Frontier IP will take a 31.8% shareholding in NTPE, an electronics printing technology spinout from Universidade Nova de Lisboa.

UK-based commercialisation firm Frontier IP has taken a 31.8% shareholding in NTPE, a Portugal-based electronics printing technology spinout from Universidade Nova de Lisboa’s Faculty of Science and Technology (FCT Nova). NTPE is the first spinout generated through a commercialisation agreement between Frontier IP and FCT Nova. None of the other founding shareholders in NTPE were named. NTPE is working on technology dubbed Paper-E, which will print electronic circuits, sensors and semiconductors onto any cellulose-based paper, for applications such as paper-based laboratory diagnostics, smart packaging and logistics.  The system prints “inks” made from metal oxides and cellulose that slot into adapted printers and ink-jet heads. Paper-E’s aim is to provide a more sustainable alternative to silicon semiconductors. Paper-E cellulose can act as data storage, enabling potential applications in fraud prevention, and can also be used to produce near-field and RFID radio devices. The spinout is based on research led by Rodrigo Martins, president of FCT Nova’s department of materials science, and Elvira Fortunato, vice-rector of FCT Nova and director of the Materials Research Center at national research partnership Institute for Nanostructures, Nanomodelling and Nanofabrication. They were assisted by researchers from the Centre of Excellence in Microelectronics, Optoelectronics and Processes. NTPE’s founding comes after Frontier IP signed a partnership agreement with the UK Department for International Trade to strengthen its position in Portugal. The firm also has an agreement in place with Universidade de Évora and is discussing other potential partnerships. Neil Crabb, chief executive of Frontier IP, said: “We are very pleased to take a material stake in a company developing such ground-breaking technology. Paper-E has already attracted strong interest from a wide range of potential partners.”

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