Ohio State student entrepreneurs take SPAERO Systems to Sydney

Ohio State student entrepreneurs Ian and Nikolas Harris recently traveled to Sydney, Australia, to present their startup, SPAERO Systems, at the 76th International Astronautical Congress. The event, held in a major conference venue near Darling Harbor, brought together researchers, inventors and industry leaders from around the world—offering the brothers a global platform to share their work and explore new opportunities for their venture.

“Overall, it was an incredible trip,” said Ian Harris, a first-year PhD student in nuclear engineering. “We went mainly to network with people in the wound care and food industries because we’re working to build connections that can help expand where our device can have an impact. I was also there to present my undergraduate thesis that I finished this past spring.”

Ian’s thesis examined the use of ambient air ion thrusters to eliminate airborne bacteria and fungi—research that inspired SPAERO Systems’ handheld device, SWAN (Sterilizing Wand for Antimicrobial Neutralization). The battery-powered cold plasma tool is designed to sanitize wounds, surfaces and even food, offering applications on Earth and in space, where preventing microbial contamination is critical in confined environments.

For Nikolas Harris, a culinary entrepreneurship major focused on innovation, the congress offered unparalleled exposure.

“It was incredible,” Nikolas said. “I was able to reconnect with people we met at last year’s congress in Milan and build new relationships with entrepreneurs like Flavia Fayet Moore and OSU researchers we had never met before. It was a unique opportunity and one I’m really grateful for.”

The brothers said the experience helped them think more strategically about SPAERO’s future by connecting them with professionals across healthcare, food safety and technology.

“It wasn’t a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Nikolas added. “It was the kind of experience where you walk away with so much that it changes how you approach the work.”

The Sydney trip builds on their international debut at the 2024 International Astronautical Congress in Milan, Italy.

“Our first time presenting internationally was in Milan last fall,” Ian said. “It was our first time traveling abroad, and it opened the door for everything that came after. We’re really thankful for the chance to travel to Sydney and experience that culture.”

SPAERO Systems first gained attention through Ohio State’s Best of Student Startups (BOSS) competition, which helps student innovators advance ideas and accelerate their ventures. The company is also one of six student-led startups selected for the President’s Buckeye Accelerator, a highly competitive, yearlong program that provides funding, mentorship and educational support to help founders prepare for market readiness.

The brothers said they feel the momentum. “We’re moving as quickly as we can because we believe in the value of the product, and we want to get it in people’s hands as soon as possible,” Ian said.

SPAERO Systems continues to grow within Ohio State’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, supported by guidance from the Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship.

“The Harris brothers embody what’s possible when students combine research with an entrepreneurial mindset,” said Cheryl Turnbull, director of the Keenan Center. “SPAERO Systems shows how Ohio State students can take an idea sparked on campus and share it with audiences around the world.”