Nowadays, there is a growing demand of technological solutions to detect and identify leaks in different industries in order to increase its energy efficiency and security. SENSIA is a cutting-edge technology-based company specialized in the development of infrared imaging devices. Our solutions have been already implemented in high-demanding environments such as SO2 leak finder at Glencore, remote detection in Euro-Fighter wings or high accuracy measurement thermography system for SENER Ingenieria. This project intends to respond to the needs and requirements from any industries with fugitive emissions problems, but as first step SENSIA will focus on sulphur dioxide (SO2) leaks, and specifically on sulphuric-acid-related industries. This sector relies on gas leak surveys for crucial aspects such as process efficiency, security, environmental care and pollution control. SENSIA intends to develop and commercialize a low cost uncooled camera based on infrared imaging technology that can easily detect and identify fugitive gas emissions in order to improve the energy and overall efficiency of the chemical, oil & gas, utilities and many other industries. This type of device will be the first of its kind considering that solutions currently available are based on cooled technology, with much higher costs and complexity associated. The proposed solution will imply clear economic benefits for end users such as: - Cheaper instrument in comparison with current IR imaging based solutions (at least 1:2 cost reduction). - Disrupting tool for a better control of SO2 fugitive emissions in short term and many other gases (and markets) in mid-term. - Compliance with novel and coming laws in terms of fugitive emissions control of SO2 and other pollutants. The overall objective of this feasibility study is to develop a market study and corresponding business plan that evaluates the main target markets and best strategies to commercialise the proposed technology.

As the ongoing robotic exploration to Mars has made some tantalising discoveries, the next major step should be retrieving samples from the Martian surface, so they can be investigated in detail in terrestrial laboratories. However, considering the huge costs associated to suh missions, an in-situ dating of rock samples is a more cost-effective approach. Accurate estimation of absolute ages is required in order to understand Mars surface and atmosphere evolutionary processes. Furthermore knowledge on occurrence and time frequency of such processes allow a hazard evaluation for locations/areas, essential for future deployments, missions and eventually humans on Mars. However, a chronology for recent events on Mars is problematic, as uncertainties associated with current methodology (crater counting) are comparable to the younger ages obtained (~ 1 Million years). IN-TIME project addresses the technological and economic viability of a leading-edge instrument for dating of Mars’ surface: a miniaturized Luminescence dating instrument for in-situ examination. Thanks to the development of its innovative technology, and in addition to planetary exploration application, it will also address Earth's field applications as a light and portable dating instrument in geology and archaeology as well as a risk assessment tool for accident and emergency dosimetry and nuclear mass-casualty events.

Heat and fire cause more damage on composites than on metallic counterparts. In order to improve the current epoxy based composites behavior under thermal affection, an alternative is going be addressed: thermoplastic composites. Additionally, the sector is making a transition to a more electric aircraft, increasing the thermal affection on the structure since the number of heat & fire sources. Hence, there are several reasons behind the drastic shift from aluminum and steel to thermoplastics: weight reduction, better fuel economy and lower operation costs, emissions reduction, corrosion and fatigue resistance or, in some cases, flame resistance and retardancy . The framework of this topic is AIRFRAME ITD Work Package B-2.1 and B-2.2 whose objective is to achieve lighter and more cost effective structures. In this line, current tendency at A/C level is to increase the structural contribution of the more efficient composites substituting metallic structures, developing fuselages with optimized usage of volume and minimized weight, cost and environmental impact. Under this framework, the research project HITCOMP aims to characterize the behaviour, under fire and thermal affection, of new high performance thermoplastic composites based on PAEK family resins, for comparison to the current thermoset, epoxy based, composites. HITCOMP aims as well to establish an innovative methodology allowing an affordable characterization of thermoplastics and the prediction of their behaviour and resistence when submitted to fire or high temperature events and to mechanical load. For this purpose, a thermo-mechanical model based on FEM permitting an innovative “virtual” characterization of specimens will be developed. An innovative testing lab based on two co-registrated IR cameras will be developed too. It will allow accurate, non-intrusive measurements of the actual temperature of both sides of the samples during the fire tests and for the adjustment and validation of the model.

There is a growing demand of technological solutions to detect and identify gas leaks in different industries. It is expected that this market will grow from 5.818 M€ in 2015 to 8.000 M€ by 2020, at a CAGR of 6.6%. Products to be developed and demonstrated in this project respond to the specific needs and requirements from industries in the Oil&Gas and chemical (Sulphur dioxide, SO2) sectors. After phase 1 execution SENSIA has confirmed that these sectors are highly demanding a more efficient solution to cope with their fugitive emissions problems. SENSIA ambition is to commercialize an low cost (price reduction of among 70-80% compared with current alternatives) uncooled camera based on infrared imaging technology that can easily detect and identify fugitive gas emissions in the Oil&Gas, chemical (SO2) and many other industries. This device will be the first of its kind considering that solutions currently available are based on cooled technology, with much higher costs and complexity associated. Three different prototypes will be demonstrated in fully operational industrial environments provided by some of the largest and most representative EU companies such as GDF Suez, Enagas, Repsol or TOTAL. These prototypes respond to clear industrial needs identified during the feasibility study (SME instrument phase 1): • Business case 1: Handheld/portable equipment for punctual inspections. • Business case 2: Fixed closed circuit cameras system for large infrastructures surveillance and monitoring. • Business case 3: On board (UAV/drones) equipment for aerial inspections of large infrastructures. Finally, as profitability indicators this project obtains very positive figures such as NPV of +17 M€ or IRR of the 90%. We expect to leverage more than 35 M€ of profits during the first 6 years of commercialization.

New strategic and growing markets related to connectivity, mobility, automotive, health and earth monitoring call for improved imaging solutions in visible, LWIR and VLWIR offering advanced functionalities and cost effectiveness. Visible imagers market is currently largely dominated by non-European countries. LWIR µbolometers imagers, fabricated above-IC, have not yet been democratized for high volume markets due to the difficulty to solve performance versus cost equation. However, Asian providers are making important progress to tackle this challenge. ATHENA aims at strengthening European economy in high-tech imaging technologies: - by taking advantage of 3D stacking technologies, improved sensor-processing integration, multimodal 2D/3D functionalities - by preparing the manufacturing of µbolometers from 200mm to 300mm CMOS wafers for productivity gain and access to more advanced CMOS nodes for improved functionalities, developing cost effective LWIR wafer level optic solutions - by using new methods of growing and doping materials for future VLWIR imager manufacturability. This will foster new applications related to automated systems (in industry, border and security management), health and consumer markets, and earth & climate monitoring. ATHENA gathers a strong European consortium composed of highly renowned Research Technological Organizations, big industrial players in imaging technologies and end-users to specify, design, develop, test these technologies in use cases and set common specifications for the imagers to support their industrialization and widespread adoption. In line with both the European Union’s Chips Act and the Electronics, Components and Systems Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda, ATHENA will not only address the development of new sensors and chips, but also their integration in larger systems to pave the way to promising applications. ATHENA will strongly contribute to Europe leadership, industrial competitiveness and sovereignty.