UK-based manufacturer of cadmium-free quantum dots, Nanoco, has signed a joint development agreement with a global LED lighting company.

The colour performance of the quantum dot technology attracts commercial LED lighting. As a result, the cooperators will see the university spin-out's cadmium-free quantum dots (CFQD) technology used in high volume LED lighting systems.

The 12 month agreement with the lighting company is expected to be followed either by further development work or by proceeding to product launch. But they haven’t disclosed the financial details of the agreement.

According to Michael Edelman, Nanoco's CEO,"We believe that our technology has the potential to unlock the widespread use of LED lighting in offices, homes and elsewhere because we can deliver the required colour performance."

Nanoco Group is a spin-out from the University of Manchester and earlier this year it produced the 1kg batch of red cadmium-free quantum dots (CFQD) for a major Japanese company triggering a $2m funding deal.The 1kg of red CFQD was manufactured to specification at Nanoco's recently commissioned production facility in Runcorn, Cheshire.