(NU/1433-4) Dragonfly Insulation - Aerogel Technology: The Provision of Business Consultancy to Assist Commercialisation of University Research.

Aerogels are the most porous and thermally efficient materials known to man. They are used in space exploration including the capture of high-speed star-dust, cryogenic insulation for space launch vehicles and thermal insulation for Mars rovers. With their outstanding insulation properties, aerogels have great potential to be commercialised, but until now the high cost of manufacturing has prohibited their use in domestic applications. Aerogel companies working on these developments are addressing some of the major challenges facing the world over the coming decades, such as energy efficient manufacturing processes and materials to promote energy efficiency. Whilst there is an emerging demand for aerogel products, both the traditional high-pressure manufacture of aerogel and environmental-pressure manufacture of aerogel (using high-cost organic solvent) can never practically meet the demands of the market. Currently, there is no aerogel manufacturer in the UK. At Dragonfly Insulation Ltd, we aim to establish an innovative manufacturing facility for aerogels (powder/granules) in the North East of England. Our novel and potentially disruptive approach is to move from the traditional high-pressure/high-solvent-cost manufacturing process, to a simple environmental pressure manufacturing process, where aerogels are produced with low-cost water-based drying solvent. Our innovation facilitates such an approach for the first time. The funding for this project and prospective spin out company comes from a mix of EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account, Northern Accelerator Proof of Concept and Innovate UK ICure and follow on funding (pending). Prior to obtaining the relevant permissions from Newcastle University to license Intellectual Property into a Spin Out Company, the founders have secured Northern Accelerator Funding to recruit a CEO designate. Once a company has been created and spun out of the university, the founders will set-up a facility to scale-up the manufacture of aerogel, organise the sale of raw aerogel powder/granular products, secure certification for aerogel panel insulation and establish lab-space and R&D projects with previously identified customers. A suitable CEO will be recruited who will bring together the founders as well as a management and delivery team to guide the pre-start business through company creation and spin out in the first instance. The CEO designate will refine the business model and lead the team to the University Intellectual Property and Spin Out Company Panel (IPSOC).