Healthy diagnosis

From a business point of view 2005 has proved to be something of a milestone for nanotechnology. This July shares in Oxford-based nanomaterials specialist Oxonica were successfully listed on AIM, making the company the first pure nanotech firm in Europe to trade on a stock exchange.

According to Oxonica’s chief executive Kevin Matthews, just three months on from commencement of trading, the company that he helped develop from an Oxford University spin-out is already reaping huge rewards from its decision to take the plunge.

‘Being listed has given us a great number of opportunities,’ said Matthews.  ‘We have had a particularly good reaction in the US and Asia. It has given us a lot of credibility because it basically means companies have confidence that we are not the sort of operation that will disappear overnight. If we need to raise extra money for a project it is also easier to get this from the markets rather than taking the private road. It’s a lot less complex.’