Queensland-based nanomaterials company White Graphene Limited is slated to work with global manufacturing giant Boeing after winning the Sustainability in Space Pitch Competition and clinching $100,000 in funding.
With the secured win, White Graphene, a subsidiary of PPK Group, will now develop boron nitride nanomaterial applications in the aerospace and space industries, PPK Group announced in a press release.
Hosted by Boeing’s Aerospace Xelerated Program, in partnership with Advance Queensland and the Department of State Development, the Sustainability in Space pitch competition featured six Queensland innovative start-ups.
The shortlisted companies presented a 15-minute pitch to a live panel of judges at The Precinct innovation hub in Brisbane and remotely at the Space Centre in Houston on 4 May.
White Graphene Commercial Director Lieuwke de Jong said he won over the judges with a pitch on the possible use of boron nitride nanoparticles in interplanetary flight, the defence of space hardware, and radiation protection for astronauts.
After beating some tough competition, White Graphene was able to secure $100,000 in funding for a proof-of-concept project White Graphene and BNNT nanomaterials.
If successful, the nanomaterials company will have the chance to engage with Boeing and their international stakeholders to address a variety of space sustainability concerns as a provider to Boeing.
According to de Jong, the Aerospace Xelerated event provided a great venue for the business to show Boeing and the larger aerospace and space industries the potential of boron nitride nanoparticles, saying he looks forward to the new opportunity with Boeing.
“Being selected as the winning pitch is tremendously important for the team and a great recognition of their work over many years,” he said.
He added that White Graphene has invested significant time and resources in developing the manufacturing methodology that allows the company to produce the required nanomaterials in various forms for commercial application at a cost that is economically viable.
White Graphene is one of several firms operated by PPK Group Limited, an ASX-listed advanced technology incubator and investor, that is focused on commercialising boron nitride nanomaterials through collaboration with innovative enterprises.
A clear path to the commercial application of boron nitride nanoparticles and product validation, according to PPK Chairman Robin Levison, is provided by working with international organisations like Boeing.
“We have now secured active, highly-prospective collaborations across multiple industry sectors to support a path to large-scale commercialisation of boron nitride nanomaterials and the extraordinary properties they produce,” he said
The six companies who pitched were asked to address three challenges faced by the human space flight team – this included health and well-being in space, sustainability energy in space and protecting people and equipment from radiation in space.
