40 years of innovation – stories from Linköping Science Park
Olle Inganäs, Professor Emeritus at Linköping University, is a pioneering voice in the development of organic solar cells, a field he devoted three decades to researching. Often described as the “grandfather” of the company, his work provides the research foundation for the startup Epishine, which he co-founded. His professional focus has centered on solving global energy problems.
Epishine’s innovation stems directly from this long-term research. The company produces a flexible, transparent solar harvester based on organic material. This thin film measures only 100 nanometers thick, making it sensitive enough to capture the faint light from indoor lamps, functioning as a replacement for batteries in connected devices.
The commercialization journey of Epishine illustrates the typical transition from academia to business, demonstrating how theoretical concepts are transformed into market-ready products. Since the founding team consisted primarily of researchers, they sought support from organizations like LiU Innovation and the Lead incubator to learn the necessary business acumen, including how to clearly present their vision to potential buyers. The continuous challenge is balancing the research mindset—which seeks constant improvement—with the market requirement for a finalized, commercial product.
Olle Inganäs summarizes this strategic requirement:
“We must be able to package and sell what we create. Because what we’re working on — constantly improving what exists — is never finished.”
His dedication to applied science and Epishine’s technology represent a forward-leaning development that originated within the collaborative environment of the university and Linköping Science Park.
This text is part of the article series based on Linköping Science Park’s 40-year book, which is available here.
