{"687946":{"#nid":"687946","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Researchers Commercialize New Technology for Faster Water and Environmental Monitoring","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMicrobial monitoring includes tracking bacteria and other microorganisms that affect water quality, food production, and environmental systems. It\u2019s traditionally been slow, expensive, and often restricted to specialized laboratories. Water samples often need to be shipped off-site, where testing could take days or even weeks. During that time, contamination risks grow, and critical decisions about water safety, food production, or environmental health are delayed.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn response, researchers in the Pinto Lab at Georgia Tech set out to reimagine the monitoring process. They began developing a portable technology that allows teams to see and understand what microorganisms are present in a sample almost immediately. That work has now moved beyond the lab and into the marketplace through a newly launched startup called\u003Cstrong\u003E \u003C\/strong\u003ESkopii.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EResearch Driven by Real-World Needs\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESkopii was launched by the research group of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ce.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/ameet-pinto\u0022\u003EAmeet J. Pinto\u003C\/a\u003E, the Carlton S. Wilder Associate Professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ce.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Civil and Environmental Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E. Pinto also serves as the faculty director for Interdisciplinary Research and Collaboration at the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sustainablesystems.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EBrook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe idea for Skopii grew directly from challenges Pinto encountered in his environmental microbiology research. Traditional tools used to study microorganisms often cost tens of thousands of dollars and require specialized facilities, putting them out of reach for many professionals responsible for water safety and environmental monitoring.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe needed a way to quickly understand what was in a sample without investing days of lab work,\u201d said Pinto, co-founder of Skopii. \u201cThe existing tools were too expensive and too stationary. We wanted something small, affordable, and smart enough to provide real-time insight wherever the sample is collected.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat Skopii Does\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESkopii helps\u003Cstrong\u003E \u003C\/strong\u003Ewater utilities, environmental teams, and industry partners quickly understand what is happening with microbiology in the environment and engineered systems without waiting for complex lab tests. The platform combines a compact imaging device with built-in artificial intelligence that analyzes samples on the spot.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInstead of sending samples away for sequencing or advanced lab work, operators can place a sample directly into the device and receive fast, visual information about the microorganisms present. This early insight helps communities, utilities, and industry partners make informed decisions sooner, whether they are monitoring drinking water, wastewater systems, algae growth, or biological processes used in manufacturing.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow the Technology Works\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESkopii\u2019s technology pairs a small, modular, portable imaging device with built-in artificial intelligence. The imaging tool, called ARTiMiS, captures detailed pictures of microorganisms in a sample, much like a microscope that can be taken into the field.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThose images are analyzed immediately by Skopii\u2019s AI software, PhycoSight, which identifies and counts microorganisms without the need for lab testing or long processing times.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETogether, these tools, licensed through Georgia Tech\u2019s Office of Technology Licensing, allow\u003Cstrong\u003E \u003C\/strong\u003Eoperators and researchers to see microorganisms, measure changes, and identify potential issues within minutes rather than days or weeks. The goal is not to replace advanced laboratory testing, but to provide fast, early information that helps guide decisions before more time-consuming analysis is needed.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor example, a water utility operator could use Skopii\u2019s technology to quickly assess phytoplankton in their drinking water sources to determine the presence and quantities of harmful algae, or engineers could monitor large-scale biological processes to evaluate the health and productivity of microalgal cultures for biofuel production or wastewater treatment instead of waiting for days for results.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAdvancing From Lab to Market\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESkopii\u2019s development has been supported by funding from the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the Water Research Foundation. This support allowed the team to refine the imaging system, train its artificial intelligence models, and test the platform with real-world partners.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe work also gained national recognition in 2023 when two of Pinto\u2019s students, Benjamin Gincley (co-founder and CEO of Skopii) and Farhan Khan (co-founder and CTO of Skopii), were named national champions in the Department of Energy\u2019s Algae Prize competition, helping accelerate early development and visibility for the venture. They also received the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering\u2019s Higginbotham Entrepreneurship Award in 2022.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStudents played a key role in moving Skopii from research toward commercialization. Two team members advanced the startup through CREATE-X and VentureLab, applying customer discovery, market validation, and early business modeling to help prepare the technology for market use.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESupported by Georgia Tech\u2019s Commercialization Ecosystem\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESkopii\u2019s progress reflects the strength of Georgia Tech\u2019s commercialization ecosystem and the coordinated support researchers receive as they move innovations from the lab to the market.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter refining the technology through research and field testing, the team worked with the Office of Technology Licensing, part of Georgia Tech\u2019s Office of Commercialization, to protect intellectual property and outline a clear path forward. Licensing associate Ali Asgar Yunus supported the team through the patent process and the early commercialization steps.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOur role is to help researchers protect their work and create the right pathway for real-world use,\u201d said Mary Albertson, director of the Office of Technology Licensing. \u201cSkopii is a strong example of Georgia Tech innovation moving toward meaningful market impact.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELooking Ahead\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe team is already in early discussions with bioprocessing and algae reactor manufacturers interested in integrating Skopii\u2019s technology into commercial equipment. They are also supported by the Georgia Research Alliance and Georgia Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing to advance their technology and its commercialization. They are seeking support from the National Science Foundation\u2019s Small Business Innovation Research program as they continue expanding the platform\u2019s reach.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor Pinto, long-term success is measured by adoption and sustained use.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhen people are using Skopii\u2019s technology in the field and relying on its insights as part of their daily work, that\u2019s when we know we\u2019ve made an impact,\u201d he said. \u201cOur goal is to help people make better decisions about water systems and biological processes in ways that were not possible at this cost or speed before.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech researchers have commercialized a new portable, AI-powered technology that allows teams to rapidly assess microorganisms in water and environmental systems without relying on slow, costly lab testing. Developed in the Pinto Lab and launched through the startup Skopii, the platform combines compact imaging hardware with artificial intelligence to deliver near real-time insight directly at the point of sample collection. By dramatically reducing the time between sampling and decision-making, the technology helps water utilities, environmental teams, and industry partners identify potential risks earlier and respond more effectively, translating academic research into practical, real-world impact.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Through the startup Skopii, Georgia Tech researchers are translating lab-developed imaging and AI technology into a market-ready platform for faster, more accessible microbial monitoring."}],"uid":"36434","created_gmt":"2026-02-02 21:38:35","changed_gmt":"2026-02-27 16:31:39","author":"lcameron30","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-02-02T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-02-02T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679166":{"id":"679166","type":"image","title":"Skopii-founders.jpg","body":null,"created":"1770068337","gmt_created":"2026-02-02 21:38:57","changed":"1770068337","gmt_changed":"2026-02-02 21:38:57","alt":"Skopii Founders","file":{"fid":"263294","name":"Skopii-founders.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/02\/Skopii-founders.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/02\/Skopii-founders.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":412985,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/02\/Skopii-founders.jpg?itok=96Quj33E"}},"679168":{"id":"679168","type":"image","title":"Skopii.jpg","body":null,"created":"1770068379","gmt_created":"2026-02-02 21:39:39","changed":"1770068379","gmt_changed":"2026-02-02 21:39:39","alt":"Skopii: Microbial Monitoring Technology ","file":{"fid":"263295","name":"Skopii.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/02\/Skopii.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/02\/Skopii.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":314067,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/02\/Skopii.jpg?itok=ieSNllr5"}}},"media_ids":["679166","679168"],"groups":[{"id":"655285","name":"GT Commercialization"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"192930","name":"gt-commercializationnews"},{"id":"193593","name":"gt-commercialization"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193658","name":"Commercialization"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71911","name":"Earth and Environment"},{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:lcameron30@gatech.edu\u0022\u003ELacey Cameron\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOffice of Commercialization\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["lcameron30@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}