The bilateral funding from Innovate UK and Innosuisse will support the two-year QDHIGHSWIR research project into overcoming challenges in creating larger QD materials suitable for use in high-speed short-wave infrared (SWIR) cameras.
The project started, which began in December 2024, is focused on methods for accelerating commercialisation of Quantum Science’s INFIQ infrared QD technology and strengthening its position in the QD image sensor market.
It will be run in conjunction with Photonfocus, a Swiss manufacturer of CMOS cameras, image sensors, and OEM camera modules, which will incorporate the sensor into its portfolio of high-performance industrial machine vision cameras.
INFIQ QDs are nanoscale semiconductor materials that can absorb and emit light in specific wavelengths across the visible, near-infrared, short-wave infrared (SWIR), and mid-wave infrared (MWIR) spectra.
Existing SWIR sensing technologies typically rely on bulky, expensive components that struggle with high dark noise and energy consumption. INFIQ infrared QD technology looks to overcome these challenges with high uniformity and optical and electrical properties, enabling low-cost single-step deposition that perfectly fits the semiconductor industry’s need for wafer-scale processing.
Innovate UK is a government project that offers businesses funding to accelerate innovation and drive investment in research and development.
Commenting Dr Hao Pang, CEO & Founder of Quantum Science, said, “This latest research project, funded by Innovate UK, marks a crucial step for the SWIR camera sector as we look to further advance INFIQ technology. From AI-equipped quality control cameras that can easily identify the smallest hidden defects to medical sensors that will help doctors detect subdermal conditions without invasive procedures, the use cases for SWIR imaging and sensing are growing rapidly and Quantum Science is at the forefront of their development.
“INFIQ QDs make these revolutionary applications more accessible than ever, bringing the next generation of this technology into businesses around the world.”
