- First Graphene Ltd is in receipt of the grant payment from InnovateUK (UK Government).
- Technology transfer is underway, actively supported by Dr. Richard Price of Kainos Innovation Ltd.
- A fully funded Research Technician has been appointed.
- UK Patent Office have confirmed that an exclusively licensed, process patent will be granted in the United Kingdom
- A patent application that covers the production of novel battery materials has been filed.
- Additional Laboratory space is being acquired at the GEIC.
First Graphene Ltd, in collaboration with Kainos Innovation Ltd (UK), is pleased to advise on progress to date on the innovative route to green hydrogen and battery grade materials.
The Company has successfully completed initial contracting with InnovateUK and are in receipt of the initial grant payment. Mr. George Danczuk has been appointed as a fully funded Research Technician, to work at the Company’s UK labs at the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC) in Manchester.
Dr. Richard Price (Kainos Innovation Ltd), the inventor of the technology, which directly converts low-cost hydrocarbon feedstocks to graphene materials and hydrogen gas is actively engaged with the First Graphene team. Dr. Price has extensive experience in the chemistry of petroleum products from his many years with Shell Research. In addition, First Graphene will use the Innovate UK funding to acquire additional laboratory facilities to accommodate this project.
The technology transfer from Kainos Innovation to First Graphene Ltd will commence early in January 2020 and will initially focus on making proof of concept samples of novel battery-grade materials.
Over the last month, First Graphene Ltd. and Kainos Innovation Ltd. have also strengthened their Intellectual Property position related to the project. A patent application that covers the production of novel battery materials has been filed in the UK. Separately, the UK Patent Office have also confirmed that the patent application covering the production process will be granted in the UK in January 2021.
The appointment of the Research Technician, availability of additional laboratory space and strengthening of the intellectual property portfolio will allow First Graphene to rapidly evaluate the novel technology licenced from Kainos Innovation Limited, focussing on energy storage and hydrogen generation, both of which currently have very strong market pulls.
Paul Ladislaus, Chief Technology Officer, said: “We’re really pleased to have the support of the UK government for this important project. We look forward to generating prototype materials for evaluation in battery applications.”
Richard Price from Kainos Innovation Ltd said: “I am pleased to see First Graphene making progress – I am really excited to progress the experimental program with them early in the New Year.”