The GIDPROvis consortium consists of the following members.
The University of Helsinki (https://www.helsinki.fi/en) is the oldest and largest institution of academic education in Finland, an international scientific community of 40,000 students and researchers. In international university rankings, the University of Helsinki typically ranks among the top 100. The University of Helsinki seeks solutions for global challenges and creates new ways of thinking for the best of humanity. Through the power of science, the University has contributed to society, education and welfare since 1640. The University places special emphasis on the quality of education and research and is a member of the League of the European Research Universities (LERU). University of Helsinki extensive experience in participating EU research projects (more than 430 participations in FP7 and H2020 programmes). The Department of Chemistry at UH is the leading department of chemistry teaching and research in Finland. The research carried out at the department is highly valued internationally, and it is divided into three research programmes: Materials Chemistry, Molecular Science, and Synthesis and Analysis (https://www.helsinki.fi/en/faculty-of-science/faculty/chemistry).
The Finnish institute for Verification of the Chemical Weapons Convention (VERIFIN) is an institute in the Department of Chemistry under the Faculty of Science at UH (www.helsinki.fi/verifin). VERIFIN is an internationally recognised institute in Chemical Warfare Agent (CWA) analysis continuously performing research and finding advanced solutions on sample preparation and synthesis of reference chemicals utilizing various analytical methods including mass spectrometry combined with chromatographic methods for especially targeting CWAs, explosives and other hazardous chemicals. VERIFIN strongly focuses on environmental analytical chemistry to support chemical disarmament and develops tools for verification of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). VERIFIN is an accredited testing laboratory (T073) by the Finnish Accreditation Service (FINAS) (http://www.finas.fi) since 1996. The scope of accreditation is “Verification of chemical weapons (flexible scope): Environmental testing, material and product testing, and clinical testing” (ISO/IEC 17025:2017). VERIFIN is one of the designated laboratories of the Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, OPCW. VERIFIN was presented with The OPCW-The Hague Award in 2014 “For Significant Contributions to Achieving a World Free of Chemical Weapons.”
The Department of Sensors and Measurement Technology (SMT) of the Institute of Electrical Engineering and Measurement Technology, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Germany, mainly concentrates on the development of new physical and chemical sensor principles, sensors (nanosensors) and compact analytical tools for fast detection of trace-compounds in liquids and air mainly for medical, biotechnological, environmental, safety and security applications, covering both fundamental research aspects and application oriented projects often in close cooperation with industrial, clinical and scientific partners.
In particular, the SMT group has years of experience and comprehensive know-how in trace-compound detection in air with a focus on compact high-resolution ion mobility spectrometers (IMS) covering all aspects form analytical models and multi-physics FEM-simulations, system design and rapid prototyping, different non-radioactive ionization sources to special electronics, such as fast, low-noise, high-gain amplifiers and fast, high-resolution data acquisition. Furthermore, the SMT group develops hyphenated IMS systems, e.g. closed gas loop IMS with fast gas-chromatographic pre-separation (GC-IMS) and IMS coupled to mass spectrometers (IMS-MS). Other related fields are atmospheric pressure ionization (API), ion chemistry and low pressure charge transfer reactions leading to low-pressure IMS (HiKE-IMS) for fast and quantitative gas detection even in complex gas mixtures with an extended range of detectable compounds.
Besides IMS, the SMT group develops new sensors based on electromagnetic effects, e.g. for biomarker detection, bioreactor monitoring, tissue characterization and other applications. Furthermore, the SMT group has comprehensive expertise in the development of tailored electronics and well equipped research laboratories including chemical labs with reference analytics and gas dosing equipment for low ppb-level concentrations, electronics labs and machine shops (CNC) for manufacturing prototypes. Both the electronics labs and the machine shops are operated by highly experienced staff. Besides Professor Zimmermann, leading the Institute and the SMT group, 18 fully employed research engineers, about 25 student research assistants, 15 students working on their final theses, 1 chief scientific engineer, 1 technical and 1 administrative employee belong to the SMT group.
An overview of all current research activities can be found here: https://www.geml.uni-hannover.de/en/smt
Airsense Analytics GmbH (est. 1996) develops and produces innovative gas detection equipment based on combination of gas sensors. The most important product are the gas detector array (GDA) systems used for the fast detection of chemical warfare agents and toxic industrial chemicals. They are based on ion mobitiy spectrometry and their combination with photo ionization detectors and /or electrochemical cells and/or metal oxide sensors. About 60 people are currently working at Airsense. Airsense has a global marketing network and with extensive experience of first-responder needs and operational requirements is well-placed to exploit and develop and expand commercial opportunities in this field.
Karsa Oy, founded in 2016, is a University of Helsinki spin-off commercialising ultrasensitive chemical threat detection equipment with high sensitivity and specificity originally developed for climate change research with focus in Homeland Security Applications. Based on proprietary technology Karsa has developed a prototype molecular explosives detector system. It is based on selective, soft chemical ionization, high resolution time of flight mass spectrometry enabling the unambiguous detection of explosives molecules. Leveraging the university group’s outstanding knowledge of gas, air ion and aerosol sampling, Karsa has demonstrated the touchless detection of minute, nanogram amounts of explosives. A prototype has been successfully tested in an operational environment at the Helsinki International Airport in May 2016. Karsa is taking chemical ionization mass spectrometry from research to industrial applications and is now focusing on commercialising this technology for the detection of explosives in aviation security, critical infrastructure and other civil protection and customs & border security applications. In July 2018, Karsa won the Cargo Experience Competition, Hangar by BEDEK, the first commercial aviation innovation lab in Israel that was launched by IsraeliAerospace Industries. Karsa also won the Bosch “Safety and Security in Smart Cities” challenge in December 2018. Karsa’s staff decades of experience in atmospheric sampling including at remote locations all over the planet are a significant asset for this project.
Atos is a global leader in digital transformation with approximately 100,000 employees in 72 countries and annual revenue of around € 12 billion. The European number one in Big Data, Cybersecurity, High Performance Computing and Digital Workplace, The Group provides Cloud services, Infrastructure & Data Management, Business & Platform solutions, as well as transactional services through Worldline, the European leader in the payment industry. With its cutting-edge technologies, digital expertise and industry knowledge, Atos supports the digital transformation of its clients across various business sectors: Defense, Financial Services, Health, Manufacturing, Media, Energy & Utilities, Public sector, Retail, Telecommunications and Transportation.
The Group is the Worldwide Information Technology Partner for the Olympic & Paralympic Games and operates under the brands Atos, Atos Consulting, Atos Worldgrid, Bull, Canopy, Unify and Worldline. Atos SE (Societas Europaea) is listed on the CAC40 Paris stock index. For more information, visit: atos.net
Atos Research & Innovation (ARI) is the R&D hub for emerging technologies and a key reference for the whole Atos group. With almost 30 years of experience in running Research, Development and Innovation projects, we have become a well-known player in the EU context. Our multidisciplinary and multicultural team has the skills to cover all the activities needed to run projects successfully, from scientific leadership to partnership coordination, from development of emerging technologies to the exploitation of project outcomes, with a strong focus on dissemination, innovation adoption and commercialization.
Atos is a founding member of the European Technology Platform NESSI (Networked European Software and Services Initiative). Our company is a major partner in Future Internet-related initiatives being member of the FI PPP Steering Board and Industrial Advisory Board. Since 2014, Atos is a founding member of the Big Data Value Association (BDVA), assuming the roles of Vice-presidency and Deputy Secretary-general. We are also member of the 5G PPP Steering Board. Additionally, Atos is a member of NetWorld2020, NEM, EFFRA, ERTICO, CELTIC, NIS, EOS, LSEC, ETSI, OW2, OASIS, Cloud Security Alliance, Eurocities, etc. Finally Atos is a core member of the KICs EIT HEALTH and EIT DIGITAL. At national level, Atos is currently holding the Presidency and Secretary of PLANETIC for ICT, as well as the Vice-presidency of es.Internet for Future Internet technologies, and is member of several others, such as PESI, Logistop, eVIA for Health and Independent Living, NanoMed or the Spanish Railways Technology Platforms (PTFE).
The Homeland and Security Defence (HSD) Sector within the Atos unit of Research & Innovation coordinates the R&I activities in the security sector, based on experience gained with clients that include national and regional security bodies, intelligence agencies, international bodies (such as the UN, NATO and the EU) and also all types of organizations that address or deal with citizen safety, critical infrastructures, crisis management, crime fighting, law enforcement or border intelligence. The key strengths and special areas of experience span from crisis and emergency management to cross border management and interoperability, simulation of forward-looking security scenarios, economics of security or security societal issues. The team of experts of the HSD Sector has been performing essential security and crisis management projects for many years (e.g. TOXI-triage, DRIVER+, ZONESEC, PACT, VALUESEC, CIRAS, FORCE, RECOBIA, FOCUS, VIRTUOSO, etc.) aiming to close the gaps between technology, IT and the society security related needs and challenges.
Atos has a strong knowledge on sensor integration resulting from the work of the HSD sector in several crisis management and critical infrastructure protection projects. In fact, Atos developed in project TOXI-triage a data hub that collects data from distinct types of sensors and integrates them in a single platform. GIDPROvis will take advantage of the data gathering technologies developed and upgraded in other projects such as the mentioned TOXI-triage and the more recent COSMIC to gather the data from the different sensor types of analyze. Additionally, the experience of the HSD in live data fusion from different cameras will allow Atos providing a data model able to convert the data from analyze sensors, which will be based on single points, to data corresponding to the area to be covered.
National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) team leads Field Analytical Chemistry and Technology Unit (FIACTU) at Department of Chemical Engineering. FIACTU is a highly specialized research unit that focuses on the use and advancement of on‐site (field) chemical analysis in crises management. Previous research has resulted in an integrated range of casualty detection instruments with onsite communications to highly enabled transportable C+C system.
T4i engineering (www.t4ieng.com), is an SME that delivers experience and know-how in applications related to field chemical analysis and R&D project management. More specifically, located at Lavrion Technological and Cultural Park of the National Technical University of Athens (Greece), they specialize on the design and development of advanced chemical detectors for field use either as handheld devices or on-board UAVs. T4i aims at modernizing manufacturing of detectors using advanced design tools, prototyping and key enabling technologies, such as additive/subtractive manufacturing. The company designs field detectors especially useful when detection is needed in harsh environments, where stand-off technology is required for the protection of the operator.