Indeed, the signs are that the competitive landscape is poised for a period of dramatic change and realignment in the coming years.
The number of companies in this space has surged and continues to grow, with the latest focusing on graphene applications and not production. Many companies have very small revenues and most survive thanks to direct to indirect research grants and subsidies.
IDTechEx warns that this is an unsustainable situation and that many firms have quietly left the scene already, while some have been acquired by larger and more capable competitors.
These are likely to be trends that will only accelerate and the next few years will see a marked shake-up in the industry. Only those companies who have the largest technical and commercial know-how as well as capacity and revenues are likely to survive.
The competition between these firms is shifting towards cost and volume but with no two graphene identical, the market will remain somewhat fragmented with companies positioning at different price-performance benefit points.
Despite the challenges though, it remains a market in which fantastic opportunities exist and are likely to continue to emerge.
Interesting, if challenging, times ahead.
