Tech company lands grant for AI radiation sensor
Kromek has for several years been exploring the application of machine learning across its technologies CEO Arnab Basu
COUNTY Durham tech firm Kromek has secured a £1.3m grant to aid the development of an AI-powered radiation sensor.
The NETPark AIM-listed business, which creates radiation and bio-detection tech solutions, has been awarded the grant under the UK Research and Innovation Horizon Europe guarantee scheme, which will see it take part in the Intelligent Radiation Sensor Readout System (i-RASE) project.
The i-RASE project is being led by DTU Space, a collaboration between a number of organisations in Denmark, Germany, Norway and Italy who are designing, building and testing a new class of radiation sensor based on cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) – one of Kromek’s specialisms – as well as other advanced technologies.
Kromek, which has a base in the US as well as the North East, provides its customers working in imaging with detector components based on its core CZT platform, which enables better detection of diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer’s, contamination in industrial manufacture and explosives in aviation settings.
The DTU Space project is aiming to develop a radiation detector leveraging the latest developments in artificial intelligence, which it says could prove to be transformational for some radiation applications within the medical imaging, industrial inspection, scientific space instrumentation and environmental monitoring. The four-year project starts on March 1.
i-RASE is part of the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme, which is designed to aid collaboration and strengthen the impact of research and innovation in developing, and implementing EU policies while tackling global challenges.
Kromek is receiving £1.3m from UKRI on behalf of the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology, to take part in the project.
Arnab Basu, CEO of Kromek, said: “With the increasing prevalence of AI, Kromek has for several years been exploring the application of machine learning across its technologies, and has generated some significant IP in this area.
“This collaboration brings an opportunity to enhance our expertise by working with field-leading partners throughout Europe, and ultimately lead to improved capabilities of our products across our market segments.”
Kromek recently posted half-year results for the six months to the end of October, showing a rise in revenues from £6.8m to £7.1m while pre-tax losses narrowed to £3.49m from £5.7m previously.