NewCopper
High-performance, conductive, copper-based inks for printed electronics.
| Date | Investors | Amount | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| investor | €0.0 | round | |
* | N/A | Growth Equity non VC | |
| Total Funding | 000k | ||
NewCopper LLC develops high-performance, conductive copper-based inks designed for the printed electronics industry. Founded by Shenqiang Ren, a materials science and engineering professor at the University of Maryland, the company's core innovation is making copper printable, offering a cost-effective and higher-performance alternative to traditional materials like silver. The technology was invented by Ren and licensed from the University of Maryland.
NewCopper's inks are engineered from pristine or recycled copper and are notable for their high conductivity, stability, and resistance to oxidation and corrosion. A key feature is their ability to be sintered in air at low temperatures, making them compatible with existing printed electronic infrastructures and suitable for application on diverse substrates, including flexible materials like textiles, paper, and biodegradable polymers. This lean manufacturing process reduces waste and improves scalability.
The company serves various markets, including aerospace and defense, energy and automotive, consumer electronics, and wearable devices. Applications for the ink include 3D printing, flexible electronics, batteries, electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, RFID tags, and heating arrays. The business model appears to be focused on supplying these specialized inks as a low-cost, high-performance alternative for chemical manufacturers and electronics producers. In late 2024, NewCopper joined the Mtech Ventures incubator to leverage networking opportunities and proximity to its research roots. The company received a $300,000 TEDCO Maryland Innovation Initiative Company Formation award in August 2024 and a $100,000 Energy Seed Grant from UMD's Maryland Energy Innovation Institute the same year.
Keywords: conductive inks, printed electronics, copper-based inks, materials science, lean manufacturing, flexible electronics, 3D printing electronics, sustainable electronics, EMI shielding, RFID, advanced materials, low-temperature sintering, recyclable materials, high conductivity materials, aerospace electronics, automotive electronics, wearable technology, biodegradable polymers, Mtech Ventures, University of Maryland