Development Bank of Japan Inc. (hereinafter referred to as "DBJ") has executed an investment in Alloyed Limited (headquartered in Oxford, UK; CEO Michael Holmes; hereinafter referred to as "the Company").
The Company, founded in 2017 with the support of Oxford Science Enterprises *1(hereinafter referred to as "OSE"), is a startup based on research from the University of Oxford. The Company offers comprehensive services from alloy material development to design, engineering, and manufacturing for metal 3D printers. Utilizing proprietary digital tools, including unique alloy design simulation software, the Company provides tailored services and products in the fields of alloy material development, component development, and contract manufacturing to meet customer needs.
Since 2019, the Company has expanded its business with the support of shareholders, including Japanese companies such as JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation and Japan Bank for International Cooperation. The Company has also deepened its collaboration with Japanese companies, including a business partnership with NTT DATA XAM Technologies Corporation.
In recent years, materials informatics*2 (hereinafter referred to as "MI") has been increasingly applied in manufacturing fields such as alloy development. Traditional material development relied on the intuition and experience of skilled craftsmen, involving repeated prototyping and experimentation. However, the use of MI allows for the simulation of material development by experienced developers. Additionally, the demand for higher functionality in alloys, shorter product life cycles, and changes in the global resource environment have heightened the importance of economic security, leading to continuous evolution in alloy development and manufacturing practices.
The Company is pioneering the practical application of MI in alloy design simulation software and improving and streamlining the traditionally human-dependent development process. Furthermore, the Company is developing high-performance products by combining metal 3D printing with its alloy development technology, and is expanding its business to include contract manufacturing for industries such as aerospace and electronics.
This investment aligns with DBJ's strategic focus on "technological innovation and industrial reorganization." DBJ is investing in the Company to support its high alloy development capabilities through MI and its metal 3D printing technology, facilitating business expansion in both the UK and Japan. At the request of some of the existing shareholders, DBJ, along with Mirai Creation Fund III managed by SPARX Asset Management Co. Ltd., is leading this investment to elevate the Company to its next growth stage, fostering collaboration with related domestic private companies.
DBJ will actively support the Company's business development and enhancement of corporate value in close cooperation with all stakeholders. Additionally, DBJ aims to serve as a nexus for related domestic private companies, supporting practical initiatives to transform Japan's traditional metallurgy and manufacturing industries, and contributing to technological innovation in the industry.
*1 Oxford Science Enterprises
An institutional investor active since 2015, supporting the establishment of startups in the Oxford region. It has a track record of supporting numerous startups originating from the University of Oxford.
*2 Materials informatics
Materials informatics (MI): A technology that accelerates and optimizes the prediction of material properties and the design of new materials using AI techniques such as machine learning and data mining.
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