Staying ahead of the technology curve means strengthening your competitive advantage. That is why we give you data-driven innovation insights into the materials industry. This time, you get to discover 5 hand-picked startups developing antenna arrays.
Global Startup Heat Map highlights 5 Top Startups developing Antenna Arrays out of 238
The insights of this data-driven analysis are derived from the Big Data & Artificial Intelligence-powered StartUs Insights Discovery Platform, covering 2.093.000+ startups & scaleups globally. The platform gives you an exhaustive overview of emerging technologies & relevant startups within a specific field in just a few clicks.
The Global Startup Heat Map below reveals the distribution of the 238 exemplary startups & scaleups we analyzed for this research. Further, it highlights 5 materials startups that we hand-picked based on criteria such as founding year, location, funding raised, and more. You get to explore the solutions of these 5 startups & scaleups in this report. For insights on the other 233 antenna arrays, get in touch.
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ALCAN Systems develops a Liquid Crystal-Based Phased-Array Antenna
The advent of next-generation mobile networks demands the use of materials capable of sustaining higher bandwidth while providing low latency. Companies often redesign or replace materials in conventional metal antennas to improve transmission efficiency for 5G and mmWave frequencies. One such novel material, liquid crystals (LCs), present cost- and energy-efficient solutions for wireless transmission. This is why startups are incorporating LCs in innovative smart antenna structures and designs.
German startup ALCAN Systems develops flat and ultra-thin transparent antennas. The startup utilizes microwave liquid crystal technology to produce 5G mmWave antennas. Its patented technology reduces capital (CAPEX) and operating expenditures (OPEX). ALCAN Systems utilizes liquid crystals, which are transparent in nature, to address the issue of visible equipment. The startup’s transparent, printed antennas use liquid crystal material, held together with transparent glass, and integrated with metal/conductive elements. Its phased array antennas find applications in satellite communication, telecommunication, and connected mobility.
FlexGhz creates Antennas from Ceramic Material
Smart antennas use materials with high permittivity values and temperature stability to achieve increased bandwidth and network frequency. The conventional antenna production process and its materials are not amenable to modification after manufacturing. However, flexible materials like ceramic composites are – plus, they also present a low dielectric loss solution. Also, ceramic materials are 3D printable, compatible with miniaturization, and multiple customizable and, thus, offer many opportunities for smart antenna applications.
Polish startup FlexGhz develops 5G antennas based on ceramic polymer composites. The composite layer thickness is below 0.1 mm. The startup designs and manufactures beam-steering antennas compatible with 5G applications. FlexGhz’s ceramic composites have highly tunable electrical properties which are applicable to produce antennas, detectors, electrodes, and more.
Mantid offers Metamaterial Antennas
Traditional phased array antennas require active phase shifters or amplifiers and also consume more power for functioning. Metamaterials present a novel approach to designing lightweight and thin antenna arrays with higher bandwidth compatibility. Metamaterial-based phased array antennas have wider angle scanning and high beam performance, consume less power, and do not require the use of active phase shifters or amplifiers.
Italian startup Mantid designs and develops antennas based on metamaterials. Mantid utilizes metamaterials to reduce the size and produce miniaturized antennas. Metamaterials also improve antenna parameters such as enhancing bandwidth, increasing gain, or generating multiband frequencies of antenna operation. Mantid uses full-wave 3D simulation and fast-prototyping tools to support electromagnetic-wave propagation, including RFID systems, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
Polytenna Technologies manufactures Polymer Antenna Solutions
There is a growing demand for flexible antenna solutions for use in wearable devices, IoT infrastructure, 5G, and wireless sensors. The materials for flexible antennas need to have certain characteristics, including higher tolerance to mechanical deformations, endurance to harsh environments, susceptibility to miniaturization and should be mass-producible to meet the demand. Although companies are developing innovative materials, they generally lack scalability in production. Polymer-based materials, on the contrary, provide scalability as well as robustness, high wettability, and stretchability.
Canadian startup Polytenna Technologies provides polymer-based antenna solutions. The startup utilizes plastic material and proprietary precision volume microfabrication to manufacture antennas. The company replaces metal with plastic as it is easier to fabricate and cost-effective. Polytenna Technologies designs a triple band universal mmWave antenna solution. The startup’s smart phased array antennas are compatible with 5G, covering 26 GHz, 28 GHz, and 39 GHz band applications.
CHASM Advanced Materials specializes in Carbon Nanotechnology
Conventionally, copper, owing to its high malleability, rigidity, and increased electrical efficiency, is used to produce patch or microstrip antennas. However, this does not enable the placement of multiple antennas in proximity for IoT and 5G applications. Materials startups offer novel carbon nanotube technology that provides high conductivity, sheet resistance, and transparency.
US-based startup CHASM Advanced Materials develops and manufactures printed electronic materials, antennas, and battery materials. The startup’s proprietary technology is based on carbon nanotechnology and hybrid materials. It utilizes AgeNT transparent carbon nanotube (CNT) hybrid materials to produce transparent printed antennas for IoT and 5G use cases.
Discover more Materials Startups
Materials startups such as the examples highlighted in this report focus on advanced composites, lightweighting, nanotechnology as well as smart materials. While all of these technologies play a major role in advancing the materials industry, they only represent the tip of the iceberg. To explore more materials technologies, simply get in touch to let us look into your areas of interest. For a more general overview, you can download our free Materials Innovation Report to save your time and improve strategic decision-making.
