The enormous importance of the science behind innovation is apparent through the foundation history of Optics11 that was co-founded, among others, by VU Amsterdam professor of experimental physics Davide Iannuzzi. The current CEO Paul Heiden shares his thoughts about Optics11' special origin:
"Over the last few years, I have spoken to many large companies, all of which have tried to do the same thing as us. It speaks volumes that they have not succeeded. To build such a lead, you need an inventor, but also specialists who can turn it into a truly working product."
The strength of the VU University Amsterdam spin-off Optics11 lies in the combination of innovative sensor technology and threat detection software. Much infrastructure runs along the seabed, for example. By connecting highly accurate fibre-optic sensors to it, which can ‘hear’ the slightest vibrations, sabotage and disruptions become immediately apparent.
Latest generation of submarines
Optics11 is also involved with the development of the Royal Netherlands Navy’s new submarines. In collaboration with Thales, a comprehensive sonar system has been developed to provide advanced imaging of the underwater environment. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in strengthening underwater surveillance and national security. Paul Heiden emphasises: “The submarine example really illustrates very well just how revolutionary Davide’s invention has been.”
Renewal of energy infrastructure
Another innovative application is within energy infrastructure. Optics11’s fibre-optic sensors are immune to electromagnetic interference, allowing you to create a smart warning system that precisely identifies small signs of problems in the power grid. This prevents outages. CEO Paul Heiden explains:
“That is absolutely urgent! At the current rate of power grid expansion, there are hardly any transformers available to replace existing ones, even though they are often well past their planned lifespan. By ‘hearing’ leakage current at a very early stage, we enable power companies to carry out maintenance much sooner and thus structurally extend the lifespan of transformers. A real breakthrough has been achieved here: you can listen incredibly well using light.”