NEWS

Grapheno, LLC, a tenant company at Louisiana Tech University’s Innovation Enterprise, was honored with the Campus to Commerce award from Louisiana Economic Development at the eighth annual Spotlight Louisiana Awards held in Baton Rouge, LA. This event recognizes members of the LED Growth Network that have used the organization’s resources to accelerate growth and create new jobs.

“Recognizing Grapheno with the Campus to Commerce award is as much about the company’s contributions to Louisiana’s innovation ecosystem as it is about the incredible research and products the company is delivering,” LED Chief Innovation Officer Josh Fleig said. “Grapheno is a prime example of how combining university resources with an entrepreneurial drive can help advance the state’s legacy sectors and create next-generation opportunities. LA.IO looks forward to continuing to work with Grapheno as they turn groundbreaking research into real-world solutions with meaningful impact.”

Founded by Louisiana Tech alumni, Grapheno delivers advanced research and development services to solve mission-critical challenges. The company specializes in combating structural degradation in metal components and has developed innovative, patented application systems. These technologies have been applied in support of essential infrastructure maintenance efforts.

“We are incredibly proud to receive this recognition from LED,” said Onega Ulanova, Grapheno co-founder. “This honor reflects the power of university-industry partnerships to drive innovation, economic growth, and talent development. We look forward to continuing our work with Louisiana Tech and the Innovation Enterprise to turn bold ideas into lasting impact.”

Since its founding in 2016, Grapheno has grown to a team of seven employees supporting a multi-year Department of Defense contract, with plans to secure additional contracts and create more jobs. Recent research initiatives — including fatigue crack mitigation for legacy aircraft and a novel vaccine delivery platform — have showcased the company’s innovation and attracted growing interest. Both projects benefited from close collaboration with Louisiana Tech faculty, highlighting Grapheno’s strong ties to academic expertise.

The founders of Grapheno remain deeply committed to the region and continue to expand their initiatives. In 2018, senior leadership enhanced their business acumen through participation in LED’s CEO Roundtables. Building on that foundation, they engaged in LED’s System for Integrated Growth in 2020, gaining valuable insights and strategies for leveraging data and consultant-driven connections to scale the business. Most recently, Grapheno earned recognition as a certified Louisiana Entrepreneurial Business by LED.

In 2024, Grapheno became one of the inaugural tenant partners selected for space in Tech Pointe II, part of the Innovation Enterprise Campus which is an emerging business district supported by LED.

“Grapheno is strategically identifying and maximizing beneficial incentives to accelerate growth and amplify its overall economic impact,” said Dr. Donna Johnson, chief innovation officer at Louisiana Tech. “As a tenant at the Innovation Enterprise, Grapheno exemplifies the advantages of this partnership by leveraging University faculty, students, and graduates to foster innovation and execute its mission.”

As the company marks its first decade, Grapheno continues to identify market-driven opportunities and grow its capabilities. The Campus to Commerce award highlights Grapheno’s commitment to Louisiana Tech and vision to leverage the state’s innovative ambition and economic potential.