Nanotechnology, which is arousing great expectations, is an interdisciplinary area of research that needs product development companies. The Finnish company Nanoway Oy developed the world's first product based on nanoelectronics, the primary thermometer.

Nanoway's thermometer measures very low temperatures near absolute zero. "The original idea was created half by accident, which may not be unusual with inventions. After five years of invention, in 1999, we delivered the first thermometer to a customer," says CEO Juha Kauppinen.

The achievement was considerable for a small Finnish company, because the commercialization of nanotechnology was only in its infancy, even in international terms. Now Nanoway's thermometers are sold to research laboratories in different parts of the world. "Our product is unique. There are no other measuring instruments produced with similar technology, even though there is competition."

From traditional to nano

Kauppinen says it takes years before customers have full confidence in a product based on a new technology. "The laboratory thermometer for low temperatures is a reasonable investment, about 10,000 euros."

There are plenty of challenges if users of traditional thermometers are to be turned into those that will use a nano version. In order to speed up the change Nanoway has started cooperation with the market leader in the field. The company also cooperates with several other companies and research laboratories.

"It's important to obtain support for the development work directly from the end-users. Now under production is a second-generation version to which several improvements based on customer feedback have been made."

Limitless possibilities

Kauppinen predicts that many new products and companies utilizing nanoelectronics will be created during the next ten years. The market will also increase at a mind-spinning rate.

"Nanoway wants to be involved in this increase," says Kauppinen, pointing out that even though there are a large number of reports about promising inventions, it is a long way from a laboratory test to a product.

"We've recognized the possibilities of the technology. In the life-science area there are several interesting possibilities that we are charting. However, launching new products onto the market will still take years."

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Nanoway received the highly recognized Innosuomi award in 2001. In the picture Sami Pöyhönen is metallizing a nanosensor by vacuum evaporation.