As the world is rapidly moving towards green energy and sustainability, emergence of solar and optoelectric technologies like perovskite materials is given a priority. In fact, this new material has become a true innovation frontier in 2025. From the markets of Germany to Japan, the Perovskites are redefining innovations in energy and electronics.
In Germany, industry leaders such as Qcells and Fraunhofer ISE have set new world records by achieving 28.6% efficiency in perovskite-enhanced, large-area silicon solar cells, demonstrating both performance gains and scalability.
Japan is spearheading the era of ultra-thin, flexible solar films with a bold $1.5 billion investment, looking to plaster perovskite panels across buildings, infrastructure, and vehicles.
On the consumer front, Anker’s Solar Beach Umbrella delivers up to 43% solar efficiency, offering real-world proof of perovskites’ adaptability to everyday products.
Against this backdrop of technological breakthroughs, scalability, and commercial momentum, enters Quantonics Crystals, a forward-looking innovator harnessing perovskite’s transformative potential.
A Visionary Path in Deep-Tech Leadership
“My inspiration to found Quantonics Crystals came from a deep desire for independence and the determination to bring my visions to life. I have always believed that true innovation requires both courage and persistence. The path was never easy—especially in the beginning, when I faced major hurdles and made many personal sacrifices. Starting a company in the technological field without external support is a demanding journey. You need to be mentally strong, resilient, and above all, a visionary who can see opportunities long before they are obvious to others.
I was fortunate to have my family’s unwavering support, and over time, I found trusted partners who shared my vision. My COO, Martin Vagues, founder of Ablenergy, has been a key ally, and I have also been encouraged by partners such as Sripat and Mr. Faria in India, who help expand our customer base there. Looking ahead, I am excited to collaborate with organizations such as the Navato Group and Fraunhofer IMM in Germany, who will be valuable partners in realizing the goal of building the next generation of solar cells.
As a leader in deep-tech, I strive to remain both relatable and visionary. I am firmly convinced that with the right investments, we can unlock groundbreaking solutions that are already within reach. My leadership is guided by personal values I hold close: persistence, clarity of purpose, and free thinking. I learned early from my mentor, a professor who taught me that only by questioning conventional patterns of thought—no matter how contradictory they may seem—can we discover entirely new paths forward.
What truly differentiates my leadership, together with Martin’s, is our ability to think beyond partial solutions. In the high-frequency and semiconductor sectors, our aim is not just to provide one piece of the puzzle but to create turnkey, end-to-end products. Where others might address a fraction of the challenge, we work toward delivering complete solutions that empower industries to advance with confidence.
This, I believe, is the essence of leadership in deep-tech: staying true to your vision, embracing bold ideas, and building partnerships that turn those ideas into tangible breakthroughs.”
Pioneering Innovation: The Journey of Quantonics Crystals
Founded in 2017 in Wiesbaden, Germany, and now headquartered in Nagoya, Japan, Quantonics Crystals has emerged as a leading innovator in the semiconductor and nanomaterials industry. From its inception, the company set its sights on developing and delivering high-quality quantum dot nanomaterials, graphene derivatives, perovskite nanomaterials, and perovskite single crystals—materials that today power some of the most transformative applications in renewable energy, electronics, and optoelectronics.
Launching a company at the crossroads of science, innovation, and market application was no small feat. One of the greatest challenges Quantonics faced was bootstrapping growth without external investors. Building a self-sustaining enterprise demanded resilience, technical creativity, and the ability to constantly refine processes to meet the stringent demands of customers worldwide. The company had to innovate not only in its materials but also in its methods—developing proprietary production processes to consistently achieve the highest quality standards in a rapidly evolving market.
The turning point came when global interest in perovskite and nanomaterial applications surged, particularly from the solar energy sector. Inquiries began to arrive from Japan, India, and the UK, signaling the recognition of Quantonics’ expertise and the relevance of its innovations to real-world needs. This growing international demand acted as a catalyst, pushing the company to expand its production capabilities and sharpen its focus on commercial applications.
Michael Schmidt, the founder of Quantonics Crystals, reflects: “Our vision was always to bridge cutting-edge science with practical solutions. Every challenge we faced became an opportunity to strengthen our foundation and bring real value to industries shaping the future.”
Through perseverance, ingenuity, and an unwavering mission, Quantonics has transformed from a bold startup into a respected leader in next-generation nanomaterials.
Building Trust Through Quality and Innovation
For Quantonics Crystals, long-term success has been built on a foundation of consistent material quality and strong technical support. By ensuring that every product meets the highest standards and by working closely with customers to solve their unique challenges, the company has earned credibility in a highly competitive industry. Its reputation is not only about what it produces, but also how it supports clients at every stage of their innovation journey.
In today’s fast-changing world of technology and science, the pace of development is both exciting and demanding. Markets are evolving rapidly, and industries face pressing global challenges such as clean energy generation and climate change. Michael Schmidt, founder of Quantonics, emphasizes that staying relevant requires bold thinking: “New approaches must be taken to develop next-generation, high-performance solar cells and new energy storage systems based on special nanomaterials.” This commitment to sustainability and forward-looking solutions has positioned Quantonics as a trusted partner in the global transition toward cleaner technologies.
Equally important to its success is the company’s internal culture. Innovation at Quantonics is not treated as an occasional effort but as a continuous process. Alongside production, new materials are always being researched and tested, ensuring that the company stays ahead of industry needs. This balance between reliable output and exploratory development is what drives lasting progress.
The team understands that advancing solar technology means not only improving durability but also unlocking greater energy efficiency. “This can only be achieved with new materials and a completely new structure of the end product,” Schmidt explains, highlighting the role of layer interaction and material design in next-generation solar cells.
By combining quality, adaptability, and a culture of curiosity, Quantonics Crystals continues to thrive as both a scientific pioneer and a dependable industry leader.
Innovative Products and Disruptive Technologies
Quantonics Crystals has established itself as a pioneer in next-generation nanomaterials, offering a portfolio that spans quantum dot nanomaterials, graphene derivatives, and perovskite nanomaterials and single crystals. Each of these technologies opens doors to a wide range of applications across industries, from electronics and photonics to biolabeling and medical imaging. The versatility of their materials allows crossover use: quantum dots, for example, are equally at home in cancer cell imaging as they are in enhancing solar cell performance.
What distinguishes Quantonics is its focus on proprietary process developments, designed not only to maintain the highest quality standards but also to expand the practical possibilities of these materials. Their technologies enable unique solutions that help clients differentiate themselves, foster stronger relationships, and deliver superior end-user experiences. As Michael Schmidt explains: “Our goal is to ensure our customers achieve outcomes that are not only more powerful but also more efficient.”
The company’s disruptive influence is especially evident in counterfeit protection, where advanced nanomaterials emit new wavelengths or operate with a time delay, creating innovative security features for brand protection. In semiconductors, Quantonics has pushed the boundaries of GaN chip performance by integrating novel surface materials, while also addressing key limitations in traditional broadband photodetectors such as InGaAs, which typically suffer from low dynamic range and cooling requirements.
Their work also extends into perovskite thin-film field-effect transistors (FETs), exploring applications in photoFETs, light-emitting FETs, photodetectors, and ferroelectric RAM. While perovskites are widely studied in solar cells, only a handful have been tested for FET use—an area Quantonics is determined to expand.
By combining scientific ambition with practical disruption, Quantonics Crystals continues to reshape how industries approach semiconductors, security, and optoelectronics.
Customer Success and Global Partnerships
For Quantonics Crystals, innovation is not limited to the lab; it translates directly into customer success stories. The company has supported leading clients in Japan and the UK by providing nanomaterials that are already being applied in fields such as bioimaging and solar cell development. These real-world applications underline the company’s ability to deliver measurable value while partnering closely with industry leaders.
Key to this momentum has been a network of strategic global partnerships. In Japan, MT Trading in Osaka has played an essential role in expanding market reach, while JETRO in Düsseldorf and Osaka has provided vital institutional support. Legal advisors such as Vanguard Lawyers in Tokyo have ensured the company’s seamless integration into Japan’s business landscape. These collaborations have enabled Quantonics to navigate international markets efficiently while remaining focused on innovation.
Michael Schmidt acknowledges these relationships as pivotal to the company’s success: “Our partners and clients are at the heart of our growth. Their trust and collaboration allow us to bring our technologies from concept to application in ways that truly make a difference.”
In addition to partnership-driven success, Quantonics remains committed to agility and continuous innovation. The company is advancing efforts in high-performance solar cells and next-generation supercapacitors, with plans to bring these technologies to market under its own brand in the near future. To accelerate this expansion, Quantonics is actively seeking investors to strengthen its global presence and scale production.
By combining customer-focused solutions with strategic alliances, Quantonics Crystals is not only advancing scientific breakthroughs but also positioning itself as a trusted global partner in the semiconductor and nanomaterials sector. Its journey illustrates how innovation, collaboration, and vision come together to drive long-term growth.
Guiding the Next Generation of Innovators
“Balancing scientific innovation with business growth is never simple, but clarity comes from staying true to the vision. For me, motivation is not only personal but collective—it is about building a team that feels valued, inspired, and driven to achieve breakthroughs. With the right funding, I intend to bring in intelligent, hands-on engineers and create an environment where they are not only managed but embraced as true partners in the journey. Recognition is important; milestones must be celebrated, whether through shared dinners or meaningful bonuses, because success is never an individual achievement—it is always the outcome of collaboration.
To young entrepreneurs who aspire to build tech companies grounded in research and intellectual property, I would say this: never underestimate the value of your ideas. Intellectual property is not just paperwork; it is the foundation that protects your creativity and shapes your company’s future. At Quantonics, we are committed to identifying IP opportunities at every stage—from R&D to the final product. It is a discipline, but also a mindset: to see innovation not just as discovery, but as something that can be nurtured, secured, and expanded into lasting impact.
Mentoring plays a central role in this vision. In deep-tech, the journey from idea to product is long and filled with challenges, and young scientists and technologists need guidance not only in technical matters but in perspective. During the R&D phase especially, I believe in walking alongside my team, guiding them through each stage of growth while allowing their creativity to flourish.
Ultimately, innovation is not just about technology—it is about people, ideas, and the willingness to dream beyond what seems possible. My hope is to inspire the next generation to embrace challenges as opportunities and to see every obstacle as a doorway to discovery.”
A Personal Note of Gratitude
“As I reflect on the importance of nurturing the next generation, I would like to offer a heartfelt thanks to my daughter, Mina Schmidt. A talented high-school student with a passion for design, Mina has supported me with graphics and creative input that often give my work an extra dimension. Her fresh perspective and artistic talent remind me that innovation is not only about science and technology, but also about imagination, creativity, and heart.”
