Researchers with a company that aims to revolutionise the semiconductor industry have made their base of operations in Warwickshire.
Advanced Epi Materials and Devices has opened up a brand-new office at the Rural Innovation Centre based at Stoneleigh Park.
The firm is the brainchild of managing director Gerard Colston and technical director Dr Maksym Myronov after their research began and developed into the business at the University of Warwick.
The work that Advanced Epi is focused on is silicon semiconductors, which have many aspects in modern life – but are reaching their limits.
Gerard and Maksym have been developing high quality silicon carbide as an alternative that can be used in a range of applications such as sensors for harsh environments, biomedical devices, power electronics and much more.
Silicon carbide has long been recognised as a better alternative for these applications but it has until now been difficult and expensive to produce.
The Rural Innovation Centre is the base for carrying out the business side of Advanced Epi, while the research and technical work continues at external facilities.
The centre and Stoneleigh Park was chosen not only because of its convenience and proximity to the various research facilities and links to the automotive industry, but also because of the potential to expand the company’s own facilities in the future.
Gerard Colston said: “The Rural Innovation Centre and Stoneleigh Park in general seemed like the perfect choice.
“Most of our technical research is carried out at external facilities in the local area and around the country, but also having somewhere for us to concentrate on the business and develop that is excellent.
“The park is situated with good connections to everywhere including major motorways as well as Birmingham International airport and our kind of business is really the only one in the area so it helps us stand out.
“Things are going well so far, we have acquired sufficient start-up funding and the silicon carbide wafers are now in production and we are now ready sell the material to potential mass volume customers for initial trials.”
Advanced Epi has moved into the recently expanded Rural Innovation Centre with an additional 20 serviced offices and two meeting rooms being created by LaSalle Investment Management, which manages Stoneleigh Park, to help more small businesses flourish.
Liz Burkinshaw, manager of the Rural Innovation Centre, said: “Advanced Epi is doing some very important work to change the semiconductor industry and move it forward for future applications.
“This is the kind of innovative company that the Rural Innovation Centre is here to get behind and support in any way possible and we look forward to seeing what they have planned for the future.”