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Ilika is a science-led materials discovery company which uses high throughput techniques to significantly accelerate and increase the probability of inventing new materials. Ilika provides R&D by contract, technology development and materials licensing services. Ilika’s technology is based upon the work of world-class scientists in combinatorial chemistry over many years, and as a result, Ilika’s customers have enjoyed significant increases in the productivity of their materials research, typically by a factor of 10-100.
Maintaining a competitive advantage for many businesses is directly linked to the successful discovery and optimisation of new materials. This process can be very costly, labour intensive and time-consuming, as the conventional method for materials development is a serial one whereby individual samples are sequentially produced and tested for a desired property. This process of trial and error is repeated and refined many times until the final material presents the optimum performance.
A smarter approach to materials development is to utilise High Throughput Methods that are based upon the parallel production of large numbers of materials of varying composition during a single experiment. This synthesis step when combined with High Throughput Characterisation and Screening techniques can greatly accelerate the time frame for material optimisation. In our experience at Ilika, we have been able to accelerate materials discovery by a factor of between 10 and 100. This in turn can lead to faster product development with our customers able to enjoy all of the marketplace advantages that this can bring.
The concept of high throughput combinatorial chemistry is to rapidly create large numbers of compositions that can be screened and characterised for optimum performance. Ilika has established three main methods of materials synthesis for high throughput purposes:
We are looking to form partnerships with photovoltaic developers who are looking to optimize their technology, for example: increase energy conversion efficiency in your CIGS, amorphous Si, organic and more!
The programmes of work that are undertaken at our facilities can be conducted on the following basis;
Research Collaborations
Ilika offers customers the opportunity to either fully fund a work programme and thereby retain all commercialisation rights for a discovered material or to enter into a collaborative arrangement whereby the costs of the programme are shared by both parties. In the latter arrangement, Ilika will retain an agreed part of the commercialisation rights and receive either downstream royalty payments or other forms of renumeration.
Technology Development Services
Ilika has experience in the customised design, assembly and operation of unique workflows for customers. We seek to understand our customers experimental needs and reflect these in the capability of the workflows constructed and the supporting software generated.
Material Licenses
Ilika undertakes it’s own materials discovery programmes. Libraries of materials are assessed and characterised with unique material compositions being patented and licensed to interested parties.
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