AilArian

Our journey began in 2018, while working on a project to develop printed electronics for heated garments designed for Olympic athletes competing in the 2020 Olympic Games. As the project came to a close, we began asking an important question: What happens to these garments once the Games are over? More specifically, what becomes of the precious metals they contain, and those used in similar products around the world?

We quickly discovered that there were very few viable options for recovering precious metals from electronic waste, and none that could truly be called environmentally friendly. Existing methods rely on highly toxic chemicals or pyrolytic processes, both of which pose serious risks to human health and the environment. It was in response to this challenge that Ail Arian was founded.

We developed a novel silver ink formulation that enables the recovery of silver from electronic waste using a sustainable, environmentally friendly process, one that does not damage the metal itself. This means the silver recovered through our method can be reused directly in new conductive inks, with no need for further processing. By adopting a design-for-recycling approach, we created the first truly circular lifecycle for printed electronics.

In 2022, we piloted our innovation at Swansea University, achieving recovery rates of over 80% from paper substrates and 95% from plastics. Following this success, we filed a patent for both our silver ink formulation and its unique recycling process through Swansea University's AgorIP programme. With our patent granted and the technology protected, we shifted our focus to scaling impact and promoting sustainable printed electronics. Led by Dr James Claypole, our team secured a place on the Innovate UK ICURe Explore program to assess the commercial potential of our technology. After three months of in-depth market research, our findings were presented to an expert panel, who concluded that launching a spinout company was the best route to maximize impact. This led to a further three months of business development through the ICURe Exploit program, during which we refined our business model. We were then awarded a £250,000 grant via the ICURe Follow-On Fund, giving Ail Arian the boost it needed to get off the ground. We also welcomed our first team member, Hannah.

In 2024, we established our new office and laboratory at the Bay Technology Center in Port Talbot, South Wales. We began developing a new range of recyclable silver inks for use across a variety of applications.

To help inspire the next generation, we launched the Ail Arian Outreach Program, Waste to Wonderful. This initiative teaches children in primary and secondary schools about the growing issue of electronic waste, how our ink can help address this global problem, and gives them a hands-on opportunity to experience our recycling process through engaging experiments.

We are now focused on expanding our product range, scaling up manufacturing, and continuing to grow our team, all while driving forward our mission to build a truly circular future for printed electronics.