Margerita Sepione is the CEO and Co-founder of SmartIR, a spin-out from the University of Manchester developing revolutionary graphene-based technologies for thermal and signature management in space and defence.
With over a decade of experience in the graphene and 2D materials sector, Margerita has built a career at the interface of cutting-edge science and commercial innovation. Before joining SmartIR, she served as Scientific and Technical Manager at Graphene Enabled Systems, where she played a key role in launching high-potential start-ups—including SmartIR and Watercycle Technologies—based on the University’s 2D materials IP portfolio.
She began her industry career at 2-DTech Ltd, a pioneering graphene company also rooted in Manchester’s graphene ecosystem. There, she held various R&D roles focused on application and product development in partnership with industrial stakeholders, helping bridge the gap between research and real-world technologies.
Margerita holds a PhD in Condensed Matter Physics from the University of Manchester, with a research focus on graphene. Her unique combination of deep technical expertise, entrepreneurial drive, and strategic vision positions her at the forefront of bringing graphene technologies from lab to orbit.