New Infrared Technologies (NIT) is a Madrid-based Spanish company that develops and commercialises industrial cameras and solutions for real-time monitoring and smart control of laser-based industrial processes. These innovative solutions are powered by self-produced infrared cameras manufactured with unique technology. CEO Arturo Baldasano and CTO Germán Vergara shared insights into NIT’s evolution from a young startup to a well-established SME, emphasising the pivotal role EUROPRACTICE played in their journey.
Germán Vergara, PhD, is the co-founder and CTO of NIT. He earned his PhD in Physics from Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and served as a Visiting Scholar at the Electrical Engineering Department of Stanford University. With over 30 years of experience in basic science and applied technologies related to the study and manufacture of electro-optical devices, Germán has authored more than 60 scientific papers and holds 4 international patents.
Arturo Baldasano, MSc, MBA, is the co-founder and CEO of NIT. He holds a Master Executive degree from Instituto de Empresa de Madrid and is accredited as a Security and Features Authority by the London Stock Exchange. With over 25 years of experience, Arturo has held various managerial and directorial roles in the technology sector.
Today, NIT manufactures uncooled Middle Wavelength Infrared (MWIR) detectors, cameras, systems and solutions, focusing on applications in industrial inspections and the automotive sector. Their innovative products are rooted in research that began over 20 years ago at the Spanish Ministry of Defence.
Germán explains: “I used to work in the Ministry’s research group, where we explored various technologies. One of them was the uncooled MWIR detector, which was unique at the time and had the potential to unlock new applications. There was no infrared image detector on the market that was completely uncooled in the wavelength range from 1 to 5 microns. This is why we decided to start a company to industrialise it, leading to the founding of NIT in 2009.”
Arturo elaborates: “The initial technology was analog, but we decided to go fully digital to achieve higher resolution and better performance of infrared detectors. To transform an analog system into a digital one, we needed to design and fabricate a readout integrated circuit. However, as a young startup with limited funds and resources, accessing expensive design and fabrication services was a challenge. This is where EUROPRACTICE helped us.”
EUROPRACTICE is well-known as a one-stop shop that significantly lowers the barriers to accessing design tools and fabrication services, primarily for academic institutions, research institutes, and their spinouts in the EMEA zone. But what about other startups not affiliated with academia? In addition to granting them access to prototyping services, EUROPRACTICE facilitates their collaboration with academia, enabling IP/design transfer and subsequent commercialisation.
Germán shares: “With the support of EUROPRACTICE, the Institute of Microelectronics of Barcelona (IMB-CNM) was able to collaborate with us and handle the design of our chip. IMB-CNM provided expertise in readout integrated circuit development, while NIT contributed our know-how in infrared technology. This integration was crucial for creating a monolithic solution where the infrared material is deposited directly on the CMOS, rather than using a hybrid approach. Together with IMB-CNM, we developed three generations of the readout integrated circuit, using first austriamicrosystems and then X-FAB technologies.”
“We would not be where we are now without EUROPRACTICE. It has significantly minimised risks, making it a perfect way to experiment and initiate new designs. Affordable fabrication services allow you to create new prototypes if you encounter problems and fix them. This continuous improvement is essential for successful development and growth, especially for young companies in the early stages,” reflects CEO Arturo Baldasano on NIT’s journey.
The collaboration between New Infrared Technologies (NIT) and IMB-CNM has led to the successful development of unique, high-speed, fully digital infrared detectors now utilised in various industrial applications.
Germán elaborates: “For instance, the technology is used for monitoring the laser metal deposition process, controlling it, and improving it in real-time to optimize process quality and energy efficiency. It is also applied in the automotive industry, specifically in reducing brake contamination, which is a significant contributor to vehicle emissions. NIT’s system monitors the application of a thin layer on brakes to ensure compliance with upcoming Euro 7 standards.”
“NIT is currently a small company with a team of 10 people, focusing on leveraging collaborations and partnerships for non-core tasks. We are working on expanding our team and market presence, while increasing production capacity and continuing to invest in the development of new and improved infrared detectors. We are proud to say that we are now in discussions with a leading automobile manufacturer. Our success would not have been possible without the support of EUROPRACTICE, and we highly recommend this platform to other startups,” concludes Arturo.
