E Ink Invests in Copper Ink Startup NewCopper, Eyes Future Display Materials
2026-09-22 · via DailyDOOH
E Ink, the company behind the electronic paper technology used in shelf labels and low-power signage displays, has made an early-stage investment in NewCopper, a U.S. startup developing conductive copper ink. The deal is structured as a post-money Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE), according to the announcement.
For operators and integrators who rely on E Ink displays, this is a materials and supply-chain story rather than a new product launch. E Ink says the investment is meant to build technical collaboration in display materials and printed electronics, and to support a "more localized and resilient supply chain." It does not announce any new display, price change, or shipping timeline.
NewCopper's technology is a proprietary low-temperature, self-passivating copper ink, licensed exclusively from the University of Maryland and originating from research by Professor Shenqiang Ren at Maryland and Professor Liangbing Hu at Yale. The pitch is straightforward: conductive pathways in printed electronics, including displays, sensors, RFID tags and solar components, are typically made with silver ink, which is expensive. Copper is cheaper and highly conductive but oxidizes easily, which has limited its use. NewCopper says its formulation addresses that oxidation problem.
Why E Ink cares
E Ink's interest goes beyond a financial stake. The company says NewCopper's ink is compatible with its existing roll-to-roll coating equipment, giving its R&D team a chance to evaluate copper ink as a conductive material for future displays and electrode designs. If that pans out, it could eventually lower material costs in E Ink's manufacturing, though the announcement gives no timeline or indication of when, or whether, copper ink would appear in commercial ePaper products.
The release also links this move to E Ink's recent management involvement with Taiflex, a flexible copper-clad laminate maker expanding into materials for AI and data-center printed circuit boards. E Ink frames NewCopper as fitting the same strategic direction: investing in materials that support electrification and AI-driven demand while reducing dependence on newly mined metals.
As part of the arrangement, E Ink chairman and CEO Johnson Lee has joined NewCopper's board as the company's designated director.
For signage buyers, the practical takeaway is limited for now. This is an early bet on a materials supplier, not a shift in E Ink's product roadmap. The announcement does not disclose the size of the investment, NewCopper's other backers, or a target date for bringing copper ink into E Ink's manufacturing process.
The announcement in full
Reproduced from DailyDOOH for reference. Digital Signage Magazine did not write the text below.
E Ink Announces Strategic Investment in NewCopper
E Ink has announced a significant early investment in NewCopper, a privately held U.S. technology startup developing conductive copper ink. The investment we are told will establish opportunities for technical collaboration in display materials and printed electronics while supporting the development of a more localized and resilient supply chain.
Johnson Lee , chairman and CEO of E Ink told us “E Ink itself spun out of academia into a global technology company, so we recognize both the promise of NewCopper’s innovation and the challenges of moving breakthrough technology from the lab to the market. As an established leader in materials and display manufacturing, it’s our responsibility to help promising companies scale. By supporting NewCopper with resources, expertise and commercialization experience, we can also help guide the display industry to new heights.”
As flexible electronics expand into applications such as displays, sensors, solar technology, RFID and connected devices, manufacturers are seeking alternatives to high-cost silver ink, which is widely used to create conductive pathways in printed components. Copper offers strong conductivity at a lower material cost, but its susceptibility to oxidation has historically limited its broader adoption. NewCopper developed a proprietary low-temperature, reactive and self-passivating copper ink formulation designed to overcome this challenge.
The rapid growth of AI data centers, electric vehicles, and broader electrification is expected to drive a significant increase in global copper demand. Meeting that demand through additional mining alone is neither ideal nor aligned with a long-term sustainability philosophy centered on resource efficiency and circularity. Technologies that enable copper to be effectively recovered, reused, and returned to the manufacturing cycle can reduce reliance on newly mined materials while supporting the continued expansion of these critical industries.
NewCopper’s technology originated from breakthrough joint research from Professor Shenqiang Ren’s team at the University of Maryland and Professor Liangbing Hu at Yale University. NewCopper holds an exclusive license from the University of Maryland for the proprietary copper ink formulation.
E Ink will make the investment through a post-money Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE) and leverage its display manufacturing expertise to support NewCopper’s production scale-up and commercialization. Because NewCopper’s formulation is compatible with E Ink’s roll-to-roll coating capabilities, the investment also creates an opportunity for E Ink’s R&D team to evaluate copper ink as a potential conductive material for future displays and electrode applications. More broadly, the collaboration strengthens the localized supply chain for advanced electronic materials and supports the future production of ePaper components.
This investment is particularly relevant given the recent E Ink management involvement with Taiflex, a market leader in FCCL that is expanding into high-frequency CCL materials for PCBs used in AI and data-center applications. As participation in the advanced PCB materials ecosystem grows, NewCopper represents a strong strategic fit—connecting investments in next-generation technologies with a broader commitment to lower-impact manufacturing, resource efficiency, and a more circular supply chain.
As part of the strategic relationship, Johnson Lee has joined NewCopper’s Board of Directors as E Ink’s designated director.
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