HTGF invests in i3 Membrane

The fresh capital will be used for the development and marketing of filter technology for use in life sciences. The Federal German Environment Foundation is also supporting the launch of the product with a €250,000 grant.

In a statement, i3 said it plans to launch its steel membranes in June 2015 as an alternative to the plastic membranes that currently dominate the market. The €15bn membrane sector is said to be growing at a rate of 10% per year.

Company
Founded in 2013, i3 was developed jointly with research facility Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR). The company claims the membrane is more stable, flexible and environmentally compatible than conventional filters because only inert gas and electrical power are required for its manufacture.

The separation technology found in filter membranes is used in the research stage of pharmaceutical processing and sterile filtration. Around half of all filters produced are sold into the medical and pharmacuetical industries.

HZDR's research focuses on how to use resources sustainably, effective treatments for cancer and how materials behave in certain conditions.

People
Stephan Brinke-Seiferth is CEO of i3. Andreas Kolitsch is a professor at HZDR. Ron Winkler is an investment manager at HTGF. Dörte Bunge led the deal for Innovationsstarter Fonds Hamburg.

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