This pilot environment enables fluent R&D&I processes offering novel technologies and prototype design, and manufacturing fulfilling tight industrial quality requirements, states VTT.

The aim of the facility is to accelerate the market entry of patient-friendly innovations.

“Potentially life-saving breakthroughs are constantly made in research labs around the world, and many of them have the potential to make unpleasant health monitoring, medical examinations and procedures more patient-friendly. However, bringing these products to market has been a major pain point for the industry for decades due to challenges in scaling pilots and long certification processes. The pilot line we have established provides a state-of-the-art environment where development-phase prototypes can be manufactured following requirements for medical devices,” says Jussi Hiltunen, Research Professor, Sensing Solutions at VTT.

EUR 3.4 million in the cleanroom and manufacturing equipment

VTT has invested EUR 3.4 million in the cleanroom and manufacturing equipment for the pilot line environment. It enables the production of small and middle-sized prototype series consisting of the most advanced electronic, photonic, microelectronic, and microfluidic component and integration technologies. These enable the development of comfortable-to-wear, skin-like wearable sensors for continuous monitoring of cardiovascular diseases and microfluidics biochemical sensors for ultra-sensitive cancer diagnostics, describes VTT.

Early test devices that follow industry standards and regulations

The pilot environment provides the ability to produce early test devices that follow industry standards and regulations, with the added capability to also produce batches large enough for validation needs. This speeds up and reduces the cost of the process of transferring research innovations to the CE certification phase in Europe and the FDA process in the United States, describes VTT.

Key focus areas for the pilot line include preventive monitoring of cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndromes, and early cancer detection, as well as cancer recurrence.

Key focus areas for the pilot line include preventive monitoring of cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndromes, and early cancer detection, as well as cancer recurrence. The new medical devices can, for example, continuously measure the glucose levels of patients with diabetes more comfortably or detect cancer at an early stage from the skin or at a molecular level, improving prognosis.

“Future health technologies will resemble thin, almost undetectable devices – almost like invisible tattoos. For patients whose condition requires daily monitoring or who are undergoing a monitoring process as part of their care, it provides a comfortable alternative to having to wear a clunky medical device that can catch on door handles and be bothersome in the shower, for instance,” says Kari Rönkä, Vice President, Sensing Solutions at VTT.

Rapid diagnostics

Another important area for the pilot line is rapid diagnostics. Instead of sending the patient sample to a central laboratory that may be in a separate city, the doctor or nurse can perform a reliable test immediately at the site. This saves time and costs and helps the patient get on the right care path more quickly. A stretch goal for VTT is to help bring to market innovations that enable continuous and reliable measurement of the same precise parameters as blood tests without the need for lab visits or needles.

VTT will collaborate with medical device product companies and manufacturers as well as with universities and other research and healthcare organisations.

The pilot line began operating in early 2025. VTT will collaborate with medical device product companies and manufacturers as well as with universities and other research and healthcare organisations.