Some of the greatest risks are invisible.
Suspicious substances, contaminated drinks and counterfeit products can appear completely normal. MIEYRA is being developed to bring molecular sensing into portable and wearable devices, helping people make safer decisions using technology they already carry.
A drink may look normal while containing a harmful contaminant. A product may appear genuine while being counterfeit or adulterated. Today, identifying these risks often requires specialist equipment or laboratory analysis.
PhovIR is developing a different approach: molecular sensing small enough to become part of everyday devices.
MIEYRA NIR captured clear spectral differences in vodka containing methanol at 2.5%, 25% and 50%, demonstrating the platform’s ability to distinguish changes associated with contamination in a real-world liquid sample, supporting future development of personal-safety applications.
Future MIEYRA-enabled devices could help users assess suspicious substances, detect drink contamination, identify counterfeit products or identify unknown materials before use.
As sensing becomes smaller and more integrated, these capabilities could move from specialist instruments into wearables, phones, personal electronics and other devices people already use every day.
Our long-term vision is for molecular sensing to become another layer of information available through personal technology, alongside cameras, motion sensing and location.
Instead of simply seeing the world around us, future devices could begin to understand what materials and substances are actually present.
Imagine a wearable or personal device able to assess a suspicious substance, contaminated drink or counterfeit product in seconds. MIEYRA is being developed to make this kind of molecular information accessible through devices people already use.
We work with consumer technology, wearable and product companies to evaluate real materials and use cases using operational MIEYRA hardware.
Programmes can progress from spectral feasibility testing through application development, system integration and joint product development.
John represents SCVC (Science Creates Venture Capital) on the PhovIR board. A serial entrepreneur and investor, John is best known as the founder of Kudan, one of the early pioneers in Physical AI and machine perception. Having built and scaled a publicly listed deep-tech company, he brings valuable expertise in venture growth, capital formation, commercialisation, and international expansion.
Khadija Ashfaq is an Investment Director at Northern Gritstone, a leading investor in university spinouts and deep-tech businesses across the North of England. Representing Northern Gritstone on the PhovIR board, she brings extensive experience in evaluating and scaling science-led companies across semiconductors, AI, quantum technologies, and advanced engineering, providing strategic guidance on growth, investment, and commercialisation.
Tim is Founder and CTO of PhovIR Technologies and inventor of the company’s proprietary MIEYRA sensing platform. Combining over 20 years of experience in photonics, semiconductor technologies, MEMS, and advanced materials, Tim brings a rare blend of deep scientific expertise and commercial technology development experience. His career includes roles at Bosch and IMEC, alongside internationally recognised research leadership, providing the foundation for PhovIR’s next generation of optical sensing technologies.
Tim holds a PhD in Engineering from the University of Cambridge and a degree in Electrical Engineering from RWTH Aachen University.
Ben is Chief Executive Officer of PhovIR Technologies and a deep-tech executive with more than 20 years of experience scaling businesses in photonics, advanced materials, and semiconductor technologies.
Prior to PhovIR, Ben led multiple deep-tech companies, including 2D Photonics, where he was responsible for founding, strategy, fundraising, and commercialisation. Across his career, he has helped secure over €250 million in venture investment and government funding.
Ben founded Surrey NanoSystems and led the invention and commercialisation of the globally recognised Vantablack® technology platform. He has built international manufacturing and supply chains across China, Vietnam, and Mexico for automotive applications, alongside technology programmes supporting space and defence markets in Europe and the United States.
An inventor or co-inventor on 28 patents, Ben leads PhovIR’s corporate strategy, investment activities, partnerships, and product commercialisation as the company develops the next generation of optical sensing technologies.