Figure: VTT’s five-level sustainability approach – we consider our choices in all these areas.

Microelectronic components are the key enablers of nearly every product or service that we use daily. The sensors in our phones and cars are familiar to everyone, but as the world becomes smarter and more interconnected, the need for innovative components increases. Each new development can help us improve efficiency, productivity and ultimately the quality of our lives.

We are an innovator in the field of microelectronics and a central player in shaping the industry, both in Finland and internationally. Our know-how has enabled us to be pioneers in developing novel micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS), photonics integrated circuits and quantum technology and other specialised components used to create a wide range of sensors and devices.

We have been designing innovative RF components for mobile telecommunications since the industry's early days. Our work in quantum technology and 2D materials continues our tradition of operating at the cutting edge of nano- and microelectronic component development.

We are a pioneer in creating innovations, including:

• Acoustic RF filter development since the 1990s. Our BAW technology is still in use in today’s mobile devices.
• Superconductive materials and device development since the 1990s
• Cryogenic CMOS for quantum applications
• Piezo MEMS development for over two decades
• Unique Fabry-Perot interferometer technology for hyperspectral imaging used in handheld, airborne and space applications
• Low-loss integrated photonics solutions for sensing and communication
• Integrated RF solutions from MMICs to Massive MIMO antennas and front-ends
• New materials and functionalities for post-CMOS integration of novel computing and sensor solutions
• 2D material-based devices including graphene for biosensing 

VTT offers research and development of new materials, technologies, devices, systems and processes. Our 200+ R&D experts are ready to help you create new microelectronics solutions using our in-house and external technology platforms, IPR and expertise.

We can provide the entire development cycle, from feasibility study and fundamental research to prototyping and small-scale manufacturing. We have capabilities to integrate different technology platforms and create unique solutions including MEMS, photonics integrated circuits, quantum and other specialised components, RF devices as well as 2D materials.

Get in touch with us to harness our tailored services:

• Research and development services
• Application specific material modelling and development
• Device and process design and innovation
• In-house manufacturing, prototyping and piloting
• IP licensing

As part of our leading role in the latest nano- and microelectronics developments, we are proud to participate in various ecosystems, both in Finland and worldwide. Through these networks, you gain access to the latest industry trends.

• Semiconductor group of Technology Industries of Finland 
• The Heterogeneous Technology Alliance in Europe together with CSEM, Fraunhofer and CEA-Leti 
• European Association on Smart Systems Integration EPoSS 
• SEMI, the microelectronics industry association 
• AENEAS Sinano 

We are also an active player in large European research programmes.

• We are part of the PREVAIL project, focused on building an EDGE AI pilot line in Europe. Our aim is to build up capacity for back-end-of-line (BEOL) manufacturing.
• We are also part of the EU graphene flagship project, which focuses on building a 2D experimental pilot line in Europe.

Our biosensor and wearables group is part of VTT’s Sensing and Integration research area which combines competences in recombinant antibody and assay development, printed and hybrid biosensors, optoelectronics, wearable device design, material science and biotechnology. One of VTT’s key differentiators in diagnostics and wearable device development is the unique pilot manufacturing infrastructure, which allows prototype upscaling studies early on in the development cycle.

Key research and development focus areas include:

• Assay development for:
  • rapid immunoassays in different diagnostics platforms including FRET, arrays-in-wells, lateral flow assays (LFA)
  • nucleic acid assays
  • printed electrochemical sensors
• Tailored recombinant antibody development and production:
  • antibodies for diagnostic and analytical applications including VTT’s proprietary immune complex antibody technology
  • therapeutic antibodies for pre-clinical studies
  • discovery of new antibodies from phage display libraries
  • production and purification services
• Innovative biosensor platforms and next generation devices in combination with unique and high-value recombinant antibodies
• Highly sensitive and reliable diagnostic instruments and tools for use at home and at POC-settings in different applications fields
• Upscaling and roll-to-roll (R2R) pilot manufacturing of microfluidic devices on several substrates (foil, paper, PDMS)
• Printed sensors and indicators for easy-to-use food and environmental safety tests

• Wearable sensors detect what’s in your sweat
• Regional and correlative sweat analysis using high-throughput microfluidic sensing patches toward decoding sweat
• New affordable, credit-card-size rapid test to see if you’re fit to drive

Public references & videos related to diagnostic technologies:

• Roll-to-roll manufacturing of integrated immunodetection sensors
• Sweat analytics collaboration with UC Berkeley
• Roll-to-roll upscaling of lab-on-chip devices (Ultraplacad EU project): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLkYtVlPrV0 and www.ultraplacad.eu
• Immunocomplex antibody technology
• Roll-to-roll fabrication of integrated PDMS–paper microfluidic
• MedPhab Europe’s first Photonics Pilot Line on medical applications
• CADMIM collaboration

At VTT, we want to make sustainable materials the new normal in electronics.

As a strategic partner to our customer, we develop electronics sustainably through multidisciplinary competences in bio-based material development and printed and hybrid electronics. Our combination of expertise allows us to develop tailored solutions for complex applications. We can support in boosting sustainability through the full lifecycle of electronics, including:

• Product & component ecodesign
• Sustainable materials
• Sustainable usage & disposal
• Energy- and resource efficient processes

We know from successful experience that sustainable electronics have the potential to create new business for electronics and optics industry, while drastically reducing its environmental burden.

Structural Electronics is a novel way to seamlessly integrate electronics into different materials and structures from car interior lighting to displays inside plastics or glass windows, or other materials/structures. Reducing the need of material usage and product weight, structural electronics has a high impact in sustainability and eco-efficiency in various applications. Structural electronics create opportunities for new applications in many industries including automotive, construction, and infrastructure.

In structural electronics approach, the functionalities of the system – electronics, photonics, and mechatronics – are seamlessly integrated in the mechanical body. The result is a self-supporting, highly integrated, robust, and functional product. 

Benefits from structural electronics:

• Reduced complexity - less mechanical parts and single substrate implementation
• Reduced volume on system size, thickness, and weight
• Seamless integration - combined optics, electronics, and mechanics
• Design freedom with 2D and 3D geometry
• Novel large area product architectures – enabled by Roll-to-Roll, Roll-to-panel -manufacturing
• Greener electronics – additive manufacturing, less material usage, better environmental sustainability
• Simplified value chain – less subsystems and suppliers and logistics handling by rolls of components

R&D services at laboratory scale

We have extensive development, prototyping and characterization facilities in tabletop scale for all major printing and coating technologies used in printed electronics. These include technologies, from screen printing to ultra high resolution Reverse Offsett printing.

• Application development
• Component and system design and modelling
• Ink and process development and testing
• Lab scale manufacturing with up-scalable techniques
• Demonstrator manufacturing
   

R2R pilot scale services

Printocent Pilot Factory has full capability for upscaling printed and hybrid electronics. Pilot scale (mostly 300mm web width).

• R2R printing trials and process upscaling with rotary-screen, gravure-, flex-printing, and slot die and bar-coating methods
• Component prototyping and testing
• Pilot production for components, devices, systems, and end-user products
• R2R process development, production running, machinery and plant consulting
• Online measurement systems, functional testing and production control solutions
• Test bench environment for commercial printing units, process control units and other accessory units
   

R2R post-processing and hybrid integration

• Converting using laser-, die and kiss cutting as well as lamination processes
• Printed Hybrid Systems concept design and fabrication
• Pick&place assembly for chip and flexible component bonding. Roll fed assembly lines for high accuracy flip-chip bonding for ACA (Anisotropic Conductive Adhesive) bond and high throughput assembly line for ICA (Isotropic Conductive Adhesive) bonding
• Functional foil in-mold-integration (IMI) process with roll feeding for plastic integrated and structural electronics
   

Facilities for Diagnostics

One of our key application areas for printed electronics is diagnostics. Flexible, thin, lightweight and even stretchable form factor enables unique wear ability for skin contact sensor patches. For rapid diagnostics, biosensors combined with functional microfluidics can be produced large volumes thanks to the unique competences and facilities.

• Roll-to-roll microfluidic production capability using imprinting for various plastics
• Dedicated roll-to-roll pilot for PDMS silicone imprinting for super elastic microfluidics and microstructures
• Biomaterial dispenser integrated to pick and place assembly line
• Diagnostics lab for assay development
• Converting pilot line post-processing for fluidic chip

• PrintoCent Ecosystem Pages
• Download Free 265 page Designers Handbook for Printed Intelligence
• Sustainable electronics at VTT

We develop scalable sensing solutions that provide data for individual and group level analysis. From cardiovascular health to cognitive load detection, our sensor solutions allow easy and unobtrusive ways to monitor human signals and collect valuable data either in laboratory experiments or in real life settings.

Examples of our trailblazing technologies include:

• Wearable biosensor platform
• Miniaturized, wirelessly synchronized ECG and PPG
• Non-invasive wearable sweat sensors
• Stretchable electrocardiogram skin sensor
• Radar applications for health and well-being
• Bed sensors for detecting sleep disorders

Our customers get to enjoy the broad range of VTT’s research know-how and cross-disciplinary cooperation. Our human sensing solutions are built on an exceptional combination of VTT’s expertise including:

• Printed electronics
• Wireless and wearable sensing
• Micro-nanotechnology
• Microfluidics, point-of-care diagnostics
• Secure data collection infrastructures

• IDEA-FAST (Teemu Ahmaniemi)
• EYES (Kati Pettersson)
• Stress (Johanna Närväinen)
• NextPerception (Johan Plomp)
• HIPE (Sari Järvinen)

A lot is required of wearable electronics. Data must be measured unobtrusively and conveniently amid the user's daily routine. From the data collected, a wide range of relevant information must be combined and extracted for both the user and healthcare professionals. This requires the development of new adaptive and wearable sensor technologies and advanced data analytics, for which VTT has the necessary expertise.

Novel healthcare and wellness applications require continuous wireless measuring of various parameters such as temperature, heart rate and oxygen saturation. As the population ages, reliable and accurate measurement is especially important in home care. However, electronics today are wired, bulky, and thus clumsy.

Development of smart patches

We need new wearable electronics solutions that are ultra-comfortable, soft, flexible, and even stretchable – solutions that can be worn as smart patches.

       A development stage optical sensor integrated into a flexible smart patch

For a seamless user experience, the sensor data must be processed on the fly. Moreover, the data processing algorithms and adaptive models must be adjusted according to each use case. VTT's data pipeline solutions make the flow of information smooth. Optimised data flows from tiny, continuously measuring sensors to cloud processing for services. Our extensive expertise and capabilities in advanced data analytics and machine learning (ML) allow us to support our customers in innovating new, cutting-edge ways of utilising wearable technology. VTT’s ML pipeline solutions for small devices are unique and provide benefits in flexibility and adaptivity beyond those currently used in similar solutions.

There are many smart patches already on the market. However, most manufacturers have a very low level of automation, meaning that production requires significant amounts of manual labour. 

VTT's competitive advantage

At VTT, our customers can experiment with producing wireless sensor patches using stretchable substrates and roll-to-roll production.

This low-cost manufacturing technique provides higher levels of automation and throughput. Post-processing is also automated. Compared to commercially available products, this technology lends itself well to miniaturisation, conformability and manufacturability.

VTT provides a full range of R&D services, enabling you to go from an idea to a pilot or a prototype. Whether you’re looking for tailorable piloting facilities or a development partner to help refine your initial ideas, we’d be happy to help.

You can get the whole development cycle for elastic wireless sensors under one roof:

• Materials
• Manufacturing and integration
• Hardware and software design
• Application know-how.

• It will soon be possible to monitor your body’s fluid balance with a perspiration meter
• Successful applause demo shows the potential of advanced sensor technology – small and flexible sensors open new horizons for diagnostics and healthcare
• Wearable technology innovations can revolutionise patient monitoring and recovery

Related projects, ecosystems:

• PrintoCent ecosystem is a cluster set to boost innovation and industrialisation of Printed Intelligence
• MedPhab Pilot Line is Europe's first Pilot line to simplify your photonic medical device development

Related project cases:

• Wearable healthcare technology and patient monitoring