XRnanotech GmbH
XRnanotech is a Swiss deep-tech company specializing in advanced X-ray optics and nanotechnology, delivering high-precision nanostructures and optics for scientific, industrial, and commercial applications.
About
XRnanotech is a Swiss deep-tech manufacturer and innovator in advanced X-ray optics and nanotechnology, established in 2020 as a spin-off from over a decade of research at the Paul Scherrer Institute. The company develops and fabricates ultra-high-precision nanostructures and diffractive optical elements, including world-record resolution Fresnel zone plates, ultra-stable diamond optics, and custom 2D and 3D nanostructures. XRnanotech serves global customers in research, industry, space, and telecommunications, pushing the boundaries of optical resolution, efficiency, and stability. Their mission is to enable optical instruments worldwide to reach their full potential through innovative nano-optics solutions. The company operates a 1000 m² ISO 4 cleanroom in Villigen, Switzerland, equipped with state-of-the-art lithography, etching, and deposition tools.
Products & Services
- Fresnel zone plates (standard, high aspect ratio, blazed, multi-step)
- Specialized and achromatic X-ray zone plates
- X-ray lenses (compound refractive, zone plates, prism lenses, zoom lenses)
- Blazed gratings and greyscale structures
- Diamond optics (zone plates, gratings, beamsplitters, test targets)
- Gratings and beam splitters
- Custom design optics (multi-focus, spiral zone plates, refractive lenses, off-axis designs)
- Micro CT test targets and resolution test patterns (Siemens star, USAF, Yxlon, NanoXSpot)
- 3D nanostructures (phase corrector plates, kinoform lenses, Siemens stars)
- Photonics and foundry services (nanophotonic circuits, microlenses, SOI waveguides, cleanroom services)
- Test targets and calibration standards for micro-CT
- Membranes and coated membranes (standard, custom, for liquid cells)
- Beamline supplies (pinholes, central stops, nanowires, beam shapers)
- Cleanroom manufacturing, custom nanofabrication, and consultancy services
- Nanostructured watch parts with Swiss precision
Use Cases & Case Studies
- Synchrotron-based X-ray microscopy and imaging systems
- Micro-CT calibration and test targets for imaging systems
- Radiation-resistant diamond optics for XFEL (free electron lasers)
- Nanostructured components for advanced watchmaking and horology
- Photonics integrated circuits (SOI, waveguides, resonators)
- Holograms and diffractive optical elements for sensors and display
- Metrology and quality assurance in high-resolution imaging
Partnerships & Collaborations
- Collaboration and expanded product offering with Microworks GmbH (X-ray optics, gratings, TALINT system)
- Product integration and photonics solutions with Swiss‑PIC
- Deep research partnership with Paul Scherrer Institute, Switzerland
- Member of the ESA BIC CH (European Space Agency Business Incubation Centre)
- Business Incubation Centre of CERN Technologies
- Collaboration with Swiss Nanoscience Institute, Basel
Awards & Recognition
- Swiss Product Excellence Award 2024
- European Space Agency Business Incubation Centre (ESA BIC CH) Incubator Award
- CERN Business Incubation Centre (BIC) Technologies Incubator Award
- Gerbert Rüf Foundation Innobooster Project Award
- Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI) Founder Fellowship
- Venture Lab, Venture Kick Award
- Swiss Nanoscience Institute’s NanoArgovia Project Award
- LEAPS-INNOV Consortium Award
- Innosuisse Scale Up Coaching
- SWISSMEM Photonics Innovation Booster
- Innosuisse Trade Fair Program for Start-Ups
- MassChallenge Switzerland Award
- W.A. de Vigier Foundation 2021 Award (Top 17)
- Nextcorps Luminate Award (runner-up)
- Swiss Nanoconvention “Best Start-Up Award” 2023
- Swiss Innovation Challenge Finalist
- Swiss Nanoscience Institute’s NanoArgovia Project CAPOFOX
- Hello Tomorrow Global Challenge Deep Tech Pioneer Award
- Nextcorps Manufacturing Accelerator Award
- EIPBN Start-Up Competition Winner
Contact Information
Certifications & Compliance
- ISO 4/cleanroom class 10 certified cleanroom (1000 m²)
- ISO 5–7 (nanofabrication for watch parts)