Element Six has set up a $100m venture fund to promote the use of these materials in areas from artificial hips and knees to electronics and water purification.  The money for the fund has come from Element Six's internal cash flow and has not required extra money raised from outside the group.

Element Six shareholders:

De Beers, the world's biggest maker of artificial diamonds (60%)

Umicore, the Belgian minerals group (40%)

INFO SOURCES

Financial Times; Element 6