Xenics, a new IMEC spin-off in formation, received the European award for Best European Small Enterprise Initiative. This prize is one of the four ‘European Awards for the Spirit of Enterprise’, a European initiative that supports new entrepreneurship.
Xenics will bring a revolution in the commercial markets for infrared spectroscopy and infrared imaging. Its core business is the design, development and manufacturing of lowcost but high-quality infrared imaging sensors. These image sensors are based on a number of patented technologies and key know how which, in exchange for a shareholding, IMEC will bring to the new company. The research that gave rise to these technologies started already at IMEC in1987 and got a boost in 1998 with the creation of a dedicated Detector Systems Group. Until its formation, Xenics will incubate in IMEC.
The company’s CEO Bob Grietens, a former IMEC researcher in the field of infrared components, states: “The potential for infrared imaging devices is enormous provided that prices for these devices will be drastically reduced. Via IMEC, Xenics will have access to technologies that may realize price reductions of a factor 10 or more. That’s why it is our vision that future infrared cameras will be available for 1.000 Euro or less, so that they are affordable for almost any application.”
Applications for infrared spectroscopy and imaging systems can be found in most industries for on-line quality control or process monitoring or for predictive maintenance. In addition, these vision systems can be applied in the automotive industry for improved night vision or improved vision in bad weather conditions. Other application domains are telecommunications, security for nighttime surveillance, medical applications, etc. The next century will see an exponential growth in the demand for infrared imaging devices. Market analysts such as Frost & Sullivan forecast that the market for infrared imaging systems will know an annual average growth of 45% for the next years.
Xenics is ready to start with a staff of 8 people, all of them with experience in infrared technology. Several employees are former IMEC researchers and some have over twenty years of experience in this field. Currently, Xenics is still looking for other investors to complete the first round of funding.
