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Infrared sensing made visible: Combining infrared light sources and upconversion sensors for improved sensitivity in medical applications and gas analysis

Objective

The mid-infrared (mid-IR) wavelength range is an emerging and important new topic for frontier research. Its general importance relates to a multitude of mid-IR industrial and biomedical sensor applications. Chemical finger prints of most complex molecules such as those found in food, tissue or catalytic compounds all have vibrational spectra in the mid-IR, thus identifiable through mid-IR spectroscopy. Incidentally also the fundamental absorption bands of gas molecules are located in the mid-IR enabling novel instrumentation for mid-IR gas spectroscopy at small concentrations relevant for applications like, “leak-tests” or remote sensing of greenhouse gases.
The main obstacle for the exploitation of the mid-IR optical window has been a historical lack of efficient mid-IR excitation light sources and sensitive mid-IR detectors/imaging. In mid-TECH we have gathered the best European academic and industrial partners to show that in a combined effort both technological short comings can be overcome paving the way for novel instrumentation for industry and society. Key elements are novel semiconductor based Quantum Cascade Lasers (QCLs), rugged mid-IR Optical Parametrical Oscillators combined with novel, record “low noise” mid-IR upconversion detection and imaging. These two building blocks will be implemented for cancer diagnostics, for combustion analysis and absorption/DIAL spectroscopy.
Since we are combining frontier research within different mid-IR areas we do not at present have the necessary skilled researchers knowing the combined mid-IR enabling components. It is a main goal of mid-TECH to train 15 ESRs to an outstanding level where they subsequently to their study can act as Europe’s new cross-sectorial technical experts in mid-IR technology at one hand and at the same time fill in a much needed link between academia and industry. This is realized through entrepreneurial courses and secondments between the mid-TECH partners.

Coordinator

DANMARKS TEKNISKE UNIVERSITET
Net EU contribution
€ 1 160 327,52
Address
Anker Engelunds Vej 101
2800 Kongens Lyngby
Denmark

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Region
Danmark Hovedstaden Københavns omegn
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Other funding
€ 0,00

Participants (7)

LUNDS UNIVERSITET
Sweden
Net EU contribution
€ 263 659,32
Address
Paradisgatan 5c
22100 Lund

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Region
Södra Sverige Sydsverige Skåne län
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Other funding
€ 0,00
THE UNIVERSITY OF EXETER
United Kingdom
Net EU contribution
€ 546 575,76
Address
The Queen's Drive Northcote House
EX4 4QJ Exeter

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Region
South West (England) Devon Devon CC
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Other funding
€ 0,00
FORSCHUNGSVERBUND BERLIN EV
Germany
Net EU contribution
€ 249 216,48
Address
Rudower Chaussee 17
12489 Berlin

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Region
Berlin Berlin Berlin
Activity type
Research Organisations
Other funding
€ 0,00
HUMBOLDT-UNIVERSITAET ZU BERLIN
Germany
Net EU contribution
€ 747 649,44
Address
Unter Den Linden 6
10117 Berlin

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Region
Baden-Württemberg Stuttgart Stuttgart, Stadtkreis
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Other funding
€ 0,00
FUNDACIO INSTITUT DE CIENCIES FOTONIQUES
Spain
Net EU contribution
€ 495 745,92
Address
Avinguda Carl Friedrich Gauss 3
08860 Castelldefels

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Region
Este Cataluña Barcelona
Activity type
Research Organisations
Other funding
€ 0,00
NKT PHOTONICS A/S
Denmark
Net EU contribution
€ 290 081,88
Address
Blokken 84
3460 Birkerod

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Region
Danmark Hovedstaden Nordsjælland
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 0,00
RADIANT LIGHT SL
Spain
Net EU contribution
€ 247 872,96
Address
Carrer Copernic, Poligono Industrial Cami Ral 2/4
08850 Gava

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SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Region
Este Cataluña Barcelona
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 0,00

Partners (6)

Partner

Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.

TOPSOE AS
Denmark
Net EU contribution
€ 0,00
Address
Haldor Topsoes Alle 1
2800 Kongens Lyngby

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Region
Danmark Hovedstaden Københavns omegn
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 0,00
Partner

Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.

FOSS ANALYTICAL AS
Denmark
Net EU contribution
€ 0,00
Address
Slangerupgade 69
3400 Hillerød

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Region
Danmark Hovedstaden Nordsjælland
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 0,00
Partner

Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.

EAGLEYARD PHOTONICS GMBH
Germany
Net EU contribution
€ 0,00
Address
Rudower Chaussee 29
12489 Berlin

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Region
Berlin Berlin Berlin
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 0,00
Partner

Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.

Quantiox GmbH
Germany
Net EU contribution
€ 0,00
Address
Newtonstr. 15
D-12489 Berlin

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Region
Berlin Berlin Berlin
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 0,00
Partner

Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.

ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS IN IRELAND
Ireland
Net EU contribution
€ 0,00
Address
St Stephen's Green 123
2 Dublin

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Region
Ireland Northern and Western Border
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Other funding
€ 0,00
Partner

Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.

IRSEE Aps
Denmark
Net EU contribution
€ 0,00
Address
Sparresholmvej 20
2700 Brønshøj

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SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Region
Danmark Hovedstaden Byen København
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 0,00