Looking back on two decades of scanning probe microscopy
1997
On June 4, Nanosurf was founded in the town of Liestal (Switzerland) by Dominik Brändlin, Lukas Howald and Robert Sum | |
The first easyScan STM is presented at the STM97 conference in Hamburg (Germany) | |
Nanosurf is awarded the “Start-up Label” by the federal commission for technology and innovation (CTI) |

1998
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory selects Nanosurf AFM for Mars mission | |
Nanosurf joins cooperation with the Institutes of Microtechnology (Neuchatel) and Physics (Basel) | |
Nanosurf is awarded the innovation prize by the Swiss cantons of Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft |
1999
The first easyPLL is presented | |
The 100th easyScan STM is released |
2000
Nanosurf is awarded the Swiss Technology Award by the Swiss federal industry agency | |
The easyScan atomic force microscope is introduced to the market |

2001
Launch of the easyScan DFM |
2002
Nanosurf moves into new premises (Tenum building) |
2003
The easyScan E-Line is introduced | |
Nanosurf receives the 2003 SME Entrepreneurial Award by the Chamber of Commerce of the Cantons of Basel-Landschaft and Basel-Stadt |

2004
The first Mobile S AFM is released | |
The easyPLL plus is introduced |
2005
The 500th easyScan STM is sold to the Institute of Physics, Seton Hall University (NJ), USA | |
Nanosurf announces the release of its Easyscan 2 series |
2006
The automated Nanite AFM is released | |
The Mobile S Cordless Edition is launched as the first truly portable, battery-powered AFM |
2007
Nanosurf receives Swiss Technology Award for the Nanite AFM system | |
Launch of NASA’s Phoenix Mars Probe carrying a Nanosurf AFM | |
Nanosurf is recognized by the Swiss Venture Club for its innovation and entrepreneurship |

2008
Nanosurf starts direct sales in Switzerland | |
Successful landing of the Phoenix Mars Probe and first AFM images from another planet | |
Nanosurf establishes its own subsidiary in the US (Greater Boston area) | |
FlexAFM is initiated |

2009
Dr. Urs Matter is joining Nanosurf as CEO | |
Phoenix Mars Lander team wins 2009 Swigert Award |
2010
Nanosurf delivers its 1000th STM to German high school | |
Inverted Microscope and Scanning Thermal/Nano-TA Options extend the capabilities of the FlexAFM | |
100th FlexAFM is built |
2011
Nanosurf announces Hzs-Nanosurf Sino-foreign joint venture | |
Nanosurf establishes its own subsidiary in Germany (Frankfurt/Langen) | |
Nanosurf moves headquarters to new office location (Futuro Liestal) to match company growth | |
Nanosurf receives ISO certification | |
LensAFM is launched |

2012
Nanosurf releases the NaioSTM and NaioAFM for the education market | |
Nanosurf establishes its own subsidiariy in China |

2013
FluidFM is officially launched to convert the FlexAFM into a unique, new micro-manipulation tool for single-cell biology |
2014
The Easyscan 2 AFM and STM are discontinued in favor of their Naio counterparts | |
The C3000 controller replaces the Easyscan 2 controller for 24-bit accuracy and control | |
Nuomedis is founded to develop a cancer diagnostic solution |
2015
Nanosurf releases the FlexAM 5 scan head, with Z-position sensor and high-precision, low-noise photodetector | |
Nanosurf celebrates its 18th birthday | |
Nanosurf launches a new website and updates its corporate design |
