(MENAFN- ProactiveInvestors)Haydale Graphene (LON:HAYD) has set-up a potentially significant new collaboration with fellow AIM firm Versarien (LON:VRS). Together the two groups which have signed a memorandum of understanding want to develop solutions for the manufacture and functionalisation of graphene on a large scale for mass-production commercial applications. At the core of the proposed arrangement is an understanding that Verserien's subsidiary 2-D Tech will supply a quality graphene material that would then be 'functionalised' by Haydale's proprietary technology. It is expected that in time the new partners will create opportunities for new business and new product development. Speaking with Proactive Investors Ray Gibbs Haydale's chief executive explained that Versarien has a desire to get its product up the value-chain. Haydale's involvement can be mutually beneficial he said as Versarien has its own customer base and plans for graphene containing product. The new partner's material may require functionalisation. Gibbs also highlighted that the Versarien deal is the second new collaboration in as many weeks. This according to Gibbs signals Haydale and its functionalisation technology are now generating more interest and recognition within the growing graphene industry. 'At the moment a key thing for me is everybody seems to want to collaborate with Haydale' he said. Haydale is essentially an intermediary. It could be more accurately described as an IP (intellectual property) and technology company rather than a resource or manufacturing group. The Versarien deal adds further diversity to its potential supply of graphene material and potentially expands the potential avenues for market applications. Today's deal follows a separate collaboration announced last week with Australian group Talga Resources which has its own source of graphite (a mine in Sweden) as well as its own extraction methods. The company already has a primary agreement in place with AMG a miner in Germany and the two new collaboration deals provide greater diversity and security of supply for the group. A broader and more secure supply chain is expected to enhance Haydale's bargaining position as it seeks significant cornerstone contracts with larger commercial partners. The company's main asset is its proprietary technology a plasma reactor that 'enables' graphene and allows it to be applied within other materials – such as composites and polymers or speciality inks. Graphene a so-called 'miracle material' is extremely thin and light but is also very strong. The advanced material discovered through research in the UK has a great deal of promise. Like other advanced or 'nano' materials Graphene can be used to enhance or upgrade existing products or can be developed as part of ground-breaking new products. It has the potential to disrupt many existing product markets and could quickly become very serious business. But despite the scientific and technological breakthroughs the commercial side of the sector remains mostly in its infancy. This means the likes of Haydale and Versarien must do more than simply produce a material and/or technology they must also develop markets and stir up demand. It is the reason both companies last month attended a nanotechnology conference in Seoul Korea. The apparently vast scale and the variety of graphene's market opportunity is another key reason for partnerships like today's. Gibbs explains that Verserien's graphene material (and whoever else's for that matter) is not suitable for every kind of application. The nature of Graphene's properties can vary significantly depending upon the initial graphite source; for example some forms of graphene are more conductive than others whereas some forms can be stronger or more flexible. Some compositions may be particularly suited to integration in medical devices others for components in consumer electrics and other forms can be the basis of 'enhanced' plastic-based pipes that are strong enough to replace metal gas infrastructure. It means more trial and error when it comes to research and development but it also underscores just how big and varied the potential demand for the product may eventually be. 'The market is potentially massive' Gibbs highlighted. 'So we are looking for as many good sources of quality material as we practically can. 'When the market takes off I want us to be ready. ' In today's statement Neill Ricketts chief executive at Versarien also highlighted the benefits of the collaboration. 'We believe this to be a significant step forward' he said in a statement. 'We will be working together with Haydale to best achieve the great global opportunity we have in front of both of us in the form of graphene. 'We will be collaborating in order to ensure that we minimise the time it takes us to commercialise this technology playing to the strengths of both organisations. 'By working together we will be able to offer a complete supply chain from raw material through graphene production to functionalisation depending on the customer application. 'The collaboration follows our recent announcement about our breakthrough in scalable graphene production experience of working with Haydale and exhibiting together at Nano Korea.'
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