Investing in public graphene stocks

2D Generation has announced that the Israel Innovation Authority has awarded the Company a grant of ILS 1.2 million (around USD$325,000), out of a project of ILS 2.4 million (around USD$650,000). 

2D Generation has stated that the grant validates its technological advancements, as well as the strength of its intellectual property and market potential. The Company will use the funding to fuel the ongoing development of its novel low-temperature graphene deposition technology, enabling new possibilities for graphene applications across various industries. 

U.S-based Lyten announced plans to invest more than $1 billion to build the world’s first Lithium-Sulfur battery gigafactory. The facility will be located near Reno, Nevada, and will have the capability to produce up to 10 GWh of batteries annually at full scale. Phase 1 of the facility is scheduled to come online in 2027.

Lyten’s proprietary processes permanently sequester carbon from methane in the form of 3D Graphene and utilize the supermaterial to develop decarbonizing applications. Lyten has received more than $425 million in investment from companies including Stellantis, FedEx, Honeywell, Walbridge, the European Investment Fund, and the Luxembourg Future Fund.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is offering Italian materials manufacturer BeDimensional €20 million (almost USD$22 million) in venture debt financing to expand production of Few-Layer Graphene (FLG) and Few-Layer Hexagonal Boron Nitride (FLhBN or FLB).  

EIB Vice-President Gelsomina Vigliotti and BeDimensional Chief Executive Officer Vittorio Pellegrini announced the financing accord at the inauguration of the company's plant in Genoa. BeDimensional plans to build a second plant in Italy to scale-up production of FLG and FLB by 2027.

Versarien has announced it has raised £450,000 (almost USD$585,000) by way of a placing new ordinary shares in the capital of the Company. 

The net proceeds of the Placing will be used to further increase the Company's in-house concrete and mortar testing capabilities and fund external UKAS accredited testing services for 3D construction printed products, as well as for general corporate and working capital purposes.

Concretene has received a £3 million (around USD$3.9 million) investment to advance its carbon-saving concrete technology. 

The funding will be used for product certification and preparation for market entry, enhancing their eco-friendly concrete alternatives. This investment seeks to leverage the unique properties of graphene to reduce the carbon footprint of concrete.

Versarien has shared updates on its progress across several key sectors and markets, reporting a growing pipeline of opportunities, rising from £1.6 million (over USD$2 million) in October 2023 to £4.7 million currently (over USD$6,100,000), with £1.6 million (over USD$2 million) in commercial opportunities and £3.1 million (over USD$4 million) in grants. The Company said it continued to focus on developing advanced materials, especially graphene, through manufacturing-light operations and technology licensing.

In the construction sector, the company said it had placed orders for equipment to enhance its in-house construction testing capabilities following a July fundraising. The equipment would support the development of graphene-based products, such as Cementene. Versarien said it had also signed its first significant 3D construction printing (3DCP) contract with Building For Humanity CIC for a project in Accrington, UK. The Company anticipated on-site activities to begin in 2025.

The UK semiconductor industry has received a significant boost as Innovate UK, a part of UK Research and Innovation, has announced an investment of £11.5 million spread across 16 innovative projects. This funding is aimed at scaling up semiconductor manufacturing, improving supply chain resilience, and fostering new collaborations between industry and academia.

Among the award winners is Paragraf, a company with a vision to establish the first 2D materials device foundry in the world, focusing on graphene technology. Paragraf, in collaboration with the universities of Glasgow and Birmingham, aims to scale up its graphene growth technology from 2” wafers to 6” wafers, making strides in manufacturing and device reliability testing that have never been attempted before.

Innovate UK has announced a £3.2 million (around USD$4.2 million) investment in seven projects to further advance the decarbonization of the domestic concrete industry. This funding forms part of the agency's broader effort to foster sustainable practices and reduce carbon emissions within the construction sector.

Among the recipients is Cemex UK Operations, that intends to use the investment to further the development of CoMLaG, a combination of micronized limestone and graphene, which aims to reduce the carbon footprint of concrete.

Versarien has announced the completed sale of its wholly-owned subsidiary AAC Cyroma to Harper Bennett for £0.55 million (around USD$734,000).

Versarien said the sale aligned with its strategy to focus on its core graphene technology and divest its more mature businesses. It said the consideration would be paid in 16 equal quarterly instalments of £34,375, starting three months after completion. To safeguard the transaction, Versarien would retain a charge over AAC Cyroma's assets and those of Harper Bennett until all payments were completed.

Directa Plus PLC said that it expects to underperform against market expectations as it posted a larger interim loss, citing shorter term headwinds and an extended timeline for the award of a substantial tender for its subsidiary Setcar, which deals with the decontamination of industrial plants and environmental services.

The Company said pretax loss widened to €2.5 million in the first half of 2024, from €1.9 million a year ago. Revenue fell 26% to €3.4 million from €4.6 million. Employee benefit expenses increased to €2.3 million from €2.2 million. Costs for raw materials and consumables decreased to €1.5 million from €2.2 million.