repurposes components that are typically discarded, producing sterile nanocellulose fibers with exceptional strength and versatility, along with nutrient-rich byproducts that can be directly reapplied to soil. Because the system is closed-loop and zero-waste, every output has value as fertilizer, packaging material, or specialty biomaterials. These processes create a sustainable alternative to conventional agricultural and industrial practices.

The team at SBU's Intellectual Property Partners (IPP)worked with SWFTLabsto secure the license and build a partnership that advances zero-waste nanocellulose technologies into scalable products for agriculture, packaging, and beyond. "This license agreement is the springboard for SWFTLabs to scale our solutions, helping turn waste into profit while meeting the world's demand for a healthy and sustainable supply of nutrient-rich food," said Clausen. "We're ready to step into the spotlight and promote our shared success with the world."

With the license secured, SWFTLabs co-hosted a ribbon-cutting event with SBU to commemorate the achievement and formally launch its public-facing identity. Held on September 18, 2025, at Stony Brook University's Center of Excellence in Wireless and Information Technology (CEWIT), the event celebrated the company's growth within the university's innovation ecosystem, showcased its partnerships, and introduced its zero-waste technology platform to the broader community.

"Our vision isn't just about one company. We want to shine a spotlight on all the partners who helped make this possible," Clausen said. "Together, we're demonstrating how university innovation ecosystems can propel sustainable, scalable technology into the real world. The combination of world-class research, entrepreneurial support, and a community that believes in innovation is exactly what makes Stony Brook such a powerful launchpad for companies like ours."

Looking ahead, SWFTLabs aims to scale its technology globally while remaining deeply rooted in its local community. The company envisions establishing a research and innovation campus in Stony Brook dedicated to eliminating PFAS "forever chemicals" and advancing fiber-based alternatives to plastics. By unlocking nature's potential through science, the company is working to build what Clausen calls "a more sustainable world for tomorrow - or SWFT for short."