Tokyo-based Atonarp Inc. has a very clear mission, to develop automated, AI-based, miniaturized platforms for mass spectrometry and optical spectroscopy. But that sort of complex molecular analysis has a wide range of potential industry applications, making it difficult to prioritize efforts.
The startup company has already commercialized the first quantitative, real-time miniaturized mass spectrometers for semiconductor and pharmaceutical industry gas detection. Its first product is geared toward monitoring pharmaceutical lyophilization, which is a freeze-drying process commonly used by the pharmaceutical industry for product stabilization, for contamination, leaks or other problems.