NANO DESIGN SRO

Their core work

Nano Design is a Slovak SME specializing in testing, validation, and reliability engineering for power semiconductor components — particularly GaN (gallium nitride) and SiC (silicon carbide) wide-bandgap technologies. They contribute to European pilot lines and large-scale electronics initiatives by providing design-for-reliability expertise, failure analysis, and test systems for next-generation power devices. Their work directly supports the transition from silicon to wide-bandgap semiconductors in applications like electric drivetrains, smart grids, and 5G infrastructure.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 period (2015–2018), Nano Design focused on GaN pilot lines and smart power manufacturing scale-up — helping Europe build foundational semiconductor production capacity (PowerBase, R2POWER300, R3-PowerUP). From 2019 onward, their work shifted toward application-level challenges: reliability prediction using AI/ML methods (iRel40), electric drivetrain efficiency (HiEFFICIENT), and vertical GaN and SiC device performance (UltimateGaN, REACTION). The trajectory is clear — from manufacturing support to intelligent reliability and end-application optimization.

Nano Design is moving toward AI-driven reliability prediction and quality assurance for wide-bandgap power electronics in automotive and energy applications — a growing niche as electric vehicles and smart grids scale up.

How they like to work

Nano Design operates exclusively as a participant, never as a coordinator, which is typical for a specialized SME contributing focused technical skills to large consortia. With 199 unique partners across 22 countries, they are remarkably well-networked for an 8-person-project portfolio — most of these are large ECSEL/IA projects with 30+ partners. This makes them an experienced consortium member who knows how to deliver within complex multi-partner structures without needing to lead.

Despite being a small Slovak SME, Nano Design has built an extensive European network of 199 unique partners across 22 countries, primarily through large-scale ECSEL Joint Undertaking projects that bring together semiconductor industry leaders, research institutes, and equipment suppliers.

What sets them apart

Nano Design occupies a specific niche: reliability testing and validation for wide-bandgap power semiconductors, sitting at the intersection of manufacturing quality and device performance. While large semiconductor companies build the devices and universities do fundamental research, Nano Design provides the independent testing and failure analysis expertise that de-risks pilot line outputs. For consortium builders, they offer a rare combination — deep semiconductor reliability knowledge in an agile SME format with proven delivery across eight major European electronics projects.

Highlights from their portfolio

• HiEFFICIENT
  Their largest funded project (EUR 123,000), focused on smart mobility and integrated electric drivetrains — representing their most recent and application-oriented work.
• iRel40
  Marks their entry into AI/ML-driven reliability prediction (Quality 4.0, Physics of Failure), signaling a strategic shift toward intelligent testing methodologies.
• UltimateGaN
  Covers the full GaN technology spectrum — vertical power, lateral power, and RF GaN for 5G and smart grid — the broadest technology scope of any project in their portfolio.