Frontier IP Group PLC (AIM:FIPP) has taken a 32.8% stake in Deakin Bio-Hybrid Materials, a Manchester-based cleantech startup based at the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre at the University of Manchester.
DeakinBio has developed BioSintering, an alternative to ceramic tiles made from organic waste such as chickpea broth or algae, along with widely available inorganic powders such as crushed limestone.
Traditional ceramic tiles have a high carbon footprint because they must be fired at high temperatures to harden (sinter) and glaze the products. Making one square metre of tiles can emit up to 16 kilogrammes of carbon dioxide.
DeakinBio's BioSintering and BioGlazing processes remove the need for firing and glazing, and have the potential to reduce the carbon footprint of tile manufacture by up to 90%.
The startup is exploring the use of crushed seashells, a waste product from the seafood industry, as a source of calcium carbonate in the future in place of limestone.
DeakinBio founder Dr Aled Roberts said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Frontier IP to help us accelerate the commercialisation of our exciting technologies.
“With their proven track record of success and expertise in technology transfer, we are confident that this collaboration will help us bring our cutting-edge solutions to the market and create real-world impact."
Frontier IP chief executive Neil Crabb commented: "We are excited about the potential of DeakinBio and its novel biocomposites, not just in the tile industry, but in other sectors too.
“The company fits very well into our materials and food and agritech clusters and is already sharing expertise and knowledge with other companies in our portfolio. We are looking forward to working with Aled and the DeakinBio team and supporting them to future success."