Southeast Nanotechnology Innovator raises £225,000
Oxfordshire Enterprise Hub company Polymertronics, a nanotechnology start-up, secured £225,000 of investment earlier this year - combining £150,000 from a business angel and £75,000 from a prestigious Research and Development Grant. Polymertronics was introduced to its new investor by Thames Valley Investment Network (TVIN), a business angel investment network specialising in helping growing companies to raise funding.
Polymertronics is a technology enabler for bespoke organic (carbon-based polymers) light emitting diode (OLED) electronics. The company provides polymer and electronic reference design solutions for controlling OLEDs.
OLEDs, touch sensors and standard colour graphics
can be printed on a single UV inkjet printer platform. The solutions
provided are the chemical formulae and electronic circuit schematics
for OLED technology.
OLEDs are a flat display technology, made by placing a series of
organic-polymer thin films between two conductors. When a voltage is
applied across the conductors, a light is emitted. The unique selling
points of the technology are that it serves the market for bespoke
requirements and that it has a production time measurable in minutes,
as opposed to 4-8 weeks for some alternative applications.
Polymertronics’ OLEDs are flexible devices which are printed using
inkjet printers, then instantly cured by irradiating them with
ultra-violet (UV) light. The advantage is that bespoke devices may be
any shape required, and the technology can be retrofitted (patent
pending) to most existing industrial printing platforms.
Polymertronics owns two patent applications; one for the process of
inkjet printing and UV curing and a second for the OLED polymer. The
patents are designed to work together to deliver a complete reference
design solution to manufacturing OLEDs.
In May, Polymertronics won The Best New Technology Company award at
the Martin & Audrey Wood Enterprise Awards 2007 at Oxford
University’s Said Business School. The recognition was for the
company’s vision and one of its (patent pending) applications to
revolutionise advertising.
Oxfordshire Enterprise Hub helped Polymertronics through its
successful application for a SEEDA R&D Grant under the guidance of
Hub Director, Dr John Lee. Polymertronics’ Managing Director, Stephen
Clemmet, said: "John was an inspiration throughout the grant
process. He worked at our pace, reviewing our material and identifying
appropriate funding options. We look forward to continuing to work with
John as Polymertronics progresses."
Polymertronics plan for 2008-9 is to advance its OLED technology,
develop a desktop UV inkjet printer and design reference control
electronics. The company also anticipates working with leading
international companies to develop new organic technology
opportunities.
For more details contact Oxfordshire Enterprise Hub on 01869 238 088 or email j.lee@oxfordshirehub.co.uk
Contact: Dr John Lee
Email: j.lee@oxfordshirehub.co.uk
Publish Date: 07th December 2007
