Support from the NanoKTN Boosts Growth and Expansion of UK SME Stratophase

Last year, the University of Southampton spin-out doubled its manufacturing capability by moving to a new building three times larger than its previous site. Stratophase’s Business Development & Commercial Officer,Sam Watts, believes support from the NanoKTN has had a significant impact on the success of the business.



Stratophase is a VC-funded spin-out from the University of Southampton and a specialist in real-time chemical and biochemical measurement and detection technology. Its SpectroSens technology is an optical microchip sensor which measures chemical processes and detects biological targets and can be realised in a vast array of sensing heads, offering a wide variety of system configurations.



SpectroSens is applicable to a broad spectrum of industries including chemical and biochemical production as well as biological detection and, as a result of the company seeing substantially increased interest in this technology, Stratophase has been able to secure further investment and move to a new facility with improved high-tech laboratory space. Stratophase’s Sam Watts believes the opportunities provided by the NanoKTN have had a measurable impact on the recent success and growth of the company.



“As a VC-funded business we have to demonstrate to our investors that we have an understanding of the market and our end-users’ needs, something which we and our stakeholders believe is crucial to the development of our sensor technology. By attending NanoKTN events we have been able to expand our knowledge and expertise of what our end-users want by gaining direct contact with our customers and partners. This has helped us increase business interest which has ultimately enabled us to secure further funding and expand.”



Watts continues, “Increased investments have enabled us to expand into new offices and as a result, double our production capacity for our core technology. I believe the support and opportunities from the NanoKTN have helped us reach this position.”



Sam Watts has attended a number of NanoKTN events, enabling him to gain an understanding of the different areas where sensor technology is being used and where Stratophase’s products could provide solutions and benefits. Attending the events has led to a number of new business contacts being developed that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise.



As part of its on-going commitment to Stratophase, the NanoKTN has written and circulated a case study about the company’s SpectroSens technology at NanoKTN events and via the NanoKTN’s website. This acts as both a tool to raise Stratophase’s profile and a means of increasing awareness of the company within key market sectors.