SMART-electron · Project

Advanced Electron Microscopy That Sees Materials Faster and Sharper Than Ever

digitalPrototypeTRL 4Thin data (2/5)

Imagine looking through a regular magnifying glass versus a high-speed camera with zoom — that's roughly the leap this project aims for in electron microscopy. Right now, electron microscopes use fixed physical lenses that limit what you can see and how fast you can see it. SMART-electron built a system that uses ultrafast laser light to shape and steer electron beams on the fly, like a programmable lens you can reconfigure in a split second. The result: sharper images, lower radiation damage to samples, faster capture, and the ability to watch chemical reactions and nanoparticles in real time — things that were previously impossible to observe.

By the numbers

EUR 3,042,910

EU funding for developing 3 new electron imaging techniques

consortium partners across 6 countries

beyond-state-of-the-art imaging techniques implemented

SMEs involved in the consortium

total project deliverables produced

29%

industry participation ratio in consortium

The business problem

What needed solving

Companies in semiconductors, pharma, and energy storage need to see what happens at the nanoscale — but today's electron microscopes are too slow, damage sensitive samples, and cannot observe dynamic processes in real time. This forces engineers to rely on indirect measurements or destructive post-mortem analysis, missing critical information about how materials actually behave during operation.

The solution

What was built

The project built light-controlled electron beam modulators and demonstrated 3 new imaging techniques: Ramsey-type Holography, Electron Single-Pixel Imaging, and Quantum Cathodoluminescence. These were implemented as laboratory prototypes across a 7-partner consortium, producing 22 deliverables over 4 years.

Audience

Who needs this

Electron microscope manufacturers (e.g., Thermo Fisher, JEOL, Hitachi) looking for next-gen imaging modulesSemiconductor fabs needing higher-resolution non-destructive inspection toolsPharmaceutical companies developing nanoparticle-based drug delivery systemsBattery and fuel cell manufacturers wanting real-time electrochemistry visualizationAdvanced materials research labs at universities and national institutes

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Semiconductor & Electronics Manufacturing

enterprise

Target: Semiconductor fabs and chip inspection equipment makers

If you are a semiconductor manufacturer dealing with defect detection at ever-shrinking node sizes — this project developed light-controlled electron beam shaping that delivers higher image resolution and faster acquisition rates. With 3 new imaging techniques demonstrated across a 7-partner consortium, this technology could improve inline quality inspection without increasing electron dose that damages sensitive samples.

Pharmaceutical & Biotech

mid-size

Target: Drug delivery and nanomedicine R&D companies

If you are a biotech firm struggling to track how nanoparticles behave inside living cells — this project developed Quantum Cathodoluminescence imaging that can localize biomimetic nanoparticles in cells with unprecedented spatial and temporal detail. Built with EUR 3,042,910 in EU funding across 6 countries, this gives drug delivery researchers a direct window into how their therapies actually reach target tissues.

Battery & Energy Storage

enterprise

Target: Battery manufacturers and electrochemistry R&D labs

If you are a battery company that needs to understand why cells degrade — this project built electron modulators that enable real-time visualization of electrochemical reactions at the nanoscale. Instead of post-mortem analysis after a battery fails, you could watch the chemistry happen live, identifying failure mechanisms before they become costly production problems.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to access or license this technology?

The project was funded with EUR 3,042,910 under the FET Open programme, indicating this is still at the research stage. Licensing terms would need to be negotiated directly with the coordinator (Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca) and the 2 industrial partners in the consortium. Costs would depend on whether you need the full modulator platform or specific imaging modules.

Can this technology work at industrial scale and speed?

The technology was designed for programmable, high-speed operation — the objective specifically targets faster acquisition rates and real-time observation of reactions. However, as a FET Open research project, it has been demonstrated in laboratory settings across the 7-partner consortium. Scaling to production-line inspection speeds would require further engineering and integration work.

What is the IP situation — can we license or co-develop?

The consortium includes 2 SMEs and 2 industry partners alongside 3 universities and 2 research organizations across 6 countries. IP generated under Horizon 2020 typically belongs to the partners who created it. Interested companies should contact the coordinator to discuss licensing, co-development, or technology transfer options.

How does this compare to existing electron microscopy solutions?

Conventional electron microscopes use fixed, monolithic phase plates that cannot be changed during imaging. SMART-electron replaces these with light-controlled modulators that can be reprogrammed in real time. This enables three specific capabilities not available in current commercial systems: Ramsey-type Holography, Electron Single-Pixel Imaging, and Quantum Cathodoluminescence.

What is the timeline to a commercial product?

The project ran from 2021 to 2025 and is now closed. Based on available project data, the 3 imaging techniques were implemented as laboratory demonstrations. A realistic path to a commercial instrument would likely require 3-5 additional years of engineering, miniaturization, and integration with existing electron microscope platforms.

Does this meet any industry standards or regulations?

Based on available project data, the focus was on proving the scientific feasibility of the 3 new imaging techniques. Regulatory compliance and certification for specific industries (semiconductor inspection, pharmaceutical research) would need to be addressed during the commercialization phase.

Consortium

Who built it

The SMART-electron consortium brings together 7 partners from 6 countries (Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Israel, Italy, UK), led by Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca in Italy. The mix is research-heavy with 3 universities and 2 research organizations, but it does include 2 industry partners (both SMEs), giving a 29% industry ratio. This is typical for FET Open projects that push scientific boundaries first. For a business considering this technology, the presence of 2 SME partners suggests some commercial thinking was built into the project, though the primary orientation remains scientific. The international spread across 6 countries means the IP and expertise are distributed, which could complicate but also facilitate licensing discussions depending on your geography.

UNIVERSITA' DEGLI STUDI DI MILANO-BICOCCACoordinator · IT
FUNDACIO INSTITUT DE CIENCIES FOTONIQUESparticipant · ES
HOLOEYE PHOTONICS AGparticipant · DE
ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNEparticipant · CH
QED FILM & STAGE PRODUCTIONS LTDparticipant · UK
CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHEparticipant · IT
TECHNION - ISRAEL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYparticipant · IL

How to reach the team

Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Italy — contact via university technology transfer office or through SciTransfer

Order a report on this consortium See UNIVERSITA' DEGLI STUDI DI MILANO-BICOCCA profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want an introduction to the SMART-electron team? SciTransfer can connect you with the right researcher and provide a tailored technology brief for your specific use case.

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