Italian deeptech startup BeDimensional specialising in the production of graphene and other two-dimensional crystals with few atomic layers, has received €20 million in debt funding from European Investment Bank (EIB) that backed Vay and Protembis. This follows the €5 million investment secured last year.
The company’s existing shareholders, including the venture capital arm of Italian energy group Eni and the country’s state lender CDP, will supply an additional €5 million for its advancement strategies.
Plans for a second production plant
BeDimensional inaugurated a production plant in the Italian city of Genoa today with a capacity of over three tonnes a year of graphene and other super-thin crystals. In addition to this, the company plans to use the financing from EIB to increase its capacity to over 30 tonnes annually by 2028.
What does the company do?
BeDimensional was founded in 2016 as a spin-off of the Graphene Labs of the Italian Institute of Technology by Vittorio Pellegrini, Francesco Bonaccorso and Andrea Gamucci, the company founders, scientists with more than 15 years of experience in the world of two-dimensional (2D) materials with few atomic layers (<10). These materials, including graphene are currently applied in three areas: coatings and multifunctional composites; energy; and lubricants.
The manufacturing process is patented and the distinguishing feature is its ability to produce a wide range of 2D materials.
Why specialise in graphene?
BeDimensional is a producer of Few-Layer Graphene (FLG) and Few-Layer Hexagonal Boron Nitride (FLhBN or FLB) with atomic level thickness. G-Leaf is an ISO-compliant FLG, which is integrated into composites for Li-Ion batteries in collaboration with battery manufacturer VARTA.
On the other hand, B-Leaf, an innovative FLhBN, is suitable for wearable technology, luxury, and performance applications.
These can be easily integrated into any material to enhance performance and durability. It recognises the potential of 2D crystals to drive the green transition, substitute critical raw materials, and create jobs in advanced manufacturing.
The Italian startup’s technologies are applied across industries, in energy storage and conversion products, smart textiles, paints, coatings, and composite materials.
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