THEVA DUNNSCHICHTTECHNIK GMBH

Their core work

THEVA is a German SME that manufactures high-temperature superconductor (HTS) thin-film tapes and coated conductors. Their core business is producing superconducting materials used in energy systems, power grids, scientific magnets, and aerospace applications. They supply critical superconducting components to consortia building everything from wind turbine generators to fault current limiters for HVDC grids. Based near Munich, they are one of Europe's specialized industrial producers of HTS tape — a niche but strategically important material for the energy transition and advanced physics research.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

THEVA's early H2020 work (2015–2020) centered on applying superconducting tapes to large-scale energy infrastructure: a world-first superconducting wind generator demonstrator (EcoSwing) and advanced fault current limiters for future HVDC grids (FASTGRID). From 2020 onward, they diversified into more specialized domains — contributing HTS materials to high-field research magnets (SuperEMFL) and, notably, to space transportation systems using magnetohydrodynamics (MEESST). This shift suggests a company moving from energy-sector supplier toward a broader advanced-materials provider serving physics research and aerospace.

THEVA is expanding from energy applications into high-field physics and space systems, positioning itself as a versatile HTS material supplier for any sector needing superconducting performance.

How they like to work

THEVA operates exclusively as a specialist participant, never coordinating projects — consistent with a materials supplier role where they provide a critical component rather than driving the research agenda. With 35 unique partners across 13 countries in just 4 projects, they work in medium-to-large consortia and connect broadly across European research networks. This makes them an accessible, low-friction partner: they bring the material, integrate with the consortium's system, and don't compete for project leadership.

THEVA has collaborated with 35 unique partners across 13 countries in four projects, giving them a wide European network despite being a small company. Their partnerships span universities, research labs, and industrial integrators across Western and Southern Europe.

What sets them apart

THEVA occupies a rare niche as an SME that actually manufactures HTS coated conductor tapes — most European superconductor work happens in research labs, not production facilities. Their ability to supply project-grade superconducting material makes them a bottleneck partner: if your consortium needs HTS tapes, the list of European suppliers is very short. Their track record spanning wind energy, power grids, magnets, and space proves their material works across radically different operating conditions.

Highlights from their portfolio

• EcoSwing
  World's first demonstration of a superconducting wind generator — THEVA's largest single project at nearly EUR 2M, validating HTS tapes in real energy infrastructure.
• MEESST
  Unusual crossover into space transportation, applying superconductors and magnetohydrodynamics to solve the atmospheric re-entry radio blackout problem.
• SuperEMFL
  Contributes to the European Magnet Field Laboratory's push for record-breaking magnetic fields, linking THEVA to Europe's top physics research infrastructure.