Ingeniøren names iNANO smart-window research a Top 5 result of 2025
Research from iNANO on power-free “smart” windows has been selected by Ingeniøren as one of Denmark’s five biggest scientific achievements of 2025. The recognition is now followed by new funding: an InnoExplorer grant and an AU Launch grant supporting further validation and early commercialisation.
Power-free smart windows recognised as a Danish top-five research achievement
The research behind a new passive smart-window concept developed at the Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO) at Aarhus University has been highlighted by Ingeniøren as one of Denmark’s five biggest scientific achievements of 2025. The selection underscores the growing interest in technologies that can cut energy use in buildings—especially those with large glass façades—without compromising daylight.
In the study, first author Xavier Baami González and Professor Duncan S. Sutherland demonstrate a thin “active layer” concept based on silver nanorings that responds automatically to sunlight intensity. The key idea is simple: visible light remains largely unaffected, while near-infrared solar radiation (experienced as heat) is reduced more strongly when sunlight is intense. Because the effect is passive, the approach does not rely on external power, sensors, or complex control systems—pointing to future window solutions that could help lower cooling demand and associated CO₂ emissions while maintaining indoor comfort.
Listen to the podcast with Ingeniøren’s Top 5 overview here (in Danish):
https://ing.dk/artikel/hoer-de-stoerste-videnskabelige-bedrifter-2025
For background on the research, see the earlier iNANO news story here:
New funding supports the next steps
Following the paper and the public recognition, two new grants will help advance the innovation towards real-world validation and early commercialisation:
InnoExplorer grant (Innovation Fund Denmark)
Xavier Baami González has been awarded an InnoExplorer grant of DKK 1.5 million. The grant supports early-stage commercialisation of the smart-window technology developed during his PhD studies. The project focuses on maturing the passive concept, validating performance under realistic conditions, and conducting initial market exploration—helping bridge the gap from lab demonstration to practical application.
AU Launch grant: solar simulator for validation
In addition, PlasmoGlass, a spinout emerging from the research, has been awarded an AU Launch grant of DKK 150,000. The funding will be used to acquire a solar simulator—a key piece of equipment that enables controlled, reproducible testing under well-defined illumination conditions that closely mimic real solar exposure. This makes it possible to systematically evaluate optical and thermal performance and benchmark how the system responds when irradiation intensity changes.
Together, the two grants strengthen the foundation for continued validation and commercialisation efforts—while the Ingeniøren recognition provides an important signal of the technology’s wider relevance.
Contacts
Duncan Sutherland
Professor, iNANO, Aarhus Universitet
Tlf: +45 23 38 57 89
Mail: duncan@inano.au.dk