»PROCESS« China

Shanghai, China, April 29, 2024 - BASF Venture Capital (BVC) announced today that it has invested in Phomera Metamaterials Inc. (Phomera) during its Series A financing round, to further promote the development of the photonic crystal metamaterial industry. This investment will be mainly used for capacity expansion, downstream market development, and product upgrades at Phomera.

Established in 2015, Phomera Metamaterials Inc. is a leading research and manufacturing company in the field of photonic crystal metamaterials. Photonics crystal metamaterial is an artificially synthesized material formed by arranging polystyrene (PS), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), or silica microspheres into periodic structures. By constructing a pre-designed three-dimensional structure through multiple layers of microspheres, it can generate various functions such as material tuning, conductivity & magnetic control, and color change by modulating electromagnetic waves. With its outstanding performance, environmental friendliness, and cost-effectiveness, photonic crystal metamaterials can replace many traditional materials and be applied in various commercial scenarios, with broad development prospects.

Photonics crystal metamaterial can provide various product forms such as photonic crystal pigment and photonic crystal film to meet the needs of their downstream customers. Take photonic crystal pigment for example, it relies on the internal structure of the material to reflect colors, rather than using chemical dyes, therefore it can reduce the environmental effect of the traditional coloring process, moreover, photonic crystal pigments can be incorporated into various material systems and processing methods, which can raise the application efficiency significantly. Currently, photonic crystal pigments have been successfully applied in wearables, consumer electronics, automotive, architecture, and photovoltaics industries, and have established business collaborations with many companies already.

"We are very pleased to participate in Phomera's financing round again. BASF, as a leading chemical company in the world, has been fully committed to technology innovation and sustainable development. Material innovation lays the foundation of industrial upgrades and social revolution. By investing in Phomera, we not only contribute to the advancement of cutting-edge technology but also actively support the transition towards a more sustainable future," said Roland Nunheim, Managing Director of BASF Venture Capital.

“We had high expectations for Phomera's unique technological advantages and product innovation capabilities from the start. Following last year's investment, Phomera's innovative offerings have experienced rapid business growth, showcasing its promising market potential. As a result, we are committed to continuing our partnership with Phomera to drive the development of photonic crystal metamaterials", said Qin Han, Head of BASF Venture Capital China team.