E Ink Invests in NewCopper to Advance Conductive Copper Ink

E Ink, a leading developer of ePaper technology, has announced a strategic early-stage investment in NewCopper, a U.S.-based technology startup focused on developing advanced conductive copper ink. The investment is expected to create opportunities for technical collaboration in display materials and printed electronics while contributing to a more localized and resilient supply chain for advanced electronic materials.

The partnership comes as flexible and printed electronics continue to expand across applications including displays, sensors, solar technologies, RFID systems and connected devices. Manufacturers have traditionally relied heavily on silver-based conductive inks to form electrical pathways in printed components. However, the relatively high cost of silver has encouraged the industry to explore more economical alternatives. Copper is an attractive option because of its strong electrical conductivity and significantly lower material cost. Its tendency to oxidize, however, has historically presented challenges to wider commercial adoption.

NewCopper has developed a proprietary copper ink formulation designed to address these limitations. The technology combines low-temperature processing with reactive and self-passivating properties, potentially improving copper's stability and suitability for printed electronics manufacturing. The company’s technology originated from collaborative research led by Professor Shenqiang Ren at the University of Maryland and Professor Liangbing Hu at Yale University. NewCopper has secured an exclusive license from the University of Maryland for the proprietary copper ink formulation.

E Ink will make its investment through a post-money Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE). In addition to providing financial support, E Ink plans to contribute its expertise in display manufacturing to help NewCopper scale production and move toward commercialization. Since the copper ink is compatible with E Ink’s roll-to-roll coating capabilities, the partnership could allow E Ink’s research and development team to evaluate the material for future display and electrode applications.

The investment also aligns with growing demand for copper driven by artificial intelligence data centers, electric vehicles and wider electrification. Rather than depending solely on increased mining to meet rising demand, technologies that improve copper utilization, recovery and reuse could support more resource-efficient and circular manufacturing models.

The move further complements E Ink’s broader involvement in the advanced electronics materials ecosystem, including management engagement with Taiflex, which is expanding into high-frequency copper-clad laminate materials for printed circuit boards used in AI and data-center applications.

E Ink CEO Johnson Lee said the company recognizes the challenges startups face when transitioning breakthrough technologies from academic research to commercial markets. Through its manufacturing expertise, resources and commercialization experience, E Ink aims to help NewCopper scale its technology while supporting innovation in next-generation displays and printed electronics.

Chemical Commodity Price Impact

NewCopper’s conductive copper ink could reduce dependence on expensive silver inks in printed electronics, potentially lowering manufacturing costs and improving the commercial viability of flexible displays, sensors, RFID components and electrodes. Its low-temperature, self-passivating formulation may also expand copper’s use in applications where oxidation has previously restricted adoption. For commodities tracked by ChemAnalyst, the development could create mild long-term downside pressure on silver prices if copper progressively substitutes silver in conductive applications. Copper demand, meanwhile, could receive incremental support from expanded printed-electronics applications, although the impact is likely modest compared with demand from EVs, power infrastructure and AI data centers.