Tangho Green Canada Inc. (Tangho), Yamagata University’s Innovation Center for Organic Electronics (INOEL), and the Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology (WIN) at the University of Waterloo will unveil what they describe as the world’s first public demonstration of a dynamic printed sensor circuit on compostable NanoPaper at nano tech 2026, held 28-30 January 2026 at Tokyo Big Sight. The event also marks the first commercial availability of Tangho NanoPaper, as the material moves from lab-only samples to a purchasable flexible substrate for printed electronics.
“Electronic skin”
The collaboration will feature an interactive “electronic skin” force sensor printed on Tangho NanoPaper, a commercially available cellulose-nanofiber substrate for printed and flexible electronics. Visitors can experience the demo at both the Tangho booth (West Hall 1, 1W-C19, Innovation & Academic Zone) and the Yamagata University INOEL Inkjet Development Center booth (West Hall 1, 1W-J25).
At the heart of the demo is a 4×4 force sensor array with screen-printed silver electrodes and a carbon-based sensing layer on Tangho NanoPaper. As visitors press on the sensor, a connected readout displays real-time force maps, turning the NanoPaper sheet into a touch-sensitive “electronic skin” for a robotic finger. The device is the result of a three-way collaboration: Tangho and Prof. Leonardo Simon’s group at WIN co-developing the NanoPaper substrate and material stack used in the demo, and Dr. Ayako Yoshida’s team at INOEL designing and screen-printing the force sensor array.
“This is the first time a truly dynamic circuit has been demonstrated on commercial NanoPaper, and it shows that sustainable substrates can do real work in advanced electronics, not just sit in a materials library,” said Dr Andrew Finkle, Director of NanoPaper at Tangho Green Canada Inc. “At nano tech 2026, it’s also the first time engineers can actually buy NanoPaper as a product rather than receive a one-off lab sample. They can start running it through their own printers and processes, closing the gap between cutting-edge functionality and environmental responsibility.”
Ultra-smooth, cellulose-based flexible substrate
Tangho NanoPaper is an ultra-smooth, cellulose-based flexible substrate—now commercially available—designed for screen, inkjet, and direct-write printing of flexible electronics. Its high thermal stability and low surface roughness support fine conductive features and curing profiles that are difficult for conventional paper, while providing a compostable alternative to petroleum-based films such as PET and polyimide. “Our group has spent years developing ultra-thin, light-weight, flexible and high-performance printed sensors. NanoPaper surprised us by combining very good printability with a sustainable materials profile,” said Dr Ayako
Yoshida, Associate Professor at Yamagata University INOEL and an expert in screen printing for flexible electronics. “This joint demo shows that printed force sensors on natural substrates are no longer just a concept – they’re working devices that engineers can evaluate and build on.”
“From a materials perspective, NanoPaper lets us take everything we’ve learned about high-performance nanocellulose films and plug it directly into real devices,” said Dr Leonardo Simon, Professor of Chemical Engineering and member of the Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology. “Working with Tangho and Yamagata University, we can close the loop by connecting fundamental nanomaterials research to a live demonstration at nano tech 2026 and to commercial products.”
The project also highlights a growing Canada–Japan innovation corridor in sustainable electronics. Tangho, WIN (including Prof Leonardo Simon’s sustainable nanomaterials group), and Yamagata University INOEL are co-leading the effort as equal partners in materials, process, and device development. Tangho will exhibit as part of a delegation from WIN, co-exhibiting at booth 1W-C19. This is the third time Tangho has joined the WIN delegation at nano tech, and that ongoing presence is what first led to the connection with Yamagata University in Japan.
A powerful platform
“The nano tech expo has been a powerful platform for connecting Waterloo technologies with Japanese research and industry,” said Dennis Wong, Business Development Manager at the Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology. “Our collaboration with Tangho and Yamagata University on this NanoPaper sensor demo is exactly the kind of cross-border, university–industry partnership we want to catalyse – taking a sustainable material from lab validation to functional devices the world can see and touch.”
Tangho has launched the first commercial production run of NanoPaper in A4 sheets, which are now available in limited quantities for purchase through its website at https://www.nanopaper.io. This marks NanoPaper’s transition from a research-only material to a commercially available flexible substrate for printed electronics. The company is actively seeking pilot trials and joint development projects in areas such as flexible sensors, wearables, robotics, smart packaging, and hybrid printed electronics. During nano tech 2026, Tangho and its partners will be available at both booths to discuss material properties, printing conditions,
curing profiles, reliability data and potential application-specific prototypes.