DSM Venturing has acquired a minority participation in SupraPolix BV, a Dutch, privately owned Start-up Company. The company offers a technology platform which expands the scope of applications for existing plastics by dramatically simplifying their processing after addition of SupraPolix’ product SupraB. Recently, Suprapolix was awarded the Science2Market 2003 price for Europe’s most promising university spinout in the physical sciences category.
DSM’s strategy is to invest in innovative companies that provide DSM with windows on new developments in the areas of Life Sciences and Performance Materials. Jos Put, Director Research & Development Performance Materials at DSM, stated: "The system for supramolecular organization that is exploited by Suprapolix is inspired by nature and is based on multiple hydrogen bonding. It is easy to synthesize from relatively cheap raw materials. Via our investment in Suprapolix, we will get a window on the market of highly specialized materials with a broad range of possible applications, e.g. in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, electronics etc."
DSM Venturing participated in a first financing round together with the TU/e Holding of the Eindhoven University of Technology and a few private investors. Dr. Tonny Bosman, CEO of SupraPolix and one of the founders of the company, said: “The support of professor Bert Meijer, intellectual father of SupraPolix’ technology platform, and the commitment of DSM right from the start of the company has been crucial. DSM’s participation helped us enormously to get the business started and to be a serious partner for many international clients.”
DSM Venturing
DSM Venturing is part of DSM’s Venturing and Business Development business group and was formed in the first half of 2001. DSM Venturing is focused on direct investments in early stage companies in DSM’s strategic growth fields: Food Ingredients, Pharmaceutical Intermediates and Performance Materials. Furthermore, it is participating in several venture capital funds active in these fields. The investment in SupraPolix is one of a growing number of direct investments by DSM Venturing. For more information about DSM Venturing and its portfolio companies, see www.dsm-venturing.com.
SupraPolix
SupraPolix BV, originating from the Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands, was founded in 2002. The company develops materials containing reversible supramolecular polymers. Large interest from industry in the concept of reversible polymers was one of the main motivations to start SupraPolix BV.
SupraPolix offers a new concept in the world of plastics by separating the processability demands from the material demands: incorporation of already a small amount of its product SupraB in existing plastics dramatically simplifies their processing. As a consequence, production can be cheaper and faster, whereas the consumer will benefit from innovated products that are easier to use. The reduced energy consumption during processing and the improved recycling of the materials makes the technology environmentally benign. Implementation of the technology allows producers to comply with the environmental constraints of the near future without any concession to the quality of the materials. For additional information see www.suprapolix.com.
DSM
DSM is active worldwide in life science products, performance materials and industrial chemicals. The group has annual sales of close to EUR 5.6 billion and employs about 18,500 people at more than 200 sites across the world. DSM ranks among the global leaders in many of its fields. The company’s strategic aim is to grow its sales – partly through acquisitions – to a level of approx. EUR 10 billion by 2005. By that time specialties, i.e. advanced chemical and biotechnological products for the life science industry and performance materials should generate at least 80% of sales. This strategy represents a continuation of the company’s ongoing transformation and concentration on global leadership positions in high-added-value activities characterized by high growth and more stable profit levels. More information about DSM can be found at www.dsm.com.
