The license agreement formalizes rights to patented multi-domain drone payload technology for aerospace and defense applications

The Florida State University Research Foundation and NorthStrive Defense Tech have signed an exclusive patent license agreement covering new multi-domain drone technology that can transport payloads across air and water.

The technology enables an unmanned aerial drone to transport a cable-suspended payload through water while maintaining flight above the surface, leveraging buoyancy-assisted transport to potentially improve payload efficiency compared to traditional air-only drone systems.

Unmanned systems are increasingly being developed to operate across maritime, aerial and payload-delivery missions. The United States, United Kingdom and Australia are advancing underwater drone technologies through the AUKUS defense partnership, and the U.S. Navy is pursuing the development of unmanned surface vessels capable of carrying large payloads over long distances in support of manned warships. These developments underscore a broader defense market shift toward unmanned platforms that can operate with flexibility in a variety of missions and environments.

“Florida State University faculty produce game-changing research in areas of defense challenges, and this licensing agreement expands the reach of that work through development and translation through this new start-up,” said Valerie McDevitt, associate vice president of Strategic Partnerships and Innovation.

NorthStrive Defense Tech has obtained an exclusive, worldwide, sublicensable license within the aerospace and defense technologies field to make, have made, use, sell, have sold, sublicense, and import licensed products covered by U.S. Patent No. 12,291,334 and associated know-how. NorthStrive Defense Tech LLC, a startup formed for the licensing of FSU technology, is focused on identifying, acquiring, licensing, developing, and commercializing advanced defense technologies, with an emphasis on drone, autonomous systems, aerospace, and dual-use applications.

In connection with the license, NorthStrive Defense Tech entered into a sponsored research agreement with the FSU Research Foundation to fund and collaborate on additional research and development activities intended to advance the technology toward a working prototype and potential commercial-grade units. That sponsored research program remains ongoing.

About NorthStrive Defense Tech

NorthStrive Defense Tech LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of PMGC Holdings Inc. focused on identifying, acquiring, licensing, developing, and commercializing advanced defense technologies, with an emphasis on drone, autonomous systems, aerospace, and dual-use applications. Read more about this licensing agreement in the original NorthStrive Defense Tech press release.

About PMGC Holdings Inc.

PMGC Holdings Inc. is a diversified public holding company focused on building, acquiring, and supporting operating businesses and strategic assets across high-growth sectors.

PMGC Holdings Inc and NorthStrive Defense Tech undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

About the Florida State University Research Foundation

The Florida State University Research Foundation (FSURF) is a not-for-profit corporation, and a direct-support organization of Florida State University as provided for in Section 1004.28, Florida Statutes. FSURF was formally established by the Florida Board of Regents in September 1993.

FSURF serves as the principal conduit for the Office of Commercialization, whereby the products of university research are made available to the marketplace. FSURF is the assignee of the University’s Intellectual Property (IP), and therefore, is the fiscal agent for all activities with respect to the commercialization of the IP.

FSURF promotes and encourages, and provides assistance to, the research and training activities of faculty, staff and students at FSU.

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Florida State University has been named one of the top 100 universities in the nation for securing U.S. utility patents, according to the latest rankings released by the National Academy of Inventors (NAI).

Coming in at No. 60 on the list, FSU continues to solidify its reputation as a powerhouse of research and commercialization, successfully translating academic discovery into real-world solutions. The rankings reflect the 2025 calendar year.

The Top 100 U.S. Universities ranking celebrates academic institutions that play a pivotal role in advancing national competitiveness. By securing intellectual property through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, FSU enables the transition of faculty-led inventions from the lab to the marketplace, driving both economic growth and societal impact.

“This ranking is more than just a number; it represents the relentless ingenuity of our faculty and their commitment to solving the most pressing challenges of our time,” said Vice President for Research Stacey S. Patterson. “A patent is often the bridge between an idea or breakthrough and a commercial product or service that improves lives, creates jobs, and drives our economy forward. This achievement is a credit to our world-class researchers and a signal to our partners that FSU is a premier destination for high-impact discovery and innovation.”

FSU’s climb in the rankings is driven by a diverse portfolio of breakthroughs across engineering, medicine, and materials science. This year’s ranking reflects the university’s commitment to high-impact research and includes a wide range of patents, including:

• A neutron detector developed by Associate Professor of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Zhibin Yu
• A water-air drone hybrid by Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering Christian Hubicki

• An antifibrotic drug by Professor of Medicine Branko Stefanovic

• A photo-plastic that can move in different ways with different wavelengths by Professor of Chemistry Ken Hanson

“What makes Florida State’s patent portfolio truly remarkable is its incredible diversity,” said Associate Vice President for Strategic Partnerships and Innovation Valerie McDevitt. “Our ranking isn’t just a win for one department. It’s a reflection of a campus-wide culture of discovery. From groundbreaking advancements in the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory to innovative tools in education and the health sciences, we are proving that FSU’s expertise spans the entire spectrum of human inquiry.”

The NAI has published a worldwide ranking since 2013 but introduced the focused U.S. Universities list in 2023 to better highlight the specific contributions of the American academic landscape. Collectively, the universities on the 2025 Top 100 U.S. list secured over 6,700 patents during the previous calendar year.

This recognition follows a banner year for FSU’s research enterprise, which recently surpassed $488 million in annual research expenditures. The university was also ranked the No. 1 university in Florida for innovation and economic impact in TIME’S inaugural World’s Top Universities 2026 rankings.

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Florida State University has launched Fast Start, a simplified tech transfer program to help FSU faculty bring their discoveries and inventions to market more quickly to help more people.  

The new program solidifies simple, consistent deal terms for licensing and commercialization. Fast Start will allow FSU faculty and researchers to execute license agreements more quickly, with fewer roadblocks and delays. The process will also provide increased transparency and a clear pathway for faculty to move their research from the lab to the marketplace.  

“At FSU, we want to encourage faculty and others to start companies,” said FSU President Richard McCullough. “As a founder of two startups, I have found a standard agreement is a quick way to get your startup launched.” 

The agreement is simple — the FSU Research Foundation will receive 5% equity stake in the company, non-dilutable until the investments in company equal $2 million. The university will provide expert guidance and support to faculty throughout the entire commercialization process, from patent application to licensing agreement. 

“Fast Start is designed to remove barriers and streamline the process for our researchers to move their work into the marketplace,” said Vice President for Research Stacey Patterson. “Making research more accessible will change lives and can have a profound impact on the world.” 

Recent companies started by FSU faculty have taken on major issues including stopping pre-term labor, creating a non-addictive ADHD drug, addressing the world’s food shortages, and shifting reading assessments for the next generation. 

Fast Start officially launched June 9, 2023.  

Easier Licensing 

The university also introduced 1Clik Licensing, which allows industry to license FSU technologies more easily. The new process makes it as easy as buying something in an Amazon cart. Using standardized license agreements with fixed terms speeds up the licensing process. 

Expanding the Innovation Team 

The university has launched a search for a strategic new hire, Associate Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Innovation. This person will lead commercialization efforts and Fast Startup as well as corporate partnerships. The AVP of Strategic Partnerships and Innovation will report to the Vice President for Research. 

For more information on Fast Start, visit https://www.research.fsu.edu/research-offices/oc/fast-start-fsu/.  

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