Ensurge Micropower ASA

Ensurge Micropower ASA is a Norwegian technology company focused on rechargeable solid-state lithium microbatteries. The company has corporate headquarters in Oslo and maintains its principal technology, research, development, and flexible-electronics manufacturing capabilities in San Jose, California. Its products are intended for compact, power-constrained applications such as wearable electronics, connected sensors, and other small Internet-of-Things devices. The company’s technical roots reach back to the development of printable memory technologies during the 1990s. Work initially took place within Opticom ASA and later continued through an independent company that became Thin Film Electronics ASA. Early development centered on hybrid memory components that combined polymer-based memory with silicon control circuitry, including work conducted with Intel. From 2006 onward, the business placed greater emphasis on printed electronics and manufacturing methods that could support large-area, high-volume production. A major technical milestone came in 2009, when the company demonstrated roll-to-roll production of printed organic memory. This work led to industry recognition and helped establish the company’s expertise in printing electronic functions onto flexible substrates. In 2014, it licensed its printed-memory technology to Xerox, which subsequently marketed products based on the technology under the Xerox Printed Memory name. The same year, the company acquired flexible-electronics technology from Kovio, including intellectual property relating to stainless-steel substrates, barrier materials, and encapsulation. The transaction strengthened its San Jose development and manufacturing platform. Thin Film Electronics also explored commercial applications for printed NFC and sensing technology. In 2015, it introduced NFC OpenSense, an electronic-seal concept designed to let a smartphone determine whether a package or bottle had remained sealed or had previously been opened. The technology was demonstrated through a connected smart-bottle application at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Earlier product work included NFC tags, electronic article-surveillance labels, and temperature-sensing smart labels. In January 2020, the company announced a strategic shift away from its earlier printed-memory and smart-label emphasis toward solid-state lithium battery products. The proposed batteries use a solid electrolyte rather than the liquid or gel polymer electrolytes used in many conventional rechargeable cells. Ensurge’s architecture is based on stainless-steel substrates and is designed for roll-based manufacturing, which the company presents as a route to scaling production while retaining flexibility in battery form factor. The solid-state microbattery strategy is aimed at applications requiring small dimensions, high volumetric energy density, long cycle life, and design flexibility. Potential use cases include wearables and connected sensors, where battery volume, safety, charging durability, and the ability to fit non-standard shapes can be important design constraints. In June 2021, the company adopted the Ensurge Micropower ASA name to reflect this battery-centered strategy. Its identity therefore represents a transition from a printed-electronics pioneer into a specialist developer and prospective manufacturer of solid-state micro power systems.

Ensurge Micropower ASA developed from work on printable memory and flexible electronics that began in the 1990s. The earliest efforts were associated with Opticom ASA and later continued through an independent enterprise known as Thin Film Electronics ASA. The company initially pursued hybrid memory devices combining polymer memory materials with silicon-based control circuitry, including collaboration with Intel. Beginning in 2006, the company concentrated more strongly on printed electronics. Its goal was to use printing and flexible substrates to make electronic functions at scale rather than relying exclusively on conventional semiconductor manufacturing. In 2009, it successfully demonstrated roll-to-roll production of printed organic memory. The achievement brought technical recognition, including an IDTechEx manufacturing award, and became an important proof point for its production approach. The company continued to develop commercial applications for printed electronics and memory. In 2012, its addressable-memory work, developed with PARC, received the IDTechEx Product Development Award and the FlexTech Alliance Innovation Award. The same year, the company was recognized as a runner-up in a Wall Street Journal technology innovation program and received a World Technology Award for work related to printed smart tags and materials science. In January 2014, Thin Film Electronics acquired flexible-electronics technology from Kovio. The acquired portfolio included technology and intellectual property concerning stainless-steel substrates, barrier materials, and encapsulation. The company also established a major research and development presence in San Jose, California. These assets supported its interest in flexible, printed, and roll-based electronic manufacturing. The company pursued NFC-related products alongside memory technology. In February 2015, it presented a connected NFC smart-bottle concept at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The demonstration accompanied the introduction of NFC OpenSense, a printed NFC electronic seal that enabled a smartphone to determine whether a bottle was still factory sealed or had already been opened. Other earlier product categories included NFC tags, electronic article-surveillance labels, and temperature-sensing smart labels. In December 2014, Thin Film Electronics licensed its printed-memory technology to Xerox. Xerox subsequently marketed products using the technology as Xerox Printed Memory from 2016. This transaction represented one of the company’s clearest efforts to transfer its printed-electronics capabilities into a larger commercial ecosystem. The company’s strategic direction changed substantially in January 2020. It announced that it would focus on solid-state lithium battery products, with manufacturing intended to take place at its San Jose facility. This strategy built on the company’s flexible-substrate and roll-to-roll manufacturing experience while moving the commercial emphasis from printed memory and smart labels to rechargeable micro power sources. Ensurge’s solid-state lithium battery concept uses a solid electrolyte and stainless-steel substrates. The company argues that solid electrolytes can offer safety advantages over liquid and gel polymer electrolytes, while stainless steel and roll-based processing may provide a path toward higher-volume production than some silicon- or ceramic-substrate approaches. The products are designed for high energy density, extended charge-discharge life, and flexible form factors suitable for wearables and connected sensors. In June 2021, Thin Film Electronics ASA changed its name to Ensurge Micropower ASA. The new name reflected the company’s battery-centered identity and its intention to commercialize solid-state lithium microbatteries. The company remains associated with Oslo through its corporate headquarters and with San Jose through its global technology, research, development, and manufacturing activities.

1. 2021Company renamed Ensurge Micropower ASA

   Thin Film Electronics ASA adopted the Ensurge Micropower ASA name to reflect its microbattery strategy.

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2. 2020Solid-state lithium battery strategy announced

   The company announced a strategic focus on solid-state lithium battery products intended for production in San Jose.

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3. 2018San Jose roll-to-roll factory wins manufacturing award

   The company’s stainless-steel-substrate roll-to-roll factory in San Jose received the IDTechEx Technical Development Manufacturing Award.

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4. 2015NFC OpenSense introduced

   The company demonstrated a connected NFC smart bottle and introduced NFC OpenSense electronic-seal technology at Mobile World Congress.

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5. 2014Kovio technology acquired and Xerox license signed

   Thin Film Electronics acquired flexible-electronics technology from Kovio and licensed its printed-memory technology to Xerox.

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6. 2012Printed-memory technology receives innovation awards

   Addressable Memory technology developed with PARC received the IDTechEx Product Development Award and the FlexTech Alliance Innovation Award. The company also received additional recognition for printed smart-tag work.

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7. 2009Roll-to-roll printed organic memory demonstrated

   The company demonstrated roll-to-roll production of printed organic memory and received industry recognition for technical manufacturing development.

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8. 2006Focus shifts toward printed electronics

   The business increasingly concentrated on printed-electronics technologies and scalable flexible manufacturing.

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9. 1994Printable-memory development begins

   The company’s technological lineage begins with development of printable polymer-based memory, initially within Opticom ASA and later through Thin Film Electronics ASA.

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A specialist developer of solid-state lithium microbatteries using stainless-steel substrates and roll-to-roll manufacturing concepts for compact, wearable, and connected electronic devices.

• Ensurge solid-state lithium microbatteriesRechargeable microbatteries2020

  Rechargeable microbattery products based on solid-state lithium technology. The design uses a solid electrolyte and stainless-steel substrates, with the company’s manufacturing concept relying on roll-based processing. Ensurge positions these batteries for compact devices that need high volumetric energy density, long charge-discharge life, improved safety characteristics, and flexibility in battery shape or format. Target applications include wearable electronics and connected sensors.

• NFC OpenSensePrinted NFC and smart-label technology2015

  A printed NFC electronic-seal technology designed to allow a smartphone to determine whether a package, such as a bottle, remains factory sealed or has previously been opened. It was demonstrated through a connected smart-bottle application and formed part of the company’s earlier effort to commercialize printed electronics for packaging, authentication, and connected-product use cases.

• Printed memoryPrinted electronics2009

  Polymer-based memory technology developed for printable and flexible electronic applications. The company demonstrated roll-to-roll printed organic memory in 2009 and later licensed the technology to Xerox. Xerox marketed products based on the licensed technology under the Xerox Printed Memory name.

• Smart labels and sensing labelsPrinted electronic labels

  Earlier printed-electronics applications included NFC tags, electronic article-surveillance labels, and temperature-sensing smart labels. These products reflected Thin Film Electronics’ pre-battery business direction and its effort to integrate low-cost electronic functions into labels, packaging, and connected objects.

• 2021Corporate rebranding to Ensurge Micropower ASAStrategy

  The company’s business direction had moved from printed memory and smart-label technologies toward solid-state lithium microbatteries.

  What changed. Thin Film Electronics ASA changed its corporate name to Ensurge Micropower ASA.

  Aftermath. The new identity aligned the corporate brand with its intended microbattery market and solid-state energy-storage technology.

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• 2020Shift from printed electronics to solid-state lithium batteriesStrategy

  The company had previously developed printed memory, NFC products, and smart labels, but announced an updated corporate strategy centered on solid-state lithium battery products.

  What changed. Thin Film Electronics redirected its strategic emphasis toward designing, developing, and producing solid-state lithium microbatteries, with manufacturing planned at its San Jose facility.

  Aftermath. The change established the foundation for the company’s later rebranding as Ensurge Micropower ASA and its focus on compact rechargeable power sources.

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• 2021Thin Film Electronics rebrands as Ensurge Micropower

  The company changed its name to Ensurge Micropower ASA as it repositioned itself around solid-state lithium microbattery technology.

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• 2020Ensurge announces strategy centered on solid-state lithium batteries

  The company, then operating as Thin Film Electronics ASA, announced a revised corporate strategy focused on designing, developing, and producing solid-state lithium battery products.

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• 2015Ensurge demonstrates NFC smart-bottle application

  At Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the company demonstrated a connected bottle using NFC OpenSense, a printed electronic-seal feature intended to indicate whether a bottle had been opened.

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• 2014Printed-memory technology licensed to Xerox

  The company licensed its printed-memory technology to Xerox; Xerox later marketed products based on the technology as Xerox Printed Memory.

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1. Ensurge Micropower ASA