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Global Nanotech Group Expands in the UK

A fresh approach to economic development. That is how the Global Entrepreneurs Programme was described when launched a few years ago by government body UK Trade & Investment. It champions fresh business ideas by bringing together entrepreneurs and those who can best guide them towards success in the United Kingdom.

This is helped by experienced dealmakers who act as a liaison between entrepreneurs and government.

Recently, the Global Entrepreneurs Programme (GEP) and the Bridgehead Group – a pioneer in innovative air-conditioning and refrigeration – worked together to advance Bridgehead’s strategy of becoming a worldwide leader in ultra-efficient nanotechnology-powered refrigeration as well as renewables and related industries such as solar energy and fuel cells.

With that in mind, the GEP and Bridgehead of the United States – described as an “exciting organisation, always at the forefront of technological and commercial innovation” – collaborated to create AirNatech Holdings in the UK, immediately securing a seven-figure investment in the NIL Technology company of Denmark.

The Bridgehead Group – an international business-strategy, venture-capital and investment-banking organisation based in New York City – recently acquired a main stake in NIL Technology. NIL pioneered electron-lithography techniques to create reliable nanostructures and imprint services – much needed to develop the next generation of ultra energy-efficient refrigeration and computing technologies.

The move follows Bridgehead’s financing in early 2006 of AirNacon Limited that will also become a subsidiary of AirNatech Holdings. With the assistance of UK Trade & Investment’s Global Entrepreneurs Programme, the group now has organised its operations including AirNacon and NIL Technology within a single UK-based holding company called AirNatech Holdings.

Air-conditioning and refrigeration technologies have essentially remained the same for more than 30 years. AirNacon has taken advantage of recent advances in material sciences to develop, as well as acquire, the latest technologies in order to deliver cost-effective and environmentally friendly solutions for the industry.

London-based AirNatech Holdings will finance, structure, control and grow its global operations in the air-conditioning, refrigeration and related nanotechnology industries.

“AirNatech and its partners provide companies and technologies with excellent growth potential and a holistic support system that enables synergy between the companies, traction with strategic partners, employee participation, exit strategies, and access to innovation coupled with protection of intellectual property at early stages,” said a spokesman.

Mr. Jeppe Hansen, chairman of AirNatech and chief executive officer of Bridgehead, added: “Bridgehead is extremely grateful for the support of UK Trade & Investment.

“Basing this global group in London will provide numerous advantages that other countries cannot offer, such as a superior strategic global reach and more favourable protection of the group’s intellectual property,” he said.

The principal objective of the group is to facilitate but professionally manage billion-dollar industry super-growth by deploying experienced management together with extraordinary industry innovation. The Global Entrepreneurs Programme helped Bridgehead in many aspects of planning, structuring and financing for AirNatech to become a UK-headquartered company.

UK Trade & Investment created the GEP to attract talent, finance and take advantage of the unique strategic benefits of the UK as a global headquarters for major new businesses. The GEP uses a network of proven successful entrepreneurs or “dealmakers,” such as Eric van der Kleij, who provide information and guidance on every aspect of setting up a new venture in the UK.

Mr. van der Kleij aided Bridgehead by providing key information about the benefits of a UK holding structure. Bridgehead’s relationship with Mr. van der Kleij began three years ago when he helped Bridgehead’s CEO Jeppe Hansen acquire a stake in iCurie Labs (now Celsia Inc.).

Derek Goodwin, head of the GEP, said: “We are very pleased to have helped Bridgehead form a cohesive and pioneering global technology group that that will create substantial value for all the components by capitalising on the synergies between them. We believe that emerging technologies, especially those that are working towards advanced ways to conserve energy, should be supported by governments. They are a crucial part of the future that we are pleased to be supporting.”

NIL Technology is a nanotechnology company pioneering electron lithography to deliver consistent quality nano-imprint services and stamps required to unlock the next generation of refrigeration, fuel-cell, microprocessor and optical equipment.

UK Trade & Investment is the government organisation that provides integrated support services for UK companies engaged in overseas trade, and foreign businesses focused on the UK as an inward-investment location.

A spokesman explained: “UK Trade & Investment’s role is a proactive one of facilitating overseas investment in the UK and enabling domestic business to expand confidently overseas. As the UK government’s international business development organisation, we help companies internationalise. Our services bring together a network of business sector specialists and support teams around the UK and in British Embassies and posts all around the world.”

By Richard Maino