‘This expansion marks a defining moment for SEEDS, as we move from research excellence into full commercial deployment’
Torquil Gundlach, head of the Argonaut Programme at SEEDS; Peter Chalder-Wood, head of Strategic Partnerships at SEEDS; Sara Williams, NETPark manager; Cllr Joe Quinn, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for planning, investment and assets; and Christian Pape, property director at Business Durham.(Image: Durham County Council)
A pioneering technology company has announced a major expansion in the North East. Engineered graphene technology firm SEEDS will be moving into a new dedicated facility at Sedgefield’s NETPark as part of the £100m expansion of the site. Taking on the new unit will allow the company to move from research and development to commercial production and enable it to supply its technology to major international manufacturers.
The company is targeting customers in the global aerospace, energy, semiconductors, and automotive sectors, with its development supported by the new phase at NETPark, which offers companies more than 285,000 square feet of high-spec laboratory and advanced manufacturing space.
It is hoped the expanded science park will create 1,250 skilled jobs on site and contribute £625m to the local economy over the next decade.
Jason Chehal, founder of SEEDS, said: “This expansion marks a defining moment for SEEDS, as we move from research excellence into full commercial deployment. Over the past decade, we’ve developed a way to engineer graphene not just as a material, but as a platform technology that can be tuned to solve real-world industrial challenges at scale.
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“Moving into our new facility at NETPark allows us to begin delivering customer specific systems across industries including microelectronics, energy storage, aerospace and advanced manufacturing.
“What’s particularly powerful is the ecosystem we’re part of here. Collaborations with CPI, Mitsui, and Pragmatic Semiconductor demonstrate how innovation in County Durham can translate directly into global industrial impact.
“We are now at the point where the technology is proven, the demand is established, and the pathways to market are clear. Each production system we deploy has the potential to support a major manufacturer anywhere in the world. That positions not only SEEDS, but the North East and the UK, at the forefront of next generation materials and electronics.”
Coun Joe Quinn, Durham County Council’s cabinet member for planning, investment and assets, said: “SEEDS’ expansion at NETPark reflects the critical role County Durham plays in the UK’s advanced manufacturing landscape.
“We are delighted to support SEEDS’ growth and would urge any expanding business looking for modern facilities to come and see the exceptional offer we have here at NETPark.”