If the name sounds like a Bond villain then…...

The trough of despair or disillusionment is a bleak phase in the development of new technology or even a business when some lose interest. Graphene was discovered in the UK in 2004 and then some people lost interest; however it is now coming to the fore. One atom thick, 200x stronger than steel with electricity conducting properties, the applications seem a lot closer after years of research, for example in defence and lighter EV batteries maybe.

China takes a long term strategic view on many things including technology and IP. The Chinese government recently set 10 year objectives for IP development and IP royalty inflows and outflows! China has whole zones and 200 companies working on the UK invention’ graphene! 

Political sensitivity about Chinese theft of UK intellectual property has increased. The UK government has recently decided that graphene could be useful and might be valuable! So it is intervening to stop China running off with the ‘family silver’ having left the door open for the past decade! 

Chinese graphene expert Dr Zhongfu Zhou has doctorates from the University of Oxford and China’s University of Science & Technology. Dr Zhongfu Zhou was also a professor at Aberystwyth University and a researcher at Cardiff University, until December 2020.

The UK business secretary recently ordered a review of the planned takeover of UK graphene company Perpetuus Group or any companies associated with Dr Zhongfu Zhou. I think James Bond would have spotted this earlier - just saying!

The point is IP, technology and business need a long term vision and China has that !

​#entrepreneurship #graphene #JamesBond #IP