SANTA CLARA, Calif. (March 21, 2018) – W. L. Gore & Associates (Gore) today announced a collaboration with digital health startup Bonbouton to explore material solutions in advanced sensor technology and enable practical smart fabrics for assistive apparel and digital health applications.

Bonbouton is a New York City-based team of innovators in inkjet-printed, low-cost graphene temperature sensors. With technology licensed from the Stevens Institute of Technology, Bonbouton has emerged as an industry leader in microsensor technology, developing mechanically flexible and molecularly thin sensors for monitoring skin temperature with graphene oxide (GO).

The initial phase of the Gore-Bonbouton agreement will focus on collaborative research in the area of temperature sensing materials. This explorative process will lay a foundation for future applications of sensor technology and conductive inks in digital health, chronic care management and smart fabrics.

"Bonbouton is an ideal partner. Its technology shows enormous potential for expanding Gore materials into digital health applications and other markets," said Paul Campbell, co-leader, Gore Innovation Center. "Bonbouton is widely and well regarded for its potential in graphene as a sensing modality. We look forward to collaborating with them both from a research and business standpoint."

"Our work with Gore, and specifically the Innovation Center, is an exciting development. Its materials and expertise are what will allow us to improve on existing technology and take development to the next level," added Linh Le, CEO and founder, Bonbouton. "Gore is known for a science-backed approach to comfort and wearability. Coupled with its collaborative resources and exploratory mindset, this makes Gore a model partner."

The Bonbouton-Gore joint development agreement is evidence of Gore's continuing mission to foster innovation by providing insight and support for startups in the digital health arena. Gore aims to help these organizations with some of the toughest challenges in advanced materials development by offering deep expertise, co-working space and access to versatile materials. The Gore Innovation Center offers a prototyping facility where startups, researchers, customers and corporations can collaborate and innovate.

"We are thrilled to be working with Bonbouton to explore our combined potential, especially in applications where it can enhance quality of life for those with chronic conditions," said Linda Elkins, co-leader, Gore Innovation Center. "Gore has a long-standing tradition of pushing boundaries in the material science space, and we aim to lend that expertise to organizations like Bonbouton, whose mission is to improve lives through smart fabrics and advanced sensor technology."

The Gore Innovation Center is an 11,000 square feet co-innovation space and lab. Startups, researchers, corporations and customers can collaborate with Gore innovators on difficult advanced materials challenges in Medical, Fabrics, Automotive, Aerospace, Industrial, Electronics, and Digital Health applications to create new business opportunities and value for all partners. For more information regarding the Gore Innovation Center in Silicon Valley, visit gore.com/innovation-center. Startups can contact Gore here to start working together today.

W. L. Gore & Associates is a global materials science company dedicated to transforming industries and improving lives. Founded in 1958, Gore has built a reputation for solving complex technical challenges in the most demanding environments — from revolutionizing the outerwear industry with GORE-TEX^® fabric to creating medical devices that improve and save lives to enabling new levels of performance in the aerospace, pharmaceutical and mobile electronics markets, among other industries. The company is also known for its strong, team-oriented culture and continued recognition from the Great Place to Work^® Institute. Headquartered in Newark, DE, Gore employs approximately 9,500 Associates and generates annual revenues that exceed $3 billion. www.gore.com 

Bonbouton designs inkjet-printed, low-cost graphene wearable sensors for constant and wireless health monitoring. Bonbouton's graphene oxide (GO) sensors deliver flexible, thin and comfortable solutions that detect a variety of pathophysiological developments – including fever, exhaustion and blister formation prior to diabetic foot ulcer development. http://www.bonbouton.com/

Dana Schroeder
Sterling Communications, Inc. for Gore Innovation Center
+1 408 395 5500
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