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Having established their company in 2008 as a spin-off from the Helsinki University of Technology (now Aalto University), Canatu’s founders developed a new carbon nanomaterial, Carbon NanoBud, and a method of manufacturing it – called Direct Dry Printing – in the form of a thin film.
Today, Canatu is a leading producer of transparent conductive films for touch sensor applications. Thanks to their extreme flexibility, its Carbon NanoBud films help its customers – many of whom are in rapidly expanding markets such as mobile and wearable consumer devices, white goods and the automotive sector – to diversify and improve the performance of their products.
“I have had the great pleasure to see the company evolve from a research lab to entering the market and beginning commercial manufacturing,” says company founder Esko Kauppinen. “Canatu is an exemplary success story in the field of nanotechnology.”
The EU loan enables Canatu to increase production capacity and invest in further research and development of its conductive film and touch sensors. It is also speeding up product commercialisation, allowing the firm to respond to customers’ needs more effectively.
Part of the investment is being used to create jobs. Canatu currently employs 40 people worldwide but expects staff numbers to double and has started a new recruitment drive.
Horizon 2020 backing for Canatu will help to further develop its revolutionary materials for foldable displays.
“I am very pleased that the EIB and InnovFin programme put a strong emphasis on SMEs and mid-cap companies with strong focus on research and innovation,” said European Commission Vice-President for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness Jyrki Katainen. “Finnish innovative mid-cap companies and SMEs can now make even better use of EIB financing to create growth and jobs.”