PicoTherm

What PicoTherm does

PicoTherm Corporation (株式会社ピコサーム) was a Tsukuba, Japan-based precision instrumentation company founded in 2008 as a spinoff from the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST). The company commercialized the pulsed light heating thermoreflectance method, a metrology technique for measuring thermal diffusivity, thermal effusivity, thermal conductivity, and interfacial thermal resistance of thin films ranging from approximately 10nm to 20μm in thickness. Its product portfolio consisted of two flagship systems: NanoTR, a nanosecond thermoreflectance instrument with 0.5ns time resolution capable of measuring films up to 20μm with cycle times under 60 seconds, and PicoTR, a picosecond thermoreflectance instrument with 1ps time resolution targeting sub-900nm films. Both systems supported rear-heating/front-detection and front-heating/front-detection configurations, enabling measurement on transparent and opaque substrates. Measurement results are traceable to AIST national reference material RM1301-a, and the underlying methodology became the basis for JIS R 1689 and JIS R 1690, Japanese Industrial Standards established in November 2011.

The company's revenue model combined capital equipment sales (NanoTR and PicoTR systems) with quote-based contract measurement and analysis services, primarily serving Japanese research institutions, universities, and semiconductor/electronics manufacturers requiring precise thermal characterization data. Sales motion was direct and enterprise-focused, with inbound inquiries, quotation, optional test measurements, and bespoke service delivery on payment terms of bank transfer by end of month following report delivery. Distribution was augmented through partnerships with Quantum Design Japan (from July 2011) and NETZSCH Japan (from January 2014). PicoTherm's headcount remained in the 1-10 employee range throughout its independent operating life. On October 30, 2020, PicoTherm joined the NETZSCH Group, and on July 1, 2021, it formally merged with NETZSCH Japan, ceasing to operate as an independent entity and becoming NETZSCH Japan K.K.'s Tsukuba Office. The company was led by President & CEO Kasuko Ishikawa and received recognition including the Joyo Business Awards Excellent Prize (Rose Award, 2013) and DBJ Women New Business Plan Competition finalist status (2013).

Name

PicoTherm

Legal name

株式会社ピコサーム (PicoTherm Corporation)

Website

https://pico-therm.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

PicoTherm is a Japan-based precision instrumentation company (AIST spinoff, now part of NETZSCH Japan) that commercializes pulsed light heating thermoreflectance systems (NanoTR, PicoTR) and contract analysis services for measuring thermal properties of thin films from 10nm to 20μm, serving research institutions and semiconductor/electronics manufacturers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tsukuba

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Measurement and Analysis Services: PicoTherm provides thin film thermal property measurement and analysis services. The process involves quotation, test measurements, and formal analysis with results reporting. Payment terms are typically bank transfer by end of month following reporting.
2. Thin Film Thermal Analysis Equipment Sales: Sale of NanoTR and PicoTR thin film thermal analysis systems for customers requiring in-house measurement capabilities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

PicoTherm develops, manufactures, and sells thin film thermophysical property measurement systems (NanoTR nanosecond and PicoTR picosecond thermoreflectance instruments) and provides outsourced measurement and analysis services for thin films. The instruments measure thermal diffusivity, thermal effusivity, thermal conductivity, and interfacial thermal resistance of metal, ceramic, and organic thin films on various substrates.

Product overview

PicoTherm develops and manufactures two primary thin film thermophysical property measurement systems: NanoTR (nanosecond thermoreflectance method) and PicoTR (picosecond thermoreflectance method). These instruments enable rapid, high-precision measurement of thermal diffusivity, thermal effusivity, thermal conductivity, and interfacial thermal resistance for thin films ranging from several 10s of nm to several 10s of μm on various substrates. The company complements its hardware offerings with contract analysis services using these systems. All products are traceable to Japanese national standards (JIS R 1689, JIS R 1690) and calibrated against AIST reference materials.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NanoTR Nanosecond thermoreflectance method thin film thermal analysis system for measuring thermal diffusivity, thermal effusivity, thermal conductivity, and interfacial thermal resistance of thin films with 0.5ns time resolution. Suitable for measuring metal films (1-20μm), ceramic films (300nm-5μm), and organic films (30nm-2μm) using RF or FF configuration. Measurement time under 60 seconds; optional high temperature measurement up to 300°C.
• PicoTR Picosecond thermoreflectance method thin film thermal analysis system offering the world's first measurement capability with 1ps time resolution for ultra-fast thermal property measurement. Designed for thinner films including metal films (100-900nm), ceramic films (10-300nm), and organic films (10-100nm). Measurement time under 5 minutes; optional high temperature measurement up to 500°C.
• Contract Analysis Services Outsourced measurement and analysis services using NanoTR and PicoTR systems, employing pulsed light heating thermoreflectance methods. Services include thermal diffusivity, thermal effusivity, thermal conductivity, and interfacial thermal resistance measurements for thin films on various substrates. Clients submit samples, receive quotations, and obtain measurement results.

Quantifiable outcome

• Measurement time of 60 seconds or less for NanoTR
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NETZSCH JapancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 October 2020PicoTherm joined the NETZSCH Group in October 2020 and merged with NETZSCH Japan on July 1, 2021, becoming NETZSCH Japan K.K.'s Tsukuba Office. NETZSCH is a manufacturer of thermal analysis instruments.
• NETZSCH JapancoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 24 January 2014Distributor agreement with NETZSCH Japan established January 2014 for sales of NanoTR and PicoTR products in Japan market.
• Quantum Design JapanminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 8 July 2011Distributor agreement with Quantum Design Japan established July 2011 for distribution in Japan.
• AIST (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology)coreTechnology or IntegrationAIST spinoff company. Technology originated from AIST research including thermal metrology standards. Measurement traceability to AIST national standards (RM1301-a).
• TX Entrepreneur Partners (TEP)minorOthersListed as related link partner. TEP is a venture capital and entrepreneurship support organization in the Tsukuba area.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Hitachi High-Tech: Diversified Japanese analytical-instrument maker (electron microscopes, mass spectrometers, thermal analysis). Comparable to PicoTherm as a fellow Japan-headquartered analytical-instruments supplier to research and electronics customers, though at vastly larger scale and scope.
• TA Instruments (Waters): Major thermal-analysis instrument maker (DSC, TGA, DLF, Discovery Xenon Flash) serving materials and life-science labs. Comparable to PicoTherm as a fellow thermal-property measurement equipment provider to research institutions and industrial R&D, with overlapping buyer personas.
• Shimadzu: Major Japanese analytical and measurement-instrument manufacturer (spectroscopy, chromatography, thermal analysis). Comparable to PicoTherm as a Japan-based broad analytical-instruments incumbent selling into the same Japanese semiconductor, electronics, and academic customer base.
• Mettler Toledo: Global precision instruments company with thermal-analysis product lines (DSC, TGA, flash diffusivity). Comparable to PicoTherm in serving laboratory customers needing thermal property characterization, though Mettler covers a much broader instrument portfolio.
• HORIBA Scientific: Japanese-headquartered scientific-instrument company with material characterization and analytical solutions. Comparable as a broad analytical-instrument peer selling into semiconductor and advanced-materials research customers who also buy thin-film thermal-property data.
• NETZSCH Group: Parent company of PicoTherm since 2020/2021 and a global leader in thermal analysis (DSC, TGA, LFA, etc.). Directly comparable because NETZSCH offers overlapping thermal-conductivity/diffusivity instruments, but at a much broader portfolio scale and across different measurement modalities (e.g., laser flash) versus PicoTherm's thermoreflectance niche.

Direct peers

• Linseis Thermal Analysis: Specialist manufacturer of thermal-conductivity, thermodilatometry, and thermoelectric measurement instruments. Directly comparable to PicoTherm as a focused thermal-property instrument vendor, including thin-film and material-level thermal characterization used in semiconductor and ceramics research.
• Hot Disk AB: Swedish developer of transient plane source (TPS) instruments for thermal-conductivity, diffusivity, and specific-heat measurement of materials. Directly comparable to PicoTherm as a specialist provider of thermal-property measurement systems to research institutions and industrial materials labs.
• Thermtest: Specialist in thermal-conductivity and thermal-resistance measurement instruments (transient plane source, transient hot wire, etc.). Directly comparable to PicoTherm as a focused thermal-property instrument vendor competing for similar materials-research and electronics thermal-design budgets.
• Kyoto Electronics Manufacturing: Japanese manufacturer of thermal conductivity meters, particle-size analyzers, and moisture meters. Directly comparable to PicoTherm as a Japan-based specialist in thermal property measurement serving electronics and materials customers, with overlapping buyer set in Japanese R&D labs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PicoTherm