Smartkem Announces State Support for Carbonium Core's Nuclear Graphite Unit
Smartkem announced that Carbonium Core, with whom Smartkem recently announced a non-binding letter of intent, has received state-level support for its proposed nuclear graphite manufacturing unit. "We welcome the strong support from Tennessee leadership for Carbonium Core's planned nuclear graphite manufacturing presence in the state," said Ian Jenks, Chief Executive Officer of Smartkem. "If completed, the proposed transaction would bring together Carbonium Core's vertically integrated nuclear graphite capabilities with Smartkem's advanced materials and process innovation to help establish a secure, domestic supply chain for a material that is critical to the future of nuclear energy."
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Analyst Views on SMTK
About SMTK
About the author

- Technological Breakthrough: Smartkem's collaboration with Shanghai Jiao Tong University has resulted in the world's first all-organic transistor biometric sensor, significantly enhancing optical detection sensitivity for fingerprint and palm recognition on curved surfaces, thereby addressing challenges like fingerprint spoofing.
- Application Potential: This sensor employs advanced liveness detection techniques to capture subtle signals that distinguish real fingerprints from fakes, which not only opens new applications for flexible biometric devices but also enhances market competitiveness.
- Academic Publication: A paper detailing this innovation will be presented at the IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting on December 10, 2025, showcasing Smartkem's advancements in organic transistor technology and solidifying its leadership in the semiconductor field.
- Market Potential: Smartkem's TRUFLEX® semiconductor polymers can be utilized across various display technologies, with expectations to drive the commercialization of a new generation of lightweight, high-performance bio and optical sensors, thereby expanding its market share.
- Technological Breakthrough: Smartkem's collaboration with Shanghai Jiao Tong University has led to the development of the world's first all-organic transistor biometric sensor, significantly enhancing optical detection sensitivity for fingerprint recognition on curved surfaces, addressing challenges like fingerprint spoofing and advancing biometric technology.
- Application Prospects: This sensor employs advanced liveness detection techniques to capture subtle signals, not only improving the differentiation between real and fake fingerprints but also potentially opening new application scenarios in flexible biometric devices, thereby enhancing market competitiveness.
- Academic Publication: A paper co-authored by Smartkem's CTO Simon Ogier will be published at the IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting on December 10, 2025, showcasing the academic value and industry impact of this technology, further elevating the company's standing in the sector.
- Market Potential: Smartkem's all-organic transistor platform not only outperforms conventional inorganic sensors in sensitivity but also paves the way for the next generation of lightweight, high-performance bio- and optical sensors, indicating broad market application potential.

- Board Leadership Change: Edward Smith has been appointed as Chair of Data I/O's Board, aimed at strengthening leadership to support market expansion and enhance corporate governance.
- Independent Director Addition: Steven Waszak will join the Board effective December 3, 2025, increasing the number of independent directors to five, further enhancing the Board's independence and expertise.
- Board Size Expansion: The appointments increase the Board's size from five to six members, reflecting the company's commitment to a diverse leadership team to drive strategic growth.
- Rich Industry Experience: Both new Chair Smith and Independent Director Waszak bring over 25 years of industry experience, which is expected to significantly support the company's organic and inorganic growth strategies.
- Technological Breakthrough: Smartkem will present its first MicroLED-in-Package (MiP4) backlight technology at the International Display Workshops on December 4, 2025, which simplifies production processes through low-temperature methods and significantly enhances display performance.
- Brightness Enhancement: The MiP4 backlight achieves a peak brightness of 34,047 nits, reducing GaN usage by 84% compared to traditional MiniLED solutions, which will substantially lower production costs and enhance market competitiveness.
- Market Potential: This technology aims to replace existing LCD backlight solutions, expected to drive further development in the LCD market, which represents approximately 65% of the global display industry.
- Industry Impact: Smartkem's MiP4 backlight technology not only improves display quality but also enhances production efficiency for display manufacturers by simplifying assembly and yield management, potentially leading to a technological revolution in the display industry.
- Technological Breakthrough: Smartkem will present its first MicroLED-in-Package (MiP4) backlight technology at the International Display Workshops on December 4, 2025, achieving a peak brightness of 34,047 nits through a low-temperature process that significantly enhances display performance while reducing production costs.
- Market Potential: The MiP4 backlight is designed to replace existing MiniLED packages, which is expected to drive consolidation in the LCD display market that represents approximately 65% of the global display industry, thus its success could have profound implications for industry dynamics.
- Innovative Materials: At the core of this technology is Smartkem's proprietary Redistribution Layer (RDL) material, which interconnects four MicroLEDs in series to form a high-voltage chip, reducing power loss and SMT complexity, thereby improving production efficiency and product consistency.
- Industry Adaptability: The MiP4 is shipped in a MiP4-on-blue tape format, ensuring compatibility with existing MiniLED die bonding equipment, facilitating seamless adoption within the industry, and further solidifying Smartkem's market position in emerging display technologies.

LexinFintech Holdings Performance: LexinFintech Holdings Ltd reported a significant increase in quarterly earnings, rising to 43 cents per share from 28 cents a year ago, despite a drop in sales to $367.580 million from $521.851 million. The stock surged 15.3% in pre-market trading.
Other Gainers in Pre-Market Trading: Several stocks saw notable increases in pre-market trading, including Inspire Veterinary Partners Inc (+54.4%), VisionSys AI Inc (+43.4%), and JX Luxventure Group Inc (+36.2%).
Losers in Pre-Market Trading: Conversely, stocks like Clearside Biomedical Inc (-50.3%), Shuttle Pharmaceuticals Holdings Inc (-15%), and XChange TEC.INC (-14%) experienced significant declines in pre-market trading.
Market Overview: The article provides a snapshot of various stocks' performances in pre-market trading, highlighting both gainers and losers, along with specific percentage changes.






