The consortium consists of 29 partners from eight European countries: Finland, Austria, Germany, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Sweden, and Switzerland.
TietoEVRY
TietoEVRY creates digital advantage for businesses and society. It is a leading digital services and software company with local presence and global capabilities. The Nordic values and heritage steer the company’s success.
Having a strong role in the ecosystems, TietoEVRY uses their software and services capabilities to create tools and services that simplify everyday life of millions of people; to help our customers renew their businesses by capturing the opportunities of modernization, digitalization and innovation. TietoEVRY employs around 24 000 experts globally. The company serves thousands of enterprise and public sector customers in more than 90 countries.
aixACCT Systems GmbH
aixACCT Systems GmbH develops, produces and sells highly specialized measurement systems for ferro/piezoelectric materials used in the manufacture of MEMS, actuators, sensors and memories. We are supplier and partner of many well-known automotive and semiconductor companies as well as research institutes worldwide. Based on microcontroller solutions that were well established at aixACCT Systems for Highly Accelerated Lifetime Test, a charging controller for our subsidiary aixACCT charging solutions has been developed and qualified back in 2015. Since that time more than 10.000 charge points are using several types of charge controllers from aixACCT.
AixControl GmbH
AixControl GmbH was created in 2002 and is active since 2004 in the market of power electronics. It is a medium-size enterprise with at present 25 employees. The business activities of AixControl includes the development and distribution of control systems and real-time simulators, the development and production of power electronic products and end-of-line test equipment for testing converters and drives, as well as order-related consulting and development in the fields of power electronics and electrical drives. The average sales revenue is about 3 Mio. EUR.
ams OSRAM
ams OSRAM designs and manufactures high-performance sensor solutions for applications requiring the highest level of miniaturization, integration, accuracy, sensitivity and lower power. Products include sensor solutions, sensor ICs, interfaces and related software for mobile, consumer, communications, industrial, medical, and automotive markets. ams OSRAM advanced developments drive worldwide leading applications requiring small form factor, low power, highest sensitivity and multi-sensor integration being present with optical sensors in the most advanced smartphones.
ams OSRAM headquarters are in Premstaetten near Graz, Austria with a state-of-the art 200mm CMOS manufacturing line including optical interference filter and post-processing capabilities. Key research and development facilities are based at the headquarter in Austria covering technology R&D and IC design development departments together with 18 design centres worldwide. With ams Int. AG CH (former Heptagon) in Rüschlikon AMS operates an R&D centre developing advanced optical components and packages for highest level of sensor miniaturization. With the acquisition of Princeton Optronics, US in 2017 AMS extended its portfolio for optical sensing with state-of-the art VCSEL (vertical cavity surface emitting laser) emitter solutions providing industry leadership when it comes to VCSEL array power density, conversion efficiency and pitch.
Employing worldwide >8,500 people, AMS operates direct sales offices in all major regions of the world. Leveraging more than 20 years of automotive experience (including ISO 26262), a significant footprint is in 3D consumer electronics, and capabilities to co-develop emitter, current driver and optics. AMS revenue in 2019 exceeded 2.0B$ with a major contribution from advanced consumer and mobile sensor device solutions.
AMS launched in 2019 an offer for the takeover of OSRAM Licht AG to create a new global leader in sensor solutions and photonics. The acquisition is expected to be finalized in 2020. AMS is listed on the SIX Swiss stock exchanges (ticker symbol: AMS).
Applied Materials Italia srl
Applied Materials Italia (AMAT) was founded in 1967 as Baccini SpA, and in 1972 developed its first screen printing machine for microelectronics, most likely the very first in Europe at the time. In 2008 Baccini SpA was acquired by Applied Materials and is now Applied Materials Italia Srl. It is the world leader in equipment for screen printing, handling equipment, and laser for the photovoltaic industry. The know-how of Applied Materials Italia is protected by many patents, and several others are filed or under filing, thanks to a great R&D effort carried out both internally (by using Applied Materials R&D workforce and network) and externally, in collaboration with R&D institutions around the world and with its customers. AMAT Italia expertise includes key manufacturing technologies such as screen printing, laser processes and systems and test and sort equipment.
In the last years, AMAT opened new opportunities in Electrodes Printing, Packaging and Lithograph for Printed electronics markets. Our capability are focused in file line printing, side printing , via Filling and Pocket filling, die attach, sensors, automotive circuits, white goods.
Aurora Powertrains Oy
Aurora Powertrains, founded in 2017, is a spinoff from Lapland University of Applied Sciences (LUAS). The founding team of four engineers worked in LUAS researching and developing eSled – electric snowmobiles since ~2010. In addition to electric snowmobile manufacturing and development, the company also provides world’s first electric snowmobile safaris through Aurora eMotion brand in collaboration with Safartica.
The company has developed its own electric powertrain platform which can be adapted to fit various off-road, work machine, etc. applications. The core technologies are designed and assembled inhouse and include battery modules, battery management systems, power distribution units, vehicle and charging control units, telemetry device and instrument cluster. Key expertise includes electric powertrain design and integration, embedded systems, electronics, software development and CAD.
CISC Semiconductor GmbH
CISC is an international oriented and highly awarded company that provides competitive and innovative products and technology for design and verification of heterogeneous networked embedded microelectronic systems. CISC delivers worldwide both products and engineering services to our customers being represented in the Semiconductor, Automotive, Wireless Communication and RFID industry. CISC was founded in 1999 and is 100% privately owned SME with currently a staff of 35 people. The headquarters office is based in Klagenfurt, Austria, since 2007 a R&D office in Graz, Austria, is in place. In 2012 CISC founded its 100% subsidiary CISC Semiconductor Corp.in Mountain View (CA), USA for sales and product support of US based customers.
CSEM Centre Suisse D’Electronique et de Micro-Technique SA
CSEM, Centre Suisse d’Electronique et de Microtechnique (Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology), founded in 1984, is a private non-profit applied research and development center specializing in micro- and nanotechnology, systems engineering, photovoltaics, microelectronics, and communications technologies – corresponding to domains in which it has acquired over the years a national and international reputation. CSEM offers its customers and industry partners custom-made, innovative solutions based on its knowledge of the market and the technological expertise derived from applied research. The CSEM PV-center is an industry driven, application-oriented program within CSEM created to bring new hightech solutions for solar components and systems to technological maturity, and serve the global renewable energy industry. The PV-center is able to provide a full range of services to partners, ranging from technology development to product prototyping including the realization of full-size demonstration systems. The infrastructure of the PV-center includes specialty systems for coating, patterning, printing, and fabrication processes, module testing and degradation, as well as pilot manufacturing lines – from glass cleaning and wafer etching up to the assembly of fully functional PV modules and systems. By expanding its knowledge and adapting it to the needs of industry, new products are brought to market and new ventures are created. In 2019, CSEM had a 82 million CHF turnover. Today 470 people with industrial backgrounds, mostly top-level engineers and holders of PhDs, dedicate their passion to this mission.
DigitalTwin Technology GmbH
DigitalTwin Technology is a technology company founded in 2018 and based in Cologne, Germany. We are working in developing digital twin for the manufacturing, construction, and ICT industries. We are optimizing ideation process and planning with the support of a digital twin. Design construction sites or the entire city digitally and simulate their characteristics virtually. Plan, simulate and engineer the site digitally. Evaluate and assess the performance of real infrastructure like building, bridges, tunnels etc. in real-time and order to optimize all continuously. This is only possible with a holistic approach like Tunnelware and Cityware provided by DigitalTwin Technology. Other solutions we have Airportware, Railware, Industryware and Constructionware.
Fixposition AG
Fixposition is on a mission to simplify autonomous navigation by increasing reliability and availability of precise positioning. The company develops deep sensor fusion of RTK-GNSS, IMU, and computer vision to ensure high-reliability of centimeter-accurate positioning in all types of environments. This disruptive technology enables safer and more automated operation of drones and ground robotic vehicles.
Fraunhofer
The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft (FHG) is one of the leading organizations of applied research in Europe, undertaking contract research on behalf of industry, the service sector and government. There are two departments involved in this project from the Fraunhofer institute: Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microintegration (FhG IZM) and The Fraunhofer Institute for Microelectronic Circuits and Systems (FhG IMS).
Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microintegration (FHG IZM) works on assembly, packaging and interconnection technologies embedded into the microelectronics alliance (VμE) of the Fraunhofer society. FHG IZM focuses its activities on the area of microelectronic packaging and heterogeneous system integration. FHG IZM was founded in 1993, turnover in 2019 was > 30 Mio Euros; staff consists of more than 250 scientists and technicians from various occupational areas as material science, electrical & mechanical engineering, physics, chemistry and more.
The Fraunhofer Institute for Microelectronic Circuits and Systems (FhG IMS) has been engaged in research and development of new sensor concepts for more than 30 years. In the business area “Wireless & Transponder Systems”, energy-autonomous and wireless sensor systems have been playing a central role for quite some time. Machine learning and methods of AI to optimize and extend the functional range of such systems are currently and in the future a focus of the research and development activities of the Fraunhofer IMS.
Website LinkedIn (IZM) and LinkedIn (IMS) Twitter
Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per la Nanoelettronica (IUNET)
The National Interuniversity Consortium for Nanoelectronics (IUNET, “Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per la Nanoelettronica”) is an inter-university consortium, including 11 of the most reputed Italian universities (Politecnico of Milan, Politecnico of Turin, the Universities of Bologna, Calabria, Ferrara, Modena and Reggio Emilia, Padua, Perugia, Pisa, Rome “La Sapienza” and Udine). Its mission, consisting of putting together different competencies to accomplish complex tasks, is in perfect accordance with the ECSEL project goal to foster European leadership in ECS. Indeed, taking part in the project, the members of IUNET will leverage their expertise, ranging from nanoelectronics to microwave engineering, including physics, modelling, characterization, design and reliability of micro- and nano-electronic components for digital and analogue applications, optoelectronic and power devices, sensors and biosensors, renewable energy production facilities, energy harvesting and energy storage; to set up highly innovative and optimized solutions. The Consortium was constituted as a legal entity by a formal act on February 21, 2005. Its statutory bodies are the Assembly of Representatives, the Scientific Council and the Director. As of March 2017, the President of the Assembly of IUNET is Prof. Giuseppe Iannaccone (University of Pisa) and the Director is Prof. Luca Selmi (University of Udine).
IUNET has the statutory purpose of promoting research in its various application areas, and acts as a support structure for Associated Universities, coordinating the promotion and implementation of research projects with high innovative content. In conducting European and national projects, IUNET acts as a unified interface of the Italian Universities, involving from time to time those units with demonstrated competence in the project’s themes, and taking care of the scientific and administrative reporting of the activities carried out.
The IUNET parties involved in the ENERGY-ECS project are University of Perugia (UNIPG), University of Udine (UNIUD), University of Bologna (UNIBO), and Politecnico di Torino (POLITO).
Lapland University of Applied Sciences
Lapland University of Applied Sciences (Lapland UAS) is a higher education establishment which has campuses in three different cities in northern Finland: Rovaniemi, Kemi and Tornio. The turnover of Lapland UAS is about 44,5 million euros and the volume of research, development and innovation activities is about 9.6 million euros. The number of employees is 370 persons. Lapland UAS is providing bachelor and master level degrees having 5600 students in several fields of education: Agriculture and Forestry, Arts, Business Administration, Engineering, Manufacturing and Construction, Health and Welfare, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTS), Hospitality management, Sport studies, and Social Sciences. Lapland UAS has an important role as regional developer through education, research, development and innovation activities. Lapland UAS has been audited and quality awarded by the Finnish Higher Education Evaluation Council (FINHEEC). At the beginning of the year 2014 Europe Business Assembly (EBA) has granted Best Regional Universities award for Lapland UAS.
Luna Geber Engineering s.r.l
Luna Geber Engineering S.r.l. (LGE) is an innovative start-up, spin-off company of the University of Perugia, Engineering department, founded on January the 15th, 2019.
This early phase of its life is characterized by the following technology domains: HF/MW electronics, green electronics, flexible electronics, smart sensing, IoT communications, IoT systems applied mainly to the following market sectors, mostly related to smart and distributed monitoring: precision farming, smart livestock, smart building and condition monitoring.
More generally, LGE’s approach is to develop custom, high granularity services and systems aimed at monitoring, prevention and decision-making aid to meet specific customer needs in the mentioned sectors.
Thanks to years of university experience in the field of green electronics, its sensors can make use of unconventional substrates of organic origin, biodegradable (and in perspective compostable) as well as flexible and suitable for roll-to-roll mass production. The latest generation technologies both as regards to data transmission (NB-IoT, LoRa, Sigfox, RFID technologies …) and as regards to the hardware part are implemented accordingly to the new paradigm towards the “fourth industrial revolution” posed to the physical layers of the new ICTs.
Merus Power Oyj
Merus Power Oyj is a publicly listed company (an SME), founded in 2008.
Merus Power develops and manufactures products and solutions for power quality, energy efficiency and energy storage applications. Solutions include active harmonic filters, dynamic reactive power compensation systems (STATCOM/SVC) and battery energy storage systems (ESS). Solutions are based on power electronic equipment such as bidirectional grid inverter, developed and manufactured in-house.
The company has a global sales network and has delivered products and solutions to all continents. The company was born global, but in the latest years the domestic market has also proven important with the growth of the battery energy storage market. As an example, in 2019 Merus signed a contract for delivering the power conversion system to the ESS system largest in the Nordic countries at the time of annunciation.
Merus Power has a staff of just under 50 people, out of which more than 15 in R&D. The company’s broad in-house expertise ranges from electrical and mechanical engineering to deep knowledge in power electronics and software. Also the capability and experience in delivering projects on turn-key basis is worth noting. Above all the company specializes in power quality and is able to provide a solution to any power quality related challenge. In 2019 the company’s turnover was 10.3 M€. In recent years, the company’s business and R&D efforts have been in constant growth. To facilitate this, the company has been actively recruiting; a trend that is foreseen to continue in coming years as well.
Net Feasa Limited
Net Feasa is a wireless service provider founded in 2015, is focused on providing IoT data connectivity, connectivity management, analytics and machine learning for smart containers (intermodal transport containers).
We are an extra territorial M2M (IoT) mobile network operator with our own MCC MNC (272 21) and IMSI range and the holders of 15 million MSISDN numbers. Our team has extensive competence in the design and deployment of both cellular and IoT networks, with experience stretching back over 30 years, multiple generations of mobile systems technology and across all major regions of the world. Since our founding we have designed, procured, tested and launched communications and IoT services for global customers. Clients include one of the world’s Top 10 consumer electronics companies and leading shipping companies. Our R&D team is based in Dingle, Ireland and has developed our own cloud based IoT connectivity, management and Analytics/Machine Learning platform called EvenKeel. EvenKeel is already commercially deployed for the purpose of refrigerated container cargo tracking and monitoring.
Nokian Tyres Plc
Nokian Tyres Plc is the world’s northernmost tyre manufacturer that offers peace of mind in all conditions. Our know-how stems from our Scandinavian roots and values. Sustainable safety and eco-friendliness across the entyre life cycle are the goals for our passenger car tyres, truck tyres and heavy tyres. Our Group also includes the Vianor chain, specialising in vehicle maintenance and tyre services.
Nokian Tyres is a strong brand especially in the Nordic countries and Russia, while Central Europe and North America are growth markets for us. Our innovative and pioneering products, high-quality services and strong distribution network help us increase our market share in growth regions. In the long term, we want to operate on all significant winter tyre markets. In 2020, the company’s turnover was approximately EUR 1.3 billion and it employed some 4,600 people. Nokian Tyres is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.
RISE Research Institutes of Sweden
RISE, Research Institutes of Sweden AB, owned by Swedish state, has wide range of R&D&I areas, testbeds and demonstration facilities instrumental in future-proofing technologies, products and services. In international collaboration with industry, academia and the public sector, we ensure the competitiveness of the business community and contribute to a sustainable society.
Sensors and Material group and Sensor Systems group develop sustainable wireless sensors systems prototypes for applications ranging from biotechnology to automotive, from environment to industry. Our roles in the project are for development of energy harvesting system and power management electronics for harsh environment of automotive and transport logistics.
Ro Technology srl
Ro Technology (RoTech), as a research and technological innovation company was established in January 2011. RoTech develops and validates applications, tools, firmware and hardware components for several markets including Defence, Telco, Aerospace, Smart cities, Agriculture and Transportation. Such experience has been acquired through a well-established co-operation with most of the major Italian and European electronic industries, the development of products, and the participation in several research projects and other European or national organizations: since its inception participates in European research projects. 70% of its employees have extensive experience in teaming up with international research teams, industries and small companies. RoTech’s Headquarter and R&D are located in Rome with branch office in Milan. The current staff is 54, including R&D and professional services.
SCANTINEL PHOTONICS GmbH
SCANTINEL PHOTONICS is a world-leading FMCW LiDAR start-up company, headquartered in Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Incubated in the global optics leader Carl Zeiss AG in 2016, SCANTINEL PHOTONICS was later established as an independent company in 2019 with four founders and is currently backed by ZEISS Ventures and Scania Growth Capital. As of October 2021, the company has grown to the size of 34 employees from more than 10 countries.
The founding team has started the FMCW LiDAR development on their own initiative in 2016 as a strategic innovation project within Carl Zeiss AG. During the first 3 years of operation the team created the technology basis, established the key partnerships, and engaged in early business development and customer interactions.
The founding team brings more than 50 years’ experience in optical, photonic and semiconductor laser technologies and has an impressive scientific, technical, and business track record at key technology companies. This includes wide experience of new technology introduction in high volume and cost sensitive businesses, in depth knowledge of key chip manufacturing processes and long experience in partnership building and co-operation. The company has been then expanded with professionals and fresh graduates with different education and industry experience to create a fast-moving team that combines a set of diverse skills that complement each other.
With the creation of the start-up the company has built a first demonstrator of the proposed FMCW Lidar solution. At this stage, SCANTINEL is proving the problem/solution fit of its technology and is in discussion with different key actors of the autonomous mobility ecosystem to prove the concept and to further refine the specification required by the industry.
SCANTINEL PHOTONICS, from the start, followed a clear strategy to select internationally best-in-class technology partners to aggregate the most advanced know-how and technology available globally in the core technology fields relevant for coherent LiDAR. In particular, the company is in strong existing technology partnerships with international players in the field of photonic integration, FMCW lidar and optics. They provide not only technical solution but also deep knowledge of the market and solid expertise that are fundamental to successfully bring SCANTINEL’s technology to a mature level matching the industry expectations.
Strætó bs.
Strætó is the Public transportation Administrator for Iceland and Operates 60% of the bus fleet in the greater Reykjavik Area. Around 300 employees, Revenue in the year 2019 was 65 M€. Strætó was founded 2001 in its current form, but has roots back to 1931, when public transportation was established in Reykjavík. Strætó is the administrator for Paratransit in several municipalities in the greater Reykjavík Area.
Svarmi ehf
By building disruptive aerial technologies, including SVARMSAT; the first drone-as-a-satellite, Svarmi is digitizing the earth. Svarmi helps its clients make better decisions and achieve data-driven sustainability; measuring progress towards ambitious operational and ESG goals, using data from drones, satellites, and on ground sensors and combining artificial intelligence and human expertise to process and extract relevant indices and insights from data. Founded in 2013, Svarmi has built award winning technology and served over 110 clients across sectors, including renewable energy, carbon finance, governments and municipalities, engineering, architecture, and industrial facilities.
Swiss Airtainer SA (SAT)
Swiss Airtainer (SAT) is developing smart and environmental friendly Temperature controlled air cargo containers to transport Temperature Sensitive and life saving pharma products. the Pharma industry is losing roughly € 40 billion per year due to Temperature Excursion and over € 110 billion due to counterfeiting, theft and product replacement leading to over 3 million human casualties. We are focusing not only to partially address these forthcoming but we are looking to do so in a cost effective and environmentally friendly way.
Tyndall National Institute (UCC)
Tyndall National Institute is a leading European research centre in integrated ICT hardware and systems. Central to Tyndall’s mission is delivering economic impact through research excellence. Tyndall works with industry and academia to transform research into products in our core market areas of communications, agri-tech, energy, environment, and health. Tyndall National institute is a part of University College Cork – National University of Ireland, Cork (UCC).
As the national institute for micro/nanoelectronics and photonics, and a research flagship of University College Cork, Tyndall employs over 450 researchers, engineers and support staff, with a cohort of 120 full-time graduate students. Together we generate over 300 peer-reviewed publications annually. With a network of >200 industry partners and customers worldwide, Tyndall generates 85% of its €4035M income each year from competitively won contracts.
Unikie Oy
Unikie is a Finnish software technology company that develops technologies for protected real-time processes. Our services concentrate on the crossroads of three global macrotrends – IoE, 5G, and AI, where our technology solutions enable a constant awareness of surroundings, as well as decision-making and control based on it.
Our clients include pioneers of real-time data utilization in the automotive industry as well as other industries and telecommunication companies worldwide. Our experienced developers combine their own technical expertise and customer expertise to create customized applications that directly meet industry and company requirements. With the technology created by us, customers are pioneers in the digital transformation of their field.
Founded in 2015, Unikie is one of Finland’s fastest growing technology companies. In 2020 our sales were 33 million euros. Our goal for the near future is to keep up our rapid international growth, because the demand for our AI, deep technology and security solutions is increasing rapidly everywhere. We employ over 400 software developers in Sweden, Germany, Poland, Estonia and the United States. Our clients include Sandvik, Nokia, Valmet and Ponsse.
Xenergic AB
Xenergic is a memory IP providing company founded in 2017 as a spin-off from Lund University, Sweden. We offer a revolutionizing low-power and wide performance range memory IP for digital integrated circuits (ICs) such as AI/ML applications, MEMS products, image sensors, low power Bluetooth, IoT modems and edge processors, high-speed applications such ISPs, communication, networking, and processors. Our memories typically reduce the power consumption of an entire System on Chip by 70-90%.
The SRAM IP that we offer uses reliable foundry supplied bitcells, is tailored to the customer’s needs, and is industry leading in terms of energy efficiency, performance, and reliability at low voltages. We have also developed several of our own Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools, which form the foundation of our unique in-house SRAM design process MemoryTailorTM.
We currently have 14 full-time employees, where 5 have a PhD in electrical engineering with several years of relevant work experience, and the remaining members of our team have a master’s degree in engineering. We hold one patent in the USA, Europe, China, and South Korea, and six more patent applications have been submitted.
Xenergic recently raised 40M SEK in a pre-IPO share issues, showing a great interest in our memory technology, and strengthening our market position as a leading provider of high performance on-chip memories.