A majority stake in Cambridge Graphene, a spin-out company from the University of Cambridge, has been acquired by UK-based firm Versarien.
Cambridge Graphene develops inks based on graphene and related materials using processes developed at the Cambridge Graphene Centre. The spin-out company has commercialised graphene inks for novel technology applications.
Cheltenham-based technology firm Versarien says it wants to be the centre of the commercial development of graphene in the UK.
It already owns 2-DTech, a graphene spin-out from the University of Manchester. This latest deal will bring together internationally recognised graphene research at the universities of Manchester and Cambridge.
Neill Ricketts, CEO of Versarien (right), writes:
“This addition to our existing graphene operations and in particular, 2-DTech, which we acquired from Manchester University in April 2014, bridges the gap between the two centres of excellence for graphene and between them really puts us at the centre of the graphene universe”
Cambridge Graphene was founded as a spin-out of the Cambridge Graphene Centre. The mission of the Cambridge Graphene Centre is to investigate the science and technology of graphene and other carbon allotropes, layered crystals and hybrid nanomaterials.
Mark Shepherd, CEO of Cambridge Graphene, writes:
“Cambridge Graphene brings novel graphene technology and expertise to Versarien and will benefit from Versarien’s manufacturing capabilities and broader reach.”
Following the acquisition of the company, both Universities will be ultimate shareholders in Versarien.
Prof Andrea Ferrari, Director of the Graphene Centre, said:
“The ultimate goal of the Cambridge Graphene Centre is to help transition graphene and related materials from the lab to the factory floor. This investment shows that we are on the right path.”
