A portfolio of businesses
CPI’s growing portfolio of businesses is proof of the successful commercialisation of key innovations. Formed by spin out and joint venture, these standalone businesses have the benefits of world-class innovation and sound business guidance to help them succeed and grow.
Durham Photonics
Durham Photonics was established in June 2007 and is based in Durham University's laboratories and Enterprise Incubator. Its first product, a terahertz microscope - the first of its kind to reach market – will enable applications in bio- and nanomedicine and will launch late this year.
Early in 2008, the company, secured a £95,000 grant for research and development with support from Cenamps, the centre of excellence for emerging technologies, now part of CPI.
The grant, awarded by One NorthEast for research and development, will enable the company to recruit a full time scientific team as well as to begin feasibility studies on new imaging systems.
Durham Photonics has benefited from Cenamps' BioNano Regional Research Programme, which funded research in the Photonics Materials Institute that underpinned the Terahertz microscope. Mike Pitkethly, Deputy CEO at CPI, said: "The continued development of the Terahertz microscope in Durham Photonics has been a great success. It is innovation such as this that enables the North East to continue growing, exporting and commercialising bio and nano research, and attracting technical expertise to live and work in the region."
AssuredNano
AssuredNano, which will be widely marketed by NanoCentral® from July, is the first nanomaterials Safety, Health & Environment (SHE) Accreditation Scheme featuring annual Compliance Auditing.
The centrepiece of the AssuredNano Accreditation Scheme is a standard which considers all SHE aspects associated with a nanomaterial or a nano-enabled product throughout its lifetime: uniquely, it takes a genuinely cradle to grave approach. To minimise bureaucracy, the standard is constructed as a ‘bolt-on’ addition to a business’s pre-existing quality system, such as ISO 9000:2000.
AssuredNano’s purpose is to promote the demonstrable adoption of good current practice by those manufacturing, using or retailing nanomaterials or nanomaterial containing products. It is the only nanomaterial SHE (Safety, Health and Environment) Accreditation Scheme that covers the entire range of nanomaterial SHE considerations relevant to a nanomaterial or a nano-enabled product from cradle to grave.
Underpinning the AssuredNano Accreditation Scheme is the technical expertise provided by one of the world’s most respected authorities on nanomaterial SHE and occupational hygiene issues. AssuredNano is the only Accreditation Scheme which will be annually audited for compliance, with a de-registration penalty for non-compliance.