Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology Research Center (CINN)

What Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology Research Center (CINN) does

CINN (Centro de Investigación en Nanomateriales y Nanotecnología) is a Spanish public research institution jointly governed by CSIC, the University of Oviedo, and the Principality of Asturias, headquartered in El Entrego, Asturias, with additional facilities in Oviedo and Sotrondio. Founded in 2005–2007, the center conducts multidisciplinary research bridging materials science and biology, with core technical capabilities in Spark Plasma Sintering (including industrial-scale 400mm-diameter equipment unique in Spain), nanostructured ceramics, graphene nanocomposites, quantum electronics and spintronics, nanomedicine, and advanced characterization (electron microscopy, electromagnetic characterization, nanofabrication via lithography). Its portfolio spans four application domains: Health (bone grafts, dental CAD-CAM materials, antimicrobial coatings, epigenetics, oncology nanotherapies), Advanced Materials (ultrastable ceramics, ultrahard metal-ceramic composites, EDM-machinable ceramics, transparent ceramics), Big Science (heat sinks and IR windows for CERN's HL-LHC), and ICT (quantum devices, 3D magnetic logic memory).

CINN generates funding through three primary streams: (1) competitive public research grants from Horizon Europe, NextGenerationEU/PRTR, MICIU/AEI, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, AECC, Red.es, and Principado de Asturias; (2) direct R&D contracts with industrial partners (62 active contracts disclosed); and (3) fee-for-service scientific-technical work through 7 catalog services listed in the CSIC Portfolio of Scientific and Technological Services, with tiered pricing for CSIC, university, and external clients. The center has produced 1,011 scientific publications, 94 invited conferences, 54 doctoral theses, 122 R&D projects, and 67 patent applications. It operates under a sales-led, contract-driven go-to-market where research collaboration and custom material development with industrial and Big Science partners (notably Nanoker Research SL and CERN) drive customer acquisition.

Name

Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology Research Center (CINN)

Legal name

Centro de Investigación en Nanomateriales y Nanotecnología (CINN)

Website

https://cinn.es

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CINN is a Spanish public research center jointly governed by CSIC, the University of Oviedo, and the Principality of Asturias, providing multidisciplinary nanomaterials and nanotechnology R&D, seven scientific-technical services, and 67 patent applications across healthcare, advanced materials, Big Science, and ICT applications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

El Entrego

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Scientific-Technical Services: Fee-for-service scientific and technical services including electron microscopy, electromagnetic characterization, SPS sintering, biocompatibility studies, microbiological studies, EDM machining, and histological sample preparation. Services are offered to CSIC institutions, universities, and external clients.
2. Research Contracts with Companies: Direct contracts with industrial partners for R&D collaboration, technology development, and specialized material development. CINN has 62 contracts with companies.
3. Public Research Funding: Governmental and EU research grants including Horizon Europe projects, Spanish MICIU/AEI funding, Principality of Asturias grants, and institutional funding from CSIC and University of Oviedo.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

CINN operates a portfolio of seven scientific-technical services (Spark Plasma Sintering, Microbiological Studies, Electron Microscopy, Electromagnetic Characterization, Biocompatibility Studies, Electrodischarge Machining, and Histological Sample Preparation) alongside a Nanotechnology Unit for nanofabrication. The center conducts multidisciplinary research in nanomaterials and nanotechnology spanning advanced ceramics, biomaterials, quantum devices, and graphene, with outputs including 1,011 scientific publications, 67 patent applications, and 62 active contracts with companies.

Product overview

CINN is a research center jointly managed by CSIC, University of Oviedo, and Principality of Asturias that provides a portfolio of 7 scientific-technical services (Spark Plasma Sintering, Microbiological Studies, Electron Microscopy, Electromagnetic Characterization, Biocompatibility Studies, Electrodischarge Machining, and Histological Sample Preparation) alongside research in Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology. The center operates across four main application domains: Health (including epigenetics, bone grafts, dental materials, and antimicrobial treatments), Advanced Materials (ultrastable ceramics, graphene, EDM ceramics, ultrahard composites, functional ceramics), Big Science (heat sinks, IR windows for particle accelerators), and ICT (quantum electronics, information storage). Additional services include a Nanotechnology Unit for nanofabrication and a 3D Museum for heritage applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) Service Non-conventional sintering service using high uniaxial pressure and high-intensity pulsed current to obtain fine microstructures in short periods while avoiding undesirable phase transformations. Equipment includes HP D 25 (80mm samples) and H-HP D 400 (400mm samples with hybrid Hot-Press/SPS, 4000 kN force). Offered to CSIC institutions, universities, and external industrial clients for advanced ceramic and composite material development.
• Microbiological Studies Service Antimicrobial efficacy testing of surfaces, medical devices, plastics, fibers and fabrics, plus preservative analysis for cosmetics, paints and foods. Tests follow ASTM E2149, ISO 22196, ISO 20743, ISO 20645, and ASTM D2574 standards in a BSL-2 laboratory. Serves CSIC, university, and industrial clients needing standardized microbiology testing.
• Electron Microscopy Service Transmission Electron Microscopy service for analysis of biological samples at cellular and subcellular scale, including tissues, cellular and bacterial cultures, viruses, subcellular structures, and macromolecules. Equipment includes JEOL 1011 TEM with CCD camera, Leica EM ICE high-pressure freezer, and Leica EM AFS2 cryosubstitution system. Tiered pricing for CSIC, universities, and external clients (e.g., €55.85/€58.64/€64.23 for ultrathin section cutting).
• Electromagnetic Characterization Service Optical, magneto-optical and dielectric characterization of materials including thin films (metals, semiconductors, dielectrics) and dense materials. Equipment includes a SOPRA GES-5E ellipsometer, impedance spectroscopy (Newton N4), and vector network analyzer (PLANAR 804/1). Supports advanced materials and ICT research programs at CINN.
• Biocompatibility Studies Service Biological evaluation of medical devices following ISO 10993 protocols, including in vitro cytotoxicity testing across three categories (extract, direct contact, indirect contact), plus special tests for hemocompatibility, apoptosis assessment, and immune response activation. Targeted at medical device manufacturers requiring regulatory biocompatibility evidence.
• Electrodischarge Machining (EDM) Service Manufacturing service using electrical discharges to remove material from workpieces via ONA AFV35 wire cutting EDM equipment. Capabilities include surface quality up to 0.2 μm Ra, precision conical cutting ±30°/87mm, and XY axes 600×400mm travel. Particularly suited to machining electrically conductive nanostructured ceramics developed in-house.
• Preparation of Histological Samples for Implantology Service Laboratory service for histological section preparation in biological samples with metal or ceramic implants, using EXAKT cutting and polishing systems for hard materials. Supports biomedical research, implant development, and biocompatibility assessment workflows.
• Nanotechnology Unit (Nanofabrication & Nanoscale Characterization) Nanofabrication and nanoscale characterization service offering fabrication of micro and nanostructures using optical and electron beam lithography, plus characterization via scanning probe microscopy (STM, AFM in air and liquid cells, magnetic force microscopy). Located at the University of Oviedo's Severo Ochoa building; serves academic and industrial clients.
• Heat Sinks for Big Science Applications Bulk carbon-ceramic composite heat sinks with ultrahigh thermal conductivities close to diamond or graphene, designed for cooling components in extreme conditions such as HL-LHC collimators at CERN. Developed jointly with industrial partner Nanoker Research SL.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ceramic nanocomposite materials with CTE lower than 1×10-6 K-1 in temperature range (-150°C to +150°C)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability7 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• CSIC (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCINN is a joint center of CSIC, the largest public research institution in Spain. CSIC provides institutional framework, funding, and shared governance for the research center.
• University of OviedocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint governance partner providing academic integration, research personnel, student training, and access to university facilities including the Severo Ochoa building for the Nanotechnology Unit.
• Principality of AsturiascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional government partner providing institutional support, funding for regional research programs, and collaborative projects including INVESTIGO youth employment in research program.
• Nanoker Research SLmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial partner collaborating on development of HL-LHC collimators and advanced ceramic materials. Example: development of carbon-ceramic composite heat sinks for the High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• TNO (Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research): Dutch applied research organization with extensive work in advanced materials, characterization services, and industrial contract research. Comparable operating model (publicly funded R&D with industrial contracts) but at much greater scale and broader scope.
• Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems (IKTS): Germany's leading applied research institute for advanced ceramics, structurally similar in mission (publicly funded applied R&D with industrial contracts) and directly competitive in SPS, transparent ceramics, and ceramic nanocomposites, but at much larger scale.
• Leti (CEA): France's leading applied research center for microelectronics and nanotechnology, comparable in nanofabrication capabilities and advanced materials research. Much larger scale and broader portfolio including semiconductor process technologies.
• Empa (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology): Switzerland's federal materials science research institute, much larger than CINN with broader application coverage (energy, construction, mobility). Comparable in advanced ceramics and nanomaterials research but operates at significantly greater scale with more established industrial translation.

Direct peers

• Nanoker Research SL: Spanish private spin-off that is also a CINN industrial partner and jointly-controlled subsidiary. Specializes in advanced ceramic materials for Big Science applications (HL-LHC collimators), directly overlapping CINN's advanced ceramics and heat sink product lines.
• ICN2 (Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology): Spain's other flagship public nanotechnology research center, jointly backed by CSIC, Generalitat de Catalunya, and UAB. Directly comparable to CINN in mission, scope (nanomaterials, nanomedicine, quantum devices), institutional governance model, and funding structure.
• CIC nanoGUNE: Basque Country nanoscience research center with similar focus on nanomaterials characterization, nanofabrication, and quantum technologies. Comparable in size and operates as a public-private consortium with industry partnerships, similar to CINN's CSIC model.
• Leibniz Institute for New Materials (INM): German public research institute specializing in nanomaterials and innovative materials for applications in energy, electronics, and healthcare. Comparable mission, similar structure as a publicly funded research center with industry partnerships.
• ICMM-CSIC (Institute of Materials Science of Madrid): A sister CSIC institute focused on materials science research. Shares CINN's institutional affiliation with CSIC and overlaps significantly in advanced ceramics, functional materials, and materials characterization, though based in Madrid rather than Asturias.

Emerging players

• CIC biomaGUNE: Basque research center focused on bionanomaterials and biomedical applications of nanotechnology. Comparable to CINN's nanomedicine workstream (e.g., osteosarcoma nanotherapy, antimicrobial coatings) with similar institutional structure but smaller advanced-materials scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutu.be/p2Tb84aVyvg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nanomaterials-and-nanotechnology-research-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology Research Center (CINN)