CRAYONANO AS

Their core work

Crayonano is a Norwegian deep-tech SME that develops nanowire-on-graphene semiconductor technology, with a primary application in UVC LEDs for germicidal disinfection. They are a long-standing participant in the EU Graphene Flagship, contributing specialized nanowire growth expertise across three consecutive core projects and the 2D Experimental Pilot Line. Their flagship commercial product direction is high-efficiency UVC LED systems based on AlGaN nanowires grown on graphene substrates, targeting disinfection markets where conventional mercury-based UV sources are being phased out.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early period (2016-2018), Crayonano was embedded in the broad Graphene Flagship ecosystem, contributing to foundational research across electronics, photonics, sensors, and energy applications — consistent with a young deep-tech company exploring multiple use cases for its core nanowire-on-graphene platform. By 2020-2023, their focus sharpened dramatically: they moved toward manufacturing readiness through the 2D Experimental Pilot Line while simultaneously launching SteriLED, their first major product-focused project targeting UVC LED disinfection. This represents a classic deep-tech trajectory from broad materials research to a specific, high-value commercial application.

Crayonano is transitioning from a research-stage nanomaterials company to a product company focused on UV disinfection, making them increasingly relevant for partners in health, water treatment, and air purification sectors.

How they like to work

Crayonano primarily operates as a specialist participant in large flagship consortia — four of their five projects are Graphene Flagship efforts with massive partner networks (250 unique partners across 23 countries). Their single coordinated project, SteriLED, was funded under the SME Instrument Phase 2 (EUR 2.4M), which is a strong signal of commercial viability validated by EU evaluators. This pattern suggests a company that built deep expertise inside a flagship ecosystem and then spun out its own product initiative.

Through the Graphene Flagship, Crayonano has connections to 250 unique consortium partners across 23 countries — an exceptionally wide network for an SME, though largely inherited from the flagship structure rather than independently built. Their direct collaboration density is likely concentrated among the graphene and photonics working groups within the flagship.

What sets them apart

Crayonano occupies a rare niche at the intersection of graphene substrates and III-nitride semiconductor devices — very few companies worldwide can grow nanowires directly on graphene. Their participation in three consecutive Graphene Flagship phases demonstrates sustained peer recognition within Europe's premier 2D materials community. For potential partners, their value lies in a proprietary growth technology that could enable next-generation UV emitters, bypassing the expensive sapphire and silicon carbide substrates that limit conventional UVC LEDs.

Highlights from their portfolio

• SteriLED
  Their breakout project as coordinator (EUR 2.4M SME Instrument): first commercial push for nanowire-on-graphene UVC LEDs targeting the disinfection market — signals technology maturity.
• 2D-EPL
  Participation in the Graphene Flagship's Experimental Pilot Line (2020-2024) indicates their technology is being considered for scaled manufacturing, not just lab demonstration.
• GrapheneCore1
  Entry point into the Graphene Flagship in 2016, establishing Crayonano within Europe's largest materials research initiative from its early phase.