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VTT established a joint venture together with Italian Kiian and Itaca Nova
13.09.2007
Identification of original products becomes easier
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and the two Italian companies have established a joint venture, Nicanti Oy, to commercialise a new product identification solution. It is based on electrical code technology developed by VTT and ink technology developed by the printing ink manufacturer Kiian and the nanotechnology developer Itaca Nova. The first applications of Nicanti electrical code technology products will be in product authentication. The technology is based on printed, invisible, electrical coding that enables original product authentication in a cost-effective way.
The joint venture company, Nicanti Oy, is based in Finland. The company’s
majority owner is Kiian and minority owners are VTT, Itaca Nova and the
company’s management.
“The solution that will be
commercialised by Nicanti is an extension to the RFID technology development
done at VTT. Compared to RFID product identification, the new solution is more
cost-effective,” says Research Professor Heikki Seppä from
VTT.
“VTT has already for several years invested in
researching and developing printed smart and printed electronics technologies.
VTT’s Center for Printed Intelligence combines IT, electronics and printing
technologies with the aim to promote commercialisation of new research results
and products. The field of printed smart technologies enables many new
application possibilities and Nicanti’s new kind of smart product is an
example of a solution suitable for mass production for global markets,” says
Research Professor Harri Kopola, Director of the Center for Printed
Intelligence at VTT.
”Itaca Nova is actively involved in
nanotechnology field through its research and development resources and
partnerships. Our current projects are focused on exploiting their potential
for the Nicanti products,” says Alfredo Spreafico, Managing
Director of Itaca Nova.
“Kiian inks and related products
cover screen printing, digital, flexo- and gravure applications for graphics,
industrial and textile markets all over the world. Our investment in Nicanti
shows our commitment to the advanced security markets,” says Harutiun
Manoukian, President and CEO of Kiian.
“Kiian has been
working on intelligent inks and related printing applications since many
years. We believe that our technology will bring innovative materials to
Nicanti solutions for product and brand authentication,” says Franco
Fattorini, Deputy Chairman of Kiian.
Kiian, a fast
growing Italian industrial enterprise, is one of the leading international
inks group. Kiian inks and related products cover screen printing, digital,
flexo- and gravure applications. Main markets are graphics, industrial and
textile segments all over the world.
Itaca Nova is a young
Italian R&D company mainly focused in nanotechnology, polymer technology and
green chemistry fields.