Scott Bader, Liverpool University unveil joint venture
July 14, 2020 - United Kingdom
Scott Bader and the University of Liverpool have joined hands to set up a company - Polymer Mimetics - with the aim to develop a novel polymer chemistry platform. With funds of more than £1million, Polymer Mimetics will build on a university technology which transforms widely-available chemical building blocks into high performance polymeric products.
The technology has been developed by Professor Steve Rannard from the University’s Department of Chemistry. The technology takes widely-available chemical building blocks and, in a facile, highly scalable process, transforms them into high performance polymeric products with the potential to engineer in degradability. It is envisaged that this new generation of materials will have broad applicability in several markets including coatings, composites and speciality additives.
With the joint venture with the University of Liverpool, Scott Bader intends to work with technology leaders to develop sustainable new technologies. The company will be based in Liverpool.
Kevin Matthews, group chief executive of Scott Bader, said: “We are delighted to partner with the University of Liverpool to launch Polymer Mimetics and we look forward to developing innovative products and effective sustainable solutions for our customers.”
Rannard said: “Polymer Mimetics is a genuine industry-academia translation of new chemical technologies into a vehicle that will allow economic impact and we are highly grateful to Scott Bader for their faith in our chemistry and the vision to invest early in its development.”
Professor Anthony Hollander, pro-vice-chancellor for Research and Impact at the University of Liverpool, said: “This technology was initially developed via funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and has received significant support from the University’s IP Commercialisation Team over the last four years. We’re pleased to see these efforts come to fruition via this exciting partnership with Scott Bader, and we’re especially pleased to secure inward investment and the creation of new jobs in the Liverpool City Region.”
The technology has been developed by Professor Steve Rannard from the University’s Department of Chemistry. The technology takes widely-available chemical building blocks and, in a facile, highly scalable process, transforms them into high performance polymeric products with the potential to engineer in degradability. It is envisaged that this new generation of materials will have broad applicability in several markets including coatings, composites and speciality additives.
With the joint venture with the University of Liverpool, Scott Bader intends to work with technology leaders to develop sustainable new technologies. The company will be based in Liverpool.
Kevin Matthews, group chief executive of Scott Bader, said: “We are delighted to partner with the University of Liverpool to launch Polymer Mimetics and we look forward to developing innovative products and effective sustainable solutions for our customers.”
Rannard said: “Polymer Mimetics is a genuine industry-academia translation of new chemical technologies into a vehicle that will allow economic impact and we are highly grateful to Scott Bader for their faith in our chemistry and the vision to invest early in its development.”
Professor Anthony Hollander, pro-vice-chancellor for Research and Impact at the University of Liverpool, said: “This technology was initially developed via funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and has received significant support from the University’s IP Commercialisation Team over the last four years. We’re pleased to see these efforts come to fruition via this exciting partnership with Scott Bader, and we’re especially pleased to secure inward investment and the creation of new jobs in the Liverpool City Region.”