Defence and security operations increasingly require rapid identification of threats that conventional imaging cannot see.
MIEYRA is being developed to provide compact molecular sensing for chemicals, hazardous materials, contamination and other substances, with sensing platforms small enough to integrate into autonomous systems, field equipment and future soldier-worn devices.
PhovIR is developing semiconductor-scale sensing platforms that can bring molecular information closer to where decisions are made. By combining compact form factor, low SWaP and multimodal sensing, MIEYRA is designed for integration into autonomous platforms, portable systems and future soldier equipment.
The objective is not to replicate a laboratory instrument in miniature, but to provide useful molecular information in places where conventional spectroscopy is impractical.
Small airborne platforms – NIR and MIR sensing for chemical identification, hazardous materials and remote threat assessment
Autonomous platforms – HazMat pathfinding, illicit substance detection and field sampling in hazardous or inaccessible environments
Warfighter monitoring – Non-invasive sensing of biomarkers associated with hydration, physical stress and recovery
Embedded sensing – Molecular sensing integrated into personal electronic equipment for contamination detection and environmental awareness
MIEYRA could enable autonomous and human-operated systems to identify or differentiate chemicals, hazardous materials, contamination and unknown substances directly in the operational environment.
Potential applications include HazMat assessment, contamination detection, material verification, illicit substance identification and autonomous pathfinding around chemical hazards.
The same sensing platform is being evaluated for non-invasive biomarker monitoring. Future soldier-worn systems could potentially provide information related to hydration, recovery and stress-related indicators without requiring separate specialist equipment.
This remains a development programme. The objective is to determine which biomarkers can be measured reliably enough to support operationally useful decisions.
NIR, MIR and Raman provide complementary molecular information. MIEYRA is being developed so these modalities can share a common semiconductor architecture and ultimately be combined within compact sensing systems.
We work with defence, security and autonomous-system partners to test real materials, substances and operational use cases using MIEYRA development hardware.
Programmes can progress from initial spectral evaluation through application development, system integration and joint demonstrators.
If your platform needs to identify something that conventional sensors cannot see, we want to evaluate it.
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.