Coating, matching, success Interview with Claude Becker, CEO & Founder, and Marc Jacobs, Chairman, FUNCOATS How can you protect a mobile phone, car, plane or any sort of machine from the corrosion and damage that comes from exposure to rain, snow and ice? FUNCOATS has the answer. Luxembourg start-up FUNCOATS offers excellent protection from the ravages of weather and time by adding an ultrathin nanocoating that makes almost any material water and oil repellent. “Ice doesn’t stick, which would be beneficial for the aeronautic sector, and water literally jumps off the treated surface,” explains Marc Jacobs. “We can also make it run off in a controlled way and remove dust while it does without leaving any kind of traces behind.” The coatings can protect and extend the life of a lot of other items as well. Integrated circuits can be treated so that phones and other consumer electronics become waterproof, reducing the risk of damage considerably. Even the fabric used for train or plane seats can be coated to make it more water resistant so that it doesn’t absorb spilled liquid but rather deflects it rendering it stain proof. The oil repellent capacities of the coating are extremely effective. Indeed, the coating can be added to one specific part of a machinery that does not need lubrication, thereby forming a natural repellent barrier so that oil only goes to the part of the machine that requires lubrication. This nanocoating was originally developed by Claude Becker during his 5 years as researcher at the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, using atmospheric plasma technology. “I worked on thin layer coatings using and designing plasma reactors, first under vacuum, and then under atmospheric conditions. To create plasma at atmospheric pressure you usually need a lot of energy, and this leads to a complete fragmentation of the molecules introduced in the plasma. We developed a new concept based on ‘soft plasma polymerisation’, using only the energy needed to activate specific chemical groups of the molecules and thus avoiding fragmentation. This resulted in innovative surface functionalisations and coatings.” A true entrepreneur, Dr Becker saw the industrial potential of his invention and decided to leave his position as a researcher and to start his own company. From the beginning, Dr Becker received support from the incubator Technoport and also started to collaborate with Johnny Brebels and Jean-Michel Ludwig at Luxinnovation. “They coached me with the development of my business plan and an application for state R&D co-funding, but he quickly saw that I needed more than that to succeed,” says Dr Becker. In early 2016, Mr Brebels introduced him to business angel Marc Jacobs, who immediately became enthusiastic about Dr Becker’s project. “There are great opportunities for this technology, and we are looking at a range of markets,” says Mr Jacobs, pointing to electronics, high value textiles, construction, aerospace and navy applications as prime examples. The fledgling company is already carrying out feasibility studies for its first paying customers – a couple of big global players as well as with some smaller firms. “Working with those who are willing to pay at an early stage helps us see who will become our important partners.” Deciding which sectors should be the initial focus is a priority. A true entrepreneur, Dr Becker saw the industrial potential of his invention and decided to leave his position as a researcher and to start his own company. From the beginning, Dr Becker received support from the incubator Technoport and also started to collaborate with Johnny Brebels and Jean-Michel Ludwig at Luxinnovation. “They coached me with the development of my business plan and an application for state R&D co-funding, but he quickly saw that I needed more than that to succeed,” says Dr Becker. In early 2016, Mr Brebels introduced him to business angel Marc Jacobs, who immediately became enthusiastic about Dr Becker’s project. “There are great opportunities for this technology, and we are looking at a range of markets,” says Mr Jacobs, pointing to electronics, high value textiles, construction, aerospace and navy applications as prime examples. The fledgling company is already carrying out feasibility studies for its first paying customers – a couple of big global players as well as with some smaller firms. “Working with those who are willing to pay at an early stage helps us see who will become our important partners.” Deciding which sectors should be the initial focus is a priority. “For us, Luxinnovation is like a central point for network building,” says Mr Jacobs, who cites several upcoming meetings with Luxinnovation staff to explore opportunities for FUNCOATS in the fields of biotechnology, ecoinnovation and technology transfer. FUNCOATS is quite unique in that it covers the entire process from R&D and feasibility studies to proof of concept and production, but Mr Jacobs saw the necessity of combining the company’s know-how with the development of industrial equipment so as to apply the coatings on a large scale. Belgian research institute VITO, which had developed lab equipment for atmospheric plasma treatment was looking at spinning off the technology together with two Belgian investors. For Mr Jacobs, who is of Flemish origin, the match was obvious. With the help of Luxinnovation, a joint structure was developed consisting of a holding company in which Mr Jacobs and his two compatriots invested and two subsidiaries: FUNCOATS and its sister company APEMCO, which will design and build equipment and take care of installations, services, leasing and so on. Mr Jacobs and his colleagues have great ambitions for the future: “If, or rather when, we are successful, we will not remain within the borders of Luxembourg and its immediate surroundings – we will accelerate and go global.”