Graphene’s in the spotlight, and small-cap Adisyn has grabbed a seat at the table

Graphene is gaining serious traction in Europe after major funding, while in Australia, Adisyn is positioning itself as a key player.

Adisyn’s potential is backed by subsidiary 2DG’s graphene breakthrough. Picture via Getty Images

• Graphene’s having its moment

• Germany's Black Semiconductor locks in EUR 254m for graphene chips

• ASX-listed Adisyn’s potential is backed by 2DG’s breakthrough

EUR 254 million.

That’s the kind of eye-watering funding German startup Black Semiconductor recently locked in to bring its graphene-based chip tech to life.

Yes, graphene, the so-called “miracle material” everyone’s been frothing over since the early 2000s but which, let’s be real, has spent most of its life on the sidelines.

Well, not anymore.

Black Semi is pulling in German government cash, Porsche Ventures money, and a who’s-who of deep tech VCs to build the world’s first graphene-enabled optical interconnects.

Europe and the world are finally waking up and throwing serious weight behind this technology.

And the narrative on this long-hyped, rarely delivered wonder material could be changing fast.

The next frontier in semis?

Graphene, the ultra-thin, super-conductive carbon material, has long been hailed as the future of electronics.

It holds the promise of chips that are faster, cooler (literally), and built for the AI-soaked, data-hungry world we’re crashing into.

Problem is, for years, it’s been all promise, no punch, hampered by insane production costs and thermal issues that make it a nightmare for real-world chip design.

But the tide’s turning. Fast.

Black Semiconductor is using graphene in chip designs to improve data speeds and energy efficiency, with a focus on optical communication that lets chips connect and transfer data more seamlessly.

Over in the UK, startup Paragraf has also just teamed up with the University of Cambridge to develop graphene-based memory devices after snagging fresh funding from Innovate UK.

These aren’t just science fair projects anymore; they’re commercial plays, backed by serious money and serious tech.

Arrived at the cliff

But while the champagne’s flowing in Europe, a quieter but no less game-changing graphene story is unfolding right here in Australia.

ASX-listed Adisyn (ASX:AI1) made a bold move back in January, acquiring Israeli semiconductor outfit 2D Generation (2DG), a startup with its sights firmly set on graphene’s commercial breakout.

Driving 2DG is founder Arye Kohavi, a tech entrepreneur with a wild resume and even wilder ambitions.

Along the way, Kohavi’s contributions earned him recognition as one of the world's 100 Leading Global Thinkers and one of the world's top Innovators of 2014.

“Although I’m regarded as a tech entrepreneur, I started my career in finance,” Kohavi told Stockhead’s own Tylah Tully.

“Then I established my first startup in e-learning, sold it, and then I founded WaterGen, a company that develops machines that produce drinking water from air.”

But Kohavi wasn’t done.

“I sold the company, tried to go on a pension, didn’t like that, and looked for my next journey,” he said. “I wanted something huge, something that could really impact the world. That’s how I found graphene.”

Together with Bar-Ilan University, Kohavi founded 2DG and went after one of the most elusive problems in semiconductors – how to actually make graphene work at scale inside chips.

The breakthrough that 2DG cracked was a low-temp process that lays down graphene at under 300°C, miles cooler than the 1000°C-plus temps the industry’s been stuck with.

But why does that matter?

Because as chips get smaller, denser and hotter, traditional copper interconnects just aren’t cutting it anymore.

“The semiconductors industry has arrived at a cliff,” Kohavi explained.

“There is a problem in the interconnect… they are currently made from copper, and copper has arrived at its physical limitation.

"You cannot go further to generations that we call the two nano and beyond, unless solving the issue of interconnect.”

“It means if this issue can not be solved, you cannot have iPhone 20. You cannot have the fast computing needed for AI. You cannot have fast enough autonomous vehicles.”

“Graphene should be the solution … but until now, nobody in the world can grow graphene at low temperature, and we think we have it.”

Big ambitions

Kohavi said he’s keen to help build something meaningful here in Australia.

“In Israel, we have a very important tech ecosystem,” he said.

“In Australia, I want to help build a similar ecosystem for semiconductors, for entrepreneurs; and I want to contribute as much as I can.”

So Adisyn isn’t just picking up a graphene company – it’s backing a potential moonshot with the tech, the IP, and a founder who’s been there before.

If Kohavi and his crew can deliver what they’re promising, they won’t just be putting Adisyn on the global map, they could even help drag the entire chip industry into its next chapter.

“The main focus is to demonstrate the full operating technology within a year and a half … then we can team with industry giants and bring incredible yield for our shareholders.”

At Stockhead we tell it like it is. While Adisyn is a Stockhead advertiser, it did not sponsor this article.

This story does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decision.

Originally published as Graphene’s in the spotlight, and small-cap Adisyn has grabbed a seat at the table