The Company

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Company

Note 1 — The Company

Superconductor Technologies Inc. (together with our subsidiaries, “we” or “us”) was incorporated in Delaware on May 11, 1987. We developed and produced high temperature superconducting (HTS) materials and associated technologies. We have generated more than 100 patents as well as proprietary trade secrets and manufacturing expertise. We are now leveraging our key enabling technologies in HTS materials and cryogenics, to pursue emerging opportunities in the electrical grid and in equipment platforms that utilize electrical circuits. In January 2012, we took possession of a facility in Austin, Texas and have moved our HTS wire processes and our research and development to Austin.

Our initial superconducting products were completed in 1998, and we began delivery to a number of wireless network providers. In the following 13 years, our cost reducing efforts led to the invention of our proprietary, high-yield and high throughput HTS material deposition manufacturing process.

Since 2010 we have focused our research and development efforts on adapting our successful HTS materials deposition techniques to the production of our HTS Conductus® wire for next generation power applications. While most of our current commercial product revenues come from the sale of high performance wireless communications infrastructure products, production of our Conductus wire is our principal opportunity to grow our future revenue.

Historically, we used research and development contracts as a source of funds for our commercial technology development. Although we are not currently involved as either a contractor or subcontractor on contracts with the U.S. government, in November 2016, we were selected as the prime recipient of a $4.5 million program award provided by the U.S. Department of Energy and, in June 2017, the related contract was finalized and we have now commenced work under that contract.

On October 29, 2019, we announced that our Board of Directors, supported by its management team, had commenced a process to explore strategic alternatives focused on maximizing shareholder value.

Strategic alternatives considered included, among others, a strategic investment financing which would allow the company to pursue its current business plan to commercialize the Conductus wire platform, a business combination such as a merger with another party, or a sale of STI.

On January 28, 2020, we announced a cost reduction plan for the purpose of aligning our personnel needs and capital requirements as we explored strategic alternatives previously announced. We will maintain operations of our Sapphire Cryocooler cryogenics initiatives while ceasing additional manufacturing of our HTS Conductus® wire. The plan also included a 70% employee workforce reduction.

On February 26, 2020, we entered into a definitive merger agreement with Allied Integral United, Inc. (“Clearday”), a privately-held company dedicated to delivering next generation longevity care and wellness services, whereby a wholly-owned subsidiary of STI will merge with and into Clearday in a stock-for-stock transaction with Clearday.

Upon completion of the merger, we will change our name to Clearday, Inc. The merged company will focus on the development of Clearday’s non-residential daily care service model as well as the continued operation of Clearday’s existing Memory Care America residential memory care facilities. As part of plans to develop and expand its assortment of innovative, non-residential daily care services, Clearday intends to leverage STI’s existing Cryogenic Cooler as an enabling technology for one of its service offerings in the home healthcare market.