April 20, 2011 — SmartKem Limited, developer of novel, printable organic semiconductor materials and ink formulations for flexible electronics, received investment funding from the Porton Capital Group and Finance Wales Investments Limited. The investment allows SmartKem to further develop its flexible printed electronics solutions.

Based in Denbighshire, Wales, SmartKem develops a novel range of high mobility organic semiconductor molecules and ink formulations compatible with printed electronic processes. This is an inexpensive, low weight, low energy, alternative to silicon semiconductors and can be used to print organic circuits and devices onto thin flexible substrates such as plastics and paper.

SmartKem has just completed a key R&D phase and is focusing on the formulation of innovative organic semiconductor inks for improved performance and manufacturing of printed transistor arrays and logic circuits. The company targets electronic displays, thin-film RFID, smart sensors and printed logic circuit integration. The funding puts SmartKem at a definitive position in the microelectronics market.

Steve Kelly, CEO SmartKem, comments, “Our semiconductor materials are currently being sampled to a number of electronic device manufacturers and with this investment, SmartKem can scale up market testing and accelerate towards commercialization. This will allow us to further establish our position as a leading independent provider of organic semiconductor solutions for the printed electronics sector and to continue our breakthrough research and development projects.”

SmartKem is a high tech enterprise developing an new technology focusing on high performance/high value organic semiconductor materials that can be printed to form electronic circuits onto lightweight, rugged and low cost polymer films. For more information on SmartKem, visit www.smartkem.com.

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