What Inst. of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, NCSR"Demokritos" does

The Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (INN) is a public research institute operating within NCSR Demokritos, described as the largest research center in Greece. INN conducts fundamental and applied research across five thematic areas — Chemical Sciences for Nanostructures & Biological Applications, Cultural Heritage, Magnetism & Superconductivity Advanced Materials & Applications, Nanochemistry & Nanomaterials, and Nanoelectronics, Photonics & Microsystems — organized into 30+ specialized research groups. The institute maintains ISO/9001:2008-certified research infrastructure including a 300m² Clean Room Facility (Nanotechnology and Microsystems Laboratory) with class 100 (ISO 5) and class 1000 (ISO 6) cleanliness, a RAITH EBPG 5000plusES electron beam lithography system capable of sub-20nm patterning, and a comprehensive deposition and characterization equipment portfolio spanning CVD, ALD, PVD, MBE, MBE, AFM, SEM, TEM, and NMR systems.

INN's offerings are structured as shared research infrastructure services rather than commercial products, organized into Deposition, Chemical Synthesis, Micro- & Nano-Fabrication, Structural Characterization, Physical/Chemical Characterization, and Analytical service categories. It operates major externally funded projects including the Hellenic Chips Competence Center (HCCC, Chips JU, 2025–2029) where it leads Technical Knowledge Transfer, the 3GPV-4INDUSTRY flagship project (Greece 2.0 National Recovery and Resilience Fund) for third-generation photovoltaics, and participates in European platforms NFFA, INFRACHIP, and Innovation-el.

Name

Inst. of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, NCSR"Demokritos"

Legal name

Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (INN) of NCSR Demokritos

Website

https://inn.demokritos.gr

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

INN is a public research institute within NCSR Demokritos, Greece's largest research center, providing ISO-certified clean-room nanofabrication and characterization infrastructure across five nanoscience areas, serving academic, industrial, and SME users via EU and nationally funded projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nanotechnology Research Infrastructure Services

NAICS

Research and Development in Nanotechnology (541713)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Design Services & ASIC/SoC Implementation (EDA-Adjacent) (HDAHAFAL)

Keywords

• Nanoscience research
• Nanofabrication services
• Clean room facilities
• Semiconductor processing
• Materials characterization

Headquarters

HQ city

Agia Paraskevi

HQ country

Greece

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. Public Research Funding: INN operates as a public research institute under NCSR Demokritos, funded primarily through competitive national and European research grants, government funding programs, and institutional allocations. Revenue is not generated from commercial product sales but from research project funding.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

INN is a public research institute providing shared research infrastructure services and conducting research across five main areas of nanoscience and nanotechnology. Its core offering is access to an ISO/9001:2008-certified Clean Room Facility (NML) with full semiconductor processing capabilities (lithography, etching, deposition, ion implantation, metallization, dicing) and a comprehensive suite of deposition, chemical synthesis, structural, physical/chemical, and analytical characterization tools. Services are delivered to academic, industrial, and government users via funded research projects, technology transfer, and participation in European research platforms (NFFA, INFRACHIP, Innovation-el, HCCC).

Product overview

INN (Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology) of NCSR Demokritos is the largest research center in Greece, operating as a research institute — not a commercial product company. It provides a broad portfolio of shared research infrastructure services and five major research programs. Its infrastructure offerings include deposition services (ALD, CVD, PVD, sputtering, MBE, evaporation, laser ablation), chemical synthesis (nanomaterials, organic, inorganic), and a flagship Clean Room Facility (NML, ISO/9001:2008-certified, 300m², class 100/1000 ISO) for micro- and nano-fabrication including optical lithography, e-beam lithography, RIE, ion implantation, LPCVD, metal evaporation, dicing, and thermal processing. Structural, physical/chemical, and analytical characterization services are also provided. The five research areas — Chemical Sciences for Nanostructures & Biological Applications, Cultural Heritage, Magnetism & Superconductivity, Nanochemistry & Nanomaterials, and Nanoelectronics, Photonics & Microsystems — each comprise multiple specialized research groups. Major funded projects include the Hellenic Chips Competence Center (HCCC, Chips JU, 2025–2029) where INN leads technical knowledge transfer, and the 3GPV-4INDUSTRY flagship project (TAEDR0537347) developing third-generation photovoltaics. Services are offered to academic, industrial, and government users via open access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Clean Room Facility (NML) – Micro- & Nano-Fabrication ISO/9001:2008-certified Nanotechnology and Microsystems Laboratory (NML) clean room providing full semiconductor processing for micro-nanofabrication, nanoelectronics, photonics, sensors, and Microsystems including BioMEMS. Features 300m² of class 100 (ISO 5) and class 1000 (ISO 6) space, offering optical lithography, e-beam lithography, reactive ion etching, ion implantation, LPCVD, metal evaporation, dicing saw, and thermal processing. Available to academic, industrial, and government users via open access.
• Research Infrastructure – Deposition Services Deposition services including evaporators, laser ablation, atomic layer deposition (ALD), physical vapor deposition (PVD), sputtering, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), and molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), enabling thin-film material growth for academic and industrial users.
• Research Infrastructure – Chemical Synthesis Services Chemical synthesis services covering nanomaterials, organic, and inorganic synthesis capabilities for researchers and industry partners.
• Research Infrastructure – Structural Characterization Structural characterization services including atomic force microscopy (AFM), liquid-state high-resolution NMR (LS HR-NMR), optical profilometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray systems.
• Research Infrastructure – Physical/Chemical Characterization Physical and chemical characterization services including gamma-irradiation sources, XPS-UPS-ARPES, vibrational spectroscopy, electrical, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), magnetic, mechanical, Mössbauer, nanoporous, optical, particle size analysis, solid-state NMR, and thermal analysis.
• Research Infrastructure – Analytical Services Analytical services including stable isotopes, chromatography/mass spectrometry, optically stimulated luminescence (OSL), and radiocarbon dating.
• Hellenic Chips Competence Center (HCCC) Services HCCC is Greece's national hub for semiconductor and microelectronics innovation, providing connection to design platforms and pilot lines, technical knowledge transfer via INN's clean room, skills and training in semiconductor fabrication and circuit design, and business/investment networking events. INN leads Technical Knowledge Transfer activities within the Chips JU co-funded project (2025–2029).
• 3GPV-4INDUSTRY – Third Generation Photovoltaics for Industry A flagship project (TAEDR 0537347) funded by Greece 2.0 – National Recovery and Resilience Fund, developing efficient third-generation photovoltaic (PV) materials and devices (perovskite, organic, quantum dot) to enhance competitiveness in green energy production. Led by INN with seven partner institutions. Covers synthesis, device fabrication, upscaling (Roll-to-Roll, Sheet-to-Sheet), durability testing, and industrial exploitation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8 INN researchers (10% of total researchers) among top 2% of world scientists per Stanford List 2024
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered major.

• Chips JU (Chips Joint Undertaking)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025HCCC project is supported by Chips JU and its members, co-funded by the European Union and the Greek Government via the Competitiveness Programme. INN serves as core partner leading Technical Knowledge Transfer activities.
• NFFA EuropemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025INN and NCSR Demokritos participate in the NFFA project offering FREE access to experimental services including synthesis, characterization, theoretical modeling, and lithography services.
• INFRACHIPmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025European platform for sustainable development of next generation and future semiconductors chips. INN offers access to its clean room facilities as part of this platform.
• Innovation-elmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Gateway to the Greek Infrastructure Network for Nanotechnology, Advanced Materials and Micro/Nanoelectronics. INN facilities are accessible through this network.
• National Hellenic Research FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 August 2023Partnership consortium member in the 3GPV-4INDUSTRY flagship project. National Hellenic Research Foundation (EIE) participates alongside NCSR Demokritos in the development of efficient third generation PV materials and devices.
• Aristotle University of ThessalonikimajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 August 2023Consortium partner in 3GPV-4INDUSTRY project focusing on upscaling of perovskite and organic PV arrays. Contributes to work packages on flexible organic electronics and large-scale manufacturing.
• Hellenic Mediterranean UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 August 2023Consortium partner in 3GPV-4INDUSTRY focused on durability testing of third generation PV under indoor and outdoor conditions. Also contributes graphene and 2D nanomaterials development.
• University of PeloponnesemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 August 2023Consortium partner contributing expertise in metal oxide development, perovskite PV devices on flexible substrates, and inkjet printing processes for large-scale manufacturing.
• University of PatrasmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 August 2023Consortium partner specializing in advanced polymers and hybrid nanomaterials development, electron donor-acceptor materials, green solvents, and life cycle analysis.
• University of IoanninamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 August 2023Consortium partner contributing computational modeling, multi-scale calculations, SAXS/WAXS, dielectric spectroscopy, and materials characterization expertise.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Fraunhofer Institute (e.g., IPMS, IZM): Germany's applied research network with multiple institutes conducting microelectronics, MEMS, and nanotechnology R&D for industry. Comparable in the applied research and industry-collaboration model, though operates at a much larger scale with a stronger commercialization mandate than INN.
• CSIC - Spanish National Research Council: Spain's largest public research institution with multiple institutes covering materials science, nanoscience, and microelectronics. Comparable in mission and Southern European public-research positioning to INN, though at significantly larger scale with a broader research portfolio.
• Forschungszentrum Jülich: Germany's large multidisciplinary research center with significant nanotechnology and materials science programs. Comparable in mission as a public research institution, but operates at considerably greater scale and breadth than INN.
• CNR - Italian National Research Council: Italy's largest public research organization with multiple institutes conducting nanoscience, materials, and microelectronics research. Comparable as a Southern European public research institution, though at a substantially larger scale than INN with broader research scope.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Finland's national research institution with significant microelectronics, nanotechnology, and clean room capabilities. Comparable as a publicly-funded applied research organization serving industry, but VTT operates at a substantially larger scale and broader scope than INN.

Direct peers

• Tyndall National Institute: Ireland's national microelectronics and nanotechnology research center with ISO-certified clean room facilities. Comparable to INN as a small-to-medium European public research institute focused on semiconductor, photonics, and microsystems research for academic and industry users.
• CEA-Leti: France's leading micro- and nanotechnologies research institute. Operates clean room infrastructure for semiconductor, MEMS, and photonics R&D, serving academic and industrial clients. Directly comparable to INN in mission, infrastructure, and customer base within the European public-research landscape.
• IMEC: Belgium-based global leader in semiconductor R&D and nanotechnology. Operates a state-of-the-art clean room facility similar to INN's NML, providing nanoelectronics and process technology research services. Directly comparable as a publicly-supported research center offering nanofabrication access to academic and industrial users across Europe.
• ICN2 (Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology): Spain's flagship nanoscience and nanotechnology research institute. Comparable in scale and scope to INN, with research areas spanning nanoelectronics, nanomedicine, and nanomaterials, and operating advanced characterization and fabrication infrastructure.

Emerging players

• NIMS - National Institute for Materials Science: Japan's national institute for materials science research with significant nanotechnology and clean room capabilities. Comparable in focus area (nanomaterials, nanoelectronics, characterization), though at a larger scale and with a different geographic market focus than INN.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/inn-ncsrd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Inst. of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, NCSR"Demokritos"