Deeptech startup NanoPrint Innovations moves into Maxwell Centre
The green-tech company is focused on developing next generation thin film deposition systems and engineering of functional oxide coatings for photovoltaic applications, with an initial focus on the solar panels sector.
Founder and CEO Zhuotong (Thomas) Sun says: “It’s a huge market which covers everything from anti-reflective coatings for spectacles and sunglasses, smart windows on planes which dim at the press of a button to block out light, and, at the high end, the nanometer-thin coatings which enable microchips to perform.
“We’re not limited to the solar industry and our customers can use our machines to coat whatever they choose to. But, at least initially, we are focusing on solar panels and the green tech industry, because we believe this is where we can be most impactful.
“Currently, the conventional way to coat solar panels is a batch-to-batch vacuum process – which is slow, time-consuming, high in energy consumption and carbon heavy.
“Our machine relies on a non-vacuum open-air system, which works in continuous mode (not batch-to-batch) to produce exactly the same quality as conventional equipment and x100 faster.
“Our aim is to cut down the cost of solar panel production. And, of course, if you cut down the cost and improve the speed, it is also a much greener way of making these thin firms as well. Our overriding mission is to bring the industry a step closer towards carbon neutral.”
So far it’s been nothing short of a meteoric rise for Thomas. In April 2023, he was still completing his PhD in Material Sciences at University of Cambridge when he was awarded a sponsored fellowship by Royce@Cambridge (Henry Royce Institute) to participate in the university’s entrepreneurship course, impulse.
The established action-learning programme has a sharp focus on prioritising the development of high-potential technological innovation into a commercial proposition.
Thomas says: “I first had the idea for all this in February 2023 as I was approaching my fourth year of PhD and thinking what I was going to do afterwards. I don’t think I’m meant for the academia route and I didn’t want to do a regular nine-to-five job either. But then a friend of mine recommended the impulse programme to me as he had been on it the year before.
“I had lots of questions like: What’s entrepreneurship? What’s a startup? But my friend told me: ‘Don’t worry about it. If you do the course, you’ll get the answers to all those questions.’ And he was right.
“I already had a pitch deck of sorts before I started the programme and knew what I wanted to achieve. I really benefited from the mentors and speakers. Each one’s success story was different and each one was distinctly relatable.”
Thomas completed the 12-week impulse course in July and three months later founded Nanoprint Print Innovations with a £1 million seed round backed by Shanghai investment firm, Linear Capital. With the rapid expansion, the company is now looking to close its pre-A raise this summer.
Thomas says: “The plan is to expand further over the next few months. We are presently a team of five but we will shortly be joined by another material scientist coming from Imperial College, London.
“We are going to be doing a lot of development and exploration into combining our innovative equipment technique with the current material selection available. We are also committed to innovating new functional materials which will reshape the solar industry.”
To discuss participation in the impulse 2024 programme and for all other enquiries, please email impulse@maxwell.cam.ac.uk. Sponsored Fellowships are available for certain technology and research areas. The deadline for all applications is Sunday 10th March 2024.
