Scotland-based Integrated Graphene is investing £8m to scale up its manufacturing process for the commercial production of graphene.
Graphene, often described as a wonder material, has the potential to replace silicon in electronics – a crucial material for making semiconductors. It is stronger than steel, thinner than hair as well as a conductor of electricity and heat.
Potential applications of the material include sensors, membranes, energy and electronics.
Currently, graphene is hard to produce at scale – something that Integrated Graphene is aiming to change.
Claus Marquordt, co-founder and CEO of Integrated Graphene, said: “We are actively involved in projects with several global blue-chip companies to deliver high volumes of electrodes and supercapacitors that address critical needs in accelerating point of care human diagnostics for a wide range of killer diseases and in enabling low-cost flexible and sustainable power systems for the booming IoT [internet of things], smart label and wearable tech markets.”
Beginning with graphene electrodes and supercapacitors, Integrated Graphene will first use its manufacturing technology at its new facility in Stirling, Scotland, before being distributed around the world to partners.
Integrated Graphene, which came out of stealth in 2020, also plans to triple its employees over the next three years.
The investment follows Integrated Graphene’s Series A in November 2020, led by investors Par Equity and Archangels for an undisclosed amount.
“Integrated Graphene has developed a game-changing, frontier solution with the potential to drive enormous impact across a range of large-scale industries,” said Aidan MacMillan, senior investment manager, Par Equity.
Based in Edinburgh, Par Equity has invested £125m across 71 companies since 2008. It recently invested in speech-processing fintech Aveni.
Scottish business angel investment syndicate Archangels recently invested in health tech firm PhysioMedics.
Earlier this year graphene-based electronics company Paragraf secured £45m to help increase its sales.