Aivon Oy was established in May 2006 as a VTT spin-off, when two researchers with entrepreneurial spirit considered the time right for launching business activities. The partners were in addition to
Heikki Seppä, research professor at VTT, and
Jari Penttilä, Doctor of Science (Technology), leading the operations of the company, Juha Koskinen from Wellcon Development Oy and VTT Ventures.
The image shows the core of Aivon, i.e. Heikki Seppä and Jari Penttilä in front of VTT’s THz security camera. The superconductive bolometer sensors of the camera detect e.g. explosives and weapons concealed under clothing, because they transmit and reflect THz radiation in a manner different from a person’s skin
”The organizational reform at VTT at the beginning of 2006 allowed VTT to support research-oriented business activities as well as to be involved as a partner. The support measures of VTT to one deciding to start his enterprise made my own solution considerable easier. Researchers have the opportunity to work part-time at the same time when they are launching their entrepreneurial activities. My own a few years’ leave of absence from VTT will end at the turn of the year. My enterprise has started during this period well, and therefore, it is possible for me to become a full-time entrepreneur with a light heart,
Jari Penttilä tells us about the early stages of the company.
The principal products of Aivon Oy include SQUIDs - superconductive quantum interference devices i.e. magnetic field sensors. By means of a SQUID a magnetic flux is being transformed into an electronic magnitude, current or voltage. The products are still manufactured at Micronova’s clean rooms. Currently, Aivon’s most important customer is Elekta Neuromag, for which it supplies sensors to be used in brain-imaging devices.
Figure: In a MEG device 306 SQUID channels have been positioned in the form of a helmet in a way that the silicon chips containing three channels and the circuit board form a single compact sensor module.
”The quality of our products and their seamless applicability for our customer are the fundamental values of our enterprise. For that reason, we develop our products jointly with our customers. Our operation is a natural part of the customer’s product development and production process”, Jari Penttilä says looking pleased.
Other ranges of use of the special sensors manufactured by Aivon Oy include e.g. radiation detectors as well as various security-related applications.
The SQUID sensor was developed in co-operation with the Measurement technology field of VTT and the Semi-conductor laboratory of VTT. Research professor Heikki Seppä, inclined to many kinds of things, began the SQUID research in 1974 for precision measurement purposes, and the brain-imaging device was started to be developed in 1985 with academician Olli Lounasmaa. Acting as a partner in Aivon, Heikki Seppä wants to see the research results benefiting society in the form of new products. For a long time he had had a desire to launch a SQUID-enterprise; it, however, was not until Jari Penttilä with his entrepreneurial spirit came along to the team, making this possible. Heikki Seppä has been interested in sensors and measuring equipment during his entire research career. He became interested in the cold physics phenomena used in SQUID-sensors as early as in the mid-70’s.
”All my life I’ve been building different instruments, and also during my studies I wanted to make theories visible. The skills of a physic and electrician are combined in me as well as those of making by hand”, says
Heikki Seppä.Aivon Oy participates also in various national and international ventures with the aim of developing SQUIDs even better. The office of Aivon Oy is located in the premises of Technopolis Ventures business incubator, right by Micronova in Otaniemi. Jari Penttilä has been very pleased with the services provided by TeVe that it offers for e.g. in issues related with the management and marketing of an enterprise.