Company History

Stratophase began in 2003 when founders Prof. Peter Smith and Richard Williams secured investment to commercialise aspects of their research at the world renowned Optoelectronics Research Centre at the University of Southampton.

• 2003 Spin out from ORC, University of Southampton with exclusive licence to patents
• 2004 Partnership with Thorlabs — Alex Cable joins the Board
• 2006 Investment from East Hill Management
• 2008 Won major contract with Ministry of Defence to develop biodetector for use on the Battlefield — PIBBDT (Portable Integrated Battlespace Biological Detection Technology)
• 2008 Core patents granted internationally
• 2009 Wavelength Conversion spun out to new company; Covesion Ltd
• 2009 1st generation RI probe trialled at external fermentation facility
• 2009 APPLES contract won — working with GSK, CPI, Green Biologics
• 2010 New Premises — expanded chip production facilities and applications labs
• 2010 Successful completion of PIBBDT military Biodetector contract

Their research into microstructing optical materials resulted in two technologies; Wavelength conversion and optical microchips. These two technologies offered technical advantages in the laser and sensing industries respectively.

Having patented these technologies, Stratophase was spun out from the university and invested in expanding its management team, which included the original inventors of the technology. The innovative nature of the platform attracted investment from East Hill Management and Alex Cable, leading to a subsequent partnership and distribution agreement with Thorlabs.

Early in the product development cycle, Stratophase was awarded a technology development grant from the UK Home Office to further develop the use of Stratophase's optical microchip sensors for biological detection. After the successful completion of this project, further government contracts were won for the development of other civilian and military applications. Particularly notable amongst these ongoing projects is the multi million pound PIBBDT (Portable Integrated Battlespace Biological Detection Technology) contract from the Ministry of Defence. This was to develop and test biowarfare agent detectors. In the later stages of 2009 a consortium of GlaxoSmithKline, Green Biologics and the Centre for Processing Innovation, led by Stratophase, began a project to develop a cost-effective, multi-parametric sensor system for increasing the efficiency of high-value liquid-based production processes.

In 2009, it was recognised that the laser wavelength conversion and optical microchip sensor technologies had very divergent markets. For this reason, a new company Covesion was spun out of Stratophase to commercialise the laser wavelength technology, allowing both companies to focus on their distinct range of products and on their core technology. As such, Stratophase is now fully focussed on developing its sensor technology for Process Status Monitoring and Biodetection.

Throughout its history, Stratophase has been driven by the passion of its dynamic team, which still includes the inventors of the technology. As part of its continuing expansion, the company moved into new facilities in 2010, providing the much needed space for enhanced fabrication facilities and application labs.