Edinburgh University technology spin-out Sofant Technologies Limited has landed £1.54m in funding.
The investment, part of the €3bn Horizon 2020 SME Instrument programme, will be used to introduce Sofant’s patented technology – which seeks to double the battery life of mobile devices – to market.
Sofant COO, Ahmed El-Rayis spoke about the firm’s product:
“We call this a smart antenna because it has been designed to seek out the strongest signal and focus on it, rather than the current model that constantly radiates energy in all directions.”
He continued: “We have been researching and planning this project for 10 years to perfect the design. This funding will enable us to take the product to foundry and we’re currently asking for tenders. We’re very excited about this new funding and see it as a real opportunity to impact on the future direction of the global smart phone industry and to create a market-leading company.”
The company, incorporated in 2011 following seven years of research at the University, expects to roll out its product to mobile manufacturers by 2018.
Dr Bernd Reichert, head of the SME Instrument Unit, commented on the fundraise:“We aim to support businesses with their innovation activities with the ultimate objective of the successful introduction of their products to the relevant market.
“Sofant’s technology is a prime example of disruptive innovation. They have identified a need in the market within a sector willing to pay for an added value product,” he concluded.