It's always difficult to predict what the next big trend in tech is going to be - and how long it will last. The woefully short lifespan of the ill-fated minidisk is testament to this. Still, there are areas of technology that are certain to stick, and nanotech is surely one of them. Within this sphere, a small company called Nanoco (NANO) is at the cutting edge of quantum dot wizardry. Crucially, this Manchester University spin-out has sealed a commercial deal with the giant Dow Chemical Company, and this, we believe, puts Nanoco firmly on the path to success.
- Deal with Dow Chemicals
- Commercial roll-out imminent
- Favourable regulatory backdrop
- Acquisition target
- Loss making
- Huge technology risk
So what exactly does Nanoco do? Well, its quantum dots enhance the colours of LCD screens and can be easily and cheaply integrated into manufacturers' existing infrastructure - they slide into a film located between the LED light source and LCD panel. And, unlike other quantum dot makers, Nanoco's little guys can be produced at high volumes and, vitally, are manufactured without the use of heavy toxic metals, notably cadmium, which is used widely in consumer electronics. Government regulation in the EU and US is increasingly curtailing the use of cadmium-based quantum dots in electronic devices and the EU Commission is close to banning such equipment altogether. That makes Nanoco's dots potentially future-proof in the quantum dot display market.