Finland-based Canatu has signed a 24-month joint development agreement (JDA) with a global automotive technology supplier to develop a next-generation carbon nanotube (CNT) film heater concept integrated into automotive glass.
The aim of the JDA is to create an improved material configuration for Canatu’s film heaters, with a focus on better compatibility with automotive glass components.
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As part of the joint programme, Canatu and its partner will work to refine the material stack to support smooth integration of the CNT film heater within laminated glass.
Canatu said the resulting approach is intended to bring cost efficiencies by making heater integration simpler, while maintaining high performance standards.
The value of the JDA is in the lowest quartile of Canatu’s “Small” category, which is defined as less than €1m.
The associated revenue is expected to be recognised over the 24-month term of the agreement, the company said in its press statement.
Canatu said it sees “significant potential” for future commercialisation opportunities arising from the joint development programme.
It added that any such opportunities are strongly dependent on the programme’s outcomes and would be realised over a longer timeframe.
Juha Kokkonen, CEO of Canatu, said: “This joint development programme represents an important step toward more cost-efficient integration of our CNT heaters into windshields, enabling higher production volumes, while also paving the way for full windshield heating in the future.”
Canatu was founded in 2004 as a spin-off from Aalto University’s Nanomaterials Group and currently has 145 full-time equivalent employees. It also operates in the US, Japan and Taiwan.
