Technical problems solved. Innovations protected. Processes scaled.
230+ patents. 18 years as CTO in nanoparticle technology. I help companies working with inorganic nanoparticles in inks, dispersions, and coatings move from stuck to shipping — through direct technical consultation, IP strategy, and scale-up guidance. Remote, direct, monthly retainer.
Do you recognise yourself here?
My clients are CTOs and R&D directors at deep-tech companies and innovation departments working with inorganic nanoparticles in inks, dispersions or coatings.
They typically come to me when:
Their team is stuck on a specific technical problem — dispersion, formulation, material selection, stability — and has no one internally who has been down that road before.
A new product idea exists and they want to assess whether nanoparticles could help — and what that would concretely mean.
They want to transfer a lab process into production and avoid the typical pitfalls before they become expensive.
They have developed an innovation and want to know whether and how it can be patented — and what a filing strategy looks like that actually has protective value.
They are looking for an experienced technical sparring partner who critically accompanies development progress, identifies risks early, and brings in new ideas.
Industries
My focus areas include:
Contact person
CTO or Head of R&D
The person who feels the technical problem every day and holds budget responsibility.
What I offer
All services run through a monthly advisory retainer — no lengthy reports, no project management, no on-site effort.
Technical Development Consulting, Troubleshooting & Ideation
I help with concrete technical questions around inorganic nanoparticles in inks, dispersions and coatings. When your team is stuck on a specific problem, I analyse the root cause and bring solution ideas. And if you have a new product idea, I give you a well-founded assessment of feasibility, material selection and next development steps.
Scale-up & Industrialisation
I guide the transition from lab processes to serial production — specifically for nanoparticle synthesis, dispersion processes and coating technologies. I know the typical pitfalls from over 10 years of running production operations and help you avoid them.
Patent & IP Strategy
I advise on the substantive development and strategic structuring of patent applications — what is worth protecting, how it is formulated, in which countries to file. The goal: patents that have real market value and blocking potential. (Not a replacement for a patent attorney, but the technical-strategic layer above.)
Technology Assessment & Feasibility Evaluation
I evaluate material approaches, technology directions or development concepts for technical and economic feasibility — not as a written report, but as a structured conversation with well-grounded judgement from 18 years of hands-on experience.
Dr. Norman Lüchinger
Co-Founder & former CTO, Avantama AG
18 Years. 230+ Patents. One Speciality.
I am co-founder and former CTO of Avantama AG, an ETH spin-off for high-tech nanomaterials. There I was responsible for the entire journey from lab idea to running serial production over 18 years — research, product development, scale-up, production, IP strategy and technology roadmaps.
My foundation: an ETH doctorate specifically on nanoparticle synthesis and dispersion, awarded the ETH Silver Medal. What I offer as a consultant today is not book knowledge — it is experience from thousands of hours on real development problems, with real materials, in real production environments.
What sets me apart
Former CTO & Co-Founder at Avantama
Understand scale-up from lab to production
230+ co-patents in nanoparticle technology
Know what's worth protecting, what's not
ETH PhD in Materials Science
Deep technical foundation, not just consulting experience
Remote-first, monthly retainer
No lengthy projects, no travel, no overhead
Perovskite quantum dots — developed at Avantama AG
Client Case Studies
Challenges we've solved together
Problem
Coating needed to dry easily, protect substrate, block infrared while remaining transparent and abrasion-resistant — a complex material system was required.
Solution
Designed complete material system including binder, solvent, IR-blocking nanoparticles, dispersant, and optimized dispersion process.
Result
Fully functional coating with >90% IR absorption, high transparency, and abrasion resistance
Optical Sensors Company
6 months
Problem
Particle sedimentation and nozzle clogging caused unreliable print quality and production downtime.
Solution
Stabilized ink formulation with optimized dispersant system.
Result
Eliminated particle sedimentation — 99% print reliability achieved
Ink-Jet Manufacturer
2 months
Problem
3D-printed parts had insufficient density and mechanical properties after sintering.
Solution
Optimized process parameters and powder composition.
Result
Achieved 99% density in 3D-printed parts post-sintering
3D Printing Company
4 months
Problem
Client believed development couldn't be patented due to prior art — potential protection at risk.
Solution
Conducted comprehensive prior-art analysis and strategic patent filing strategy.
Result
Secured patent protection despite prior-art concerns
Ink-Jet Developer
3 months
Simple, direct, remote
My consulting works as a monthly advisory retainer — you pay a monthly flat fee and receive regular access to my expertise. No complicated onboarding, no lengthy start-up process.
First conversation
We talk about your specific situation, the technical challenges and what you hope to get from working together. No lead time, no effort.
Alignment & fit
If my expertise matches your needs, we discuss the framework: topics, intensity, monthly fee. Everything transparent and without surprises.
Advisory Retainer
We start. You get regular access to my expertise via video calls (1–2 per week) and direct email/chat exchange. Cancellable monthly.
The typical model
The contract runs monthly and renews automatically until cancelled with a short notice period. No long commitments, no hidden costs.
Pricing & Commitment
- ~8 hours per month access
- 1–2 video calls per week
- Direct email/chat exchange
- 100% remote
No long-term commitment
Cancellable monthly. End anytime if the engagement doesn't fit.
Request a call
I look forward to hearing from you. Briefly describe what you are working on and where you need support — I usually respond within 24 hours.