About Us
Founded in 2007, our mission at ICSPI is to expand access to nanoscale measurement tools. We make desktop atomic force microscopes (AFMs) with unmatched time-to-results, ease of use and hassle-free operation.
Our systems enable scientists and engineers to make discoveries faster and shorten development cycles: allowing them to focus on advancing science and driving technology forward.
Our first product, the nGauge, is a desktop AFM that can collect scans with sub-nanometer precision in an unheard of 90 seconds from sample loading. Scientists, engineers and educators in over 40 countries use the nGauge everyday for research, product development and teaching.
Our second product, the Redux, is a motorized, automated AFM that can precisely navigate to regions of interest on the sample. The Redux sets a new standard for automation and user-friendliness in nanoscale imaging.
ICSPI (pronounced “eye see spy”) is proudly headquartered in Kitchener-Waterloo, Canada. All of our instruments are designed, assembled and shipped from our headquarters.
Our Technology
Traditional AFM instruments, while powerful for nanoscale surface imaging, are complex and time-consuming because they are based on technology developed in the 1980s.
At ICSPI, we have dramatically simplified and sped up operation of AFM using our unique AFM-on-a-chip technology, which was developed over the course of ten years at the University of Waterloo.
Our systems simplify the cumbersome aspects of traditional AFM, so users can effortlessly collect nanoscale data right on their desktop.
Whether you are new to AFM, or a seasoned AFM user, our systems and technology provide many benefits over traditional systems, such as the fastest time-to-results, unmatched user-friendliness, the lowest cost of operation and maintenance, and low drift.
Our name
What is “ICSPI”?
ICSPI stands for “Integrated Circuit Scanning Probe Instruments”, an acronym that means exactly what we do.
Let’s break that down: atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a type of scanning probe instrument. Our innovative AFM-on-a-chip technology uses micro-electro-mechanical systems technology, which is a subset of integrated circuits.
For ease of communication, we pronounce it “eye see spy”.
Leadership
David Morris
Director of Operations
Neil Sarkar, PhD
Co-Founder
Prof. Raafat Mansour, PhD
Co-Founder
Watch a full demo of our Redux AFM system
Learn more about our AFMs
Our AFM systems offer unmatched time-to-results, ease of use and hassle-free operation.