It will develop and commercialise its unique heating technology for particle accelerators, such as CERN’s Large Hadron Collider, and in proton beam therapy for cancer detection.

The company has developed a revolutionary new kind of ‘flat’ heating element for industrial use. It is quicker and more cost effective to manufacture and operate than any traditional wire heating elements in use today. It is also flexible and can adapt to specific requirements, offering solutions to niche industrial problems and needs.

The STFC CERN BIC offers small UK businesses unique access to the expertise and capabilities of the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and CERN, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research whose main area of research is particle physics.

2D Heat is looking to secure its first commercialisation agreement within the year and CERN has already confirmed that this technology would be of particular use for its own accelerators.

John Lewis, Managing Director at 2D Heat, said: "As an incubatee at the STFC CERN BIC, this gives us access to the essential technical, financial, business and networking support we need to bring our technology to market. CERN’s knowledge of the high vacuum industry is essential for us, and will help us tailor our technology to the exact requirements of our potential users."

Giovanni Anelli, Head of Knowledge Transfer at CERN, said: "The STFC CERN BIC builds a bridge between our technical experts and entrepreneurs in the UK. It offers an opportunity for businesses to turn CERN’s innovative ideas into industrial and business opportunities."

2D Heat’s technology uses a very pure and precise combination of nickel, chrome and iron alloy powders. These are put through a flame to create a partially oxidised material. This material is then isolated, dried and then flame-sprayed to produce the 'flat’ element. The controlled precision of this process is critical, and it can be tailored to specific requirements.

Paul Vernon, Head of Campus Development at STFC said: "The UK is leading the way in taking technologies developed at CERN and translating those ideas into successful, profit-making companies. UK companies already secure more than £15m each year in contracts with CERN. 2D Heat is unique in its offering, in terms of the materials science it is using. It is exactly the kind of innovative company that has the potential to make a positive impact on UK society and the economy."

Medicine, telecommunications, IT and security are some of the sectors where inventive new businesses can make an impact using technologies from STFC and CERN. These include particle accelerators, high performance computing, superconductors and cryogenics.

The STFC CERN BIC is located at STFC’s Daresbury Laboratory, within the vibrant Sci-Tech Daresbury campus, a successful enterprise zone.

Small businesses and individuals wishing to find out more about the STFC CERN BIC can do so by submitting an Expression of Interest.