AVANTAMA AG

Their core work

Avantama AG is a Swiss SME specializing in advanced nanomaterials and functional inks for optoelectronic applications — particularly quantum dots, perovskite nanocrystals, and light-scattering materials used in displays, solar cells, and LEDs. They supply high-performance material formulations that enable thin-film photovoltaics, flexible electronics, and next-generation display technologies. Their work spans from synthesizing novel nanocrystal materials to formulating printable inks compatible with roll-to-roll and inkjet manufacturing processes, bridging the gap between lab-scale material science and industrial-scale production.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Avantama's early H2020 work (2019) centered on perovskite nanocrystal synthesis and optoelectronic fundamentals — lead-free perovskites, inkjet printing of thin films, and flexible photonics. By 2020, their focus shifted decisively toward scalable manufacturing: roll-to-roll processing, laser-assisted photolithography, organic photovoltaics, and applied solar fuel production. The trajectory shows a company moving from materials R&D toward production-ready processes and real-world energy applications.

Avantama is evolving from a materials innovator into a manufacturing-scale supplier of printable optoelectronic inks, making them increasingly relevant for companies scaling up flexible solar and display technologies.

How they like to work

Avantama primarily operates as a specialist partner, joining consortia (4 of 5 projects) rather than leading them, though they did coordinate the substantial Perovskite-QDD project (EUR 1.8M). With 33 unique partners across 16 countries, they maintain a broad European network rather than relying on a small circle of repeat collaborators. This pattern suggests they are valued as a go-to materials supplier that different research groups seek out for their specific nanocrystal and ink formulation capabilities.

Avantama has built a wide collaboration network of 33 partners spanning 16 countries across just 5 projects, indicating they consistently join diverse, multinational consortia rather than working within a fixed cluster of partners.

What sets them apart

Avantama occupies a rare niche as a Swiss SME that both develops and manufactures advanced nanomaterial inks — most competitors are either university labs (strong in synthesis, weak in scale-up) or large chemical companies (strong in scale, slow in innovation). Their ability to formulate quantum dots and perovskite nanocrystals into printable inks compatible with industrial R-2-R and inkjet processes makes them a critical bridge between academic breakthroughs and commercial products. For consortium builders, they offer a combination of deep materials science expertise with genuine manufacturing readiness that is hard to find elsewhere in the European SME landscape.

Highlights from their portfolio

• Perovskite-QDD
  Avantama's only coordinated project and by far the largest (EUR 1.8M) — focused on quantum dot materials for QLED displays, signaling commercial ambition beyond solar.
• BOOSTER
  A long-running project (2020-2027) on organic solar technology with building-applied PV applications, representing Avantama's longest commitment and clearest path to market deployment.
• LICROX
  Moves Avantama beyond electronics into solar fuels and artificial photosynthesis — CO2 reduction via photoelectrochemical cells — showing versatility in applying their materials expertise to green chemistry.