Espoo, Finland--VTT Ventures and Lumichip (both in Espoo) will jointly invest in in Finnish LED technology company LightTherm (Oulu, Finland). LightTherm, which began operations in November 2012, specializes in electro-thermo-mechanical design of high-power LED packages to achieve cooler semiconductor-junction temperatures.
LED technology faces challenges, particularly where high light output is required from compact light units. The major difficulty with LEDs is the heat sensitivity of the semiconductor and phosphor light-emitting materials. Overheating can shorten the lifespan and efficiency of LEDs, while light output falls below product optimal specification as temperatures rise.
Arising from VTT Technical Research Centre
VTT Ventures is associated with the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, which is a nonprofit multidisciplinary applied-research organization (and from which LightTherm was spun off). Lumichip produces high-power white LEDs, packages, modules, and luminaires, all which benefit from efficient heat sinking and other cooling design.
LightTherm cofounders Ville Moilanen and Kimmo Jokelainen have a research background with VTT and developed LightTherm's core technology; the company's CEO and third cofounder Petri Nyman has experience in startups and the management of growing companies.
