An outstanding CTO: Who is Elin Langhammer?

We are thrilled to present you with an inside look into tech’s most cryptic role: the role of a Chief Technology Officer. The following interview is conducted as part of our participation in the Gothenburg Tech Week 2021. By interviewing Sweden’s top female CTOs, we are honored to highlight outstanding professionals - the norm breakers and trailblazers in the field.

Elin Langhammer is the founder and CTO at Insplorion AB. Her passions in life are sailing, baking and spending time with family and friends. You are most likely to meet Elin in the archipelago sailing or exploring some small and preferably remote island. In this interview, you’ll get to know her even better.

How did you get to the position you are in today, and what do you do there?

During my Ph.D. I invented the NanoPlasmonic Sensing (NPS) technology, which became the foundation for the spin-off company Insplorion AB. Today I’m working full time as CTO at Insplorion, where we develop and sell sensors and scientific instruments based on the NPS technology. I’m mainly involved in the development of our sensor for monitoring the charge level and health of lithium-ion batteries, but I also partake in the development of our hydrogen and air quality sensors.

What does your background look like?

I was born and raised in Kristinehamn, Värmland. I have a Master of Science degree in Engineering Biology from Linköping University of Technology. This education provided the perfect mix of everything that I was interested in - technology, physics, math and bioscience. After having done my diploma thesis at the dentistry department at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada I started my Ph.D. studies at Chalmers University of Technology. During my Ph.D. I worked with the NPS technology for diverse applications like bioscience and catalysis.

What is something that you’ve learned during your professional life and what do you look forward to in the future?

Founding and working at Insplorion has been a great journey and I have learned a lot. Being at a small company you are constantly challenged and pushed outside your comfort zone, which has made me grow and advance. Today Insplorion has 15 employees, which is a great difference from four as we were only four years ago. Although I have been working there for more than ten years, every day is different and brings new challenges and work tasks. I look forward to many more years at Insplorion with new achievements, products, and insights.