Scottish DeepTech iGii Lands $29M to Scale Carbon Nanomaterial

Jan de Vries · 2026-09-16

When a small Scottish company says it can replace platinum and gold with a material grown at room temperature, you pay attention. iGii, based in Stirling, just raised $29 million (€26.49 million) to do exactly that. The funding will accelerate the commercial rollout of Gii, a proprietary carbon nanomaterial that could reshape how manufacturers source critical materials. ### The Funding Breakdown The round has two main parts: - A $15 million (€13.65 million) Series B led by the Scottish National Investment Bank, with participation from PXN Ventures and Archangels. - $14 million (€12.84 million) from Scottish Enterprise. That's a strong mix of private and public capital, which is often necessary for deep tech companies that need long-term backing to bridge the gap between lab breakthroughs and commercial success. ### What Exactly Is Gii? Gii is a three-dimensional porous carbon nanomaterial. Unlike graphene or other carbon materials that are mined or compounded, Gii is grown using a process that runs at room temperature and scales to industrial volumes. Think of it like cultivating a crystal, but at room temperature and with far more control. The company claims Gii can integrate with biological, chemical, and physical systems, unlocking capabilities that conventional materials can't achieve. It's already being used in multi-analyte sensing, microheaters, and flexible printed battery electrodes. And because it's grown, not extracted, it could reduce reliance on constrained supply chains for materials like platinum and gold. ### Why This Matters for Supply Chains Global supply chains are under pressure. Access to critical materials is increasingly uncertain due to geopolitical tensions and concentrated supply. The UK government's industrial strategy has placed advanced materials at the center of efforts to rebuild domestic manufacturing. iGii's technology fits right into that narrative. Adrian Gillespie, Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise, said: "iGii's technology is an exciting, sustainable and scalable alternative to constrained raw materials which will help build resilience in global supply chains." He added that the funding demonstrates how Scotland's innovation partners combine private investment, patient capital, and targeted public sector support to help ambitious businesses scale. ### From R&D to Execution With manufacturing capacity already capable of supporting large-scale production runs, iGii plans to use the investment to move from years of R&D into execution. Over the next 12 to 24 months, the focus will be on deepening engagements with major manufacturers and converting existing relationships into long-term contracts. Jean-Christophe Granier, CEO of iGii, put it simply: "Every industrial revolution has been enabled by a breakthrough in materials, and this funding means iGii can help enable the next one." He noted that the backing from the Scottish National Investment Bank, PXN, Archangels, and Scottish Enterprise is a tremendous endorsement of what the team has built. ### The Bigger Picture For European startups, this is a reminder that deep tech can attract serious capital when the technology addresses real-world problems. iGii's success could also boost the EU Inc proposal discussions, which aim to make it easier for European startups to incorporate and scale across borders. If more companies like iGii can commercialize breakthrough technologies, Europe's position in advanced materials and manufacturing could strengthen significantly. For now, iGii is focused on execution. The company believes Gii can enable products in multiple markets, from sensors to batteries. If it delivers, it could become a key player in the next generation of industrial materials.