SolidWatts wins CHF 150,000 to advance disruptive energy technology for more sustainable industry
07.06.2023
Responding to the urgent need to shift away from fossil fuels in industry and beyond, SolidWatts is disrupting the industrial heat process market by developing an industrial-grade radio frequency and microwave heating technology. The CERN spin-off won Venture Kick’s third stage, convincing the jury of its potential to shape the global industrial energy transition.
 CEO Dr. Markus Aicheler and CTO Dr. Jan Kovermann
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Both climate change and geopolitical disruptions have highlighted that relying on fossil fuels for heat-based industrial processes is unsustainable. As many see a shift towards green electricity to be the way forward, radio frequency technology, which can create heat with substantially lower energy loss than other heating methods, has the potential to revolutionize various industries; however, the power level needed for heavy industrial applications has not previously been realized.
SolidWatts has elevated the potential of industrial radio frequency (RF) and microwave (MW) heating technologies with its highly efficient solid-state power amplifiers (SSPA). The power amplifiers are designed for high power (from 10 kW to Megawatt levels), scalability, and fine-grain process control, providing a superior energy solution that reduces operating costs for power-hungry heat processes whilst also reducing carbon emissions.
The startup estimates that using carbon-neutral electricity to feed RF and MW power amplifiers would save over 100 Megatons of CO2 annually. Beyond its high relevance for large-scale process industries, it also has applications in particle acceleration, direct CO2 capture processes, and advanced recycling ecosystems. The global market for RF and MW heating lies in the tens of billions of euros in Europe alone.
The startup will invest the CHF 150,000 awarded by Venture Kick in accelerating its product development actions and first product launch, whilst also extending its business development activities with its early-stage customers within Switzerland and Europe.
SolidWatts was co-founded by Dr. Markus Aicheler (CEO) and Dr. Jan Kovermann (CTO), both of whom are former research fellows at CERN and bring entrepreneurial experience. Dr. Sergio Calatroni of CERN, an expert on the emerging nuclear energy sectors, functions as a scientific advisor. As a CERN Technology Partner, SolidWatts benefits from access to unique facilities and collaborative potential thanks to its affiliation with the globally renowned institution.
CEO Markus Aicheler concludes: "We really appreciate our association with Venture Kick. It has been a tremendously positive experience. The coaching alone has been invaluable and without it, I doubt we would be where we are today. Having top-class people sincerely trying to help us has been so rewarding and we are excited to continue the journey as we bring our superior technology to market."
SolidWatts has elevated the potential of industrial radio frequency (RF) and microwave (MW) heating technologies with its highly efficient solid-state power amplifiers (SSPA). The power amplifiers are designed for high power (from 10 kW to Megawatt levels), scalability, and fine-grain process control, providing a superior energy solution that reduces operating costs for power-hungry heat processes whilst also reducing carbon emissions.
The startup estimates that using carbon-neutral electricity to feed RF and MW power amplifiers would save over 100 Megatons of CO2 annually. Beyond its high relevance for large-scale process industries, it also has applications in particle acceleration, direct CO2 capture processes, and advanced recycling ecosystems. The global market for RF and MW heating lies in the tens of billions of euros in Europe alone.
The startup will invest the CHF 150,000 awarded by Venture Kick in accelerating its product development actions and first product launch, whilst also extending its business development activities with its early-stage customers within Switzerland and Europe.
SolidWatts was co-founded by Dr. Markus Aicheler (CEO) and Dr. Jan Kovermann (CTO), both of whom are former research fellows at CERN and bring entrepreneurial experience. Dr. Sergio Calatroni of CERN, an expert on the emerging nuclear energy sectors, functions as a scientific advisor. As a CERN Technology Partner, SolidWatts benefits from access to unique facilities and collaborative potential thanks to its affiliation with the globally renowned institution.
CEO Markus Aicheler concludes: "We really appreciate our association with Venture Kick. It has been a tremendously positive experience. The coaching alone has been invaluable and without it, I doubt we would be where we are today. Having top-class people sincerely trying to help us has been so rewarding and we are excited to continue the journey as we bring our superior technology to market."