M3NIR

Integrated, Modular, Multisensing, Mid- and Near- IR sensing
platform

M3NIR (Integrated, Modular, Multisensing, Mid- and Near- IR sensing
platform) project with the aim to develop innovative photonics-based
sensing approaches has started on 1 st of January 2023. The international
consortium of 13 partners from all over Europe plans to boost significantly
sensing technology in terms of performance, reduction of footprint, energy
consumption and costs. The project is being implemented within the
framework of the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation
program.

The value chain to be implemented by the M3NIR project includes the
optimization of the manufacturing approaches of mid-infrared photonic
devices, the development of relevant electronics and the high-level
integration of other components like microfluidics for the realization of
high-performance sensors for environmental, industrial, and medical
applications. With the extra focus towards miniaturized configuration,
robustness, maintenance-free operation, low power consumption and
cost-effective sensing, M3NIR aims to create a modular, highly adaptable
and efficient multi-sensing platform, which will be validated in the domains
of environmental monitoring and healthcare. The project will make use of
novel schemes for component integration and packaging, enabling both
scientific and industrial breakthroughs.

M3NIR project based multi-sensing technological platform will allow
measuring a wide range of chemicals, in the liquid and gas phase. It will
introduce novel sensor approaches and much wider application for the
monitoring of greenhouse gas and other – sulphur oxides (SOx) and nitrogen
oxides (NOx), methane (CH4) and carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide
(CO2), as well as particulate matter (PM) – emissions, detection of phosphates
and nitrates in water and breath analysis for health and well-being related
applications. The vision for the technology is to fully exploit mid-infrared
integrated photonic circuits to achieve a degree of miniaturization and
lightweight enabling the incorporation of sensors into a wider range of
devices (e.g. drones).

M3NIR project objectives and goals are structured around 6 Work Packages.
Project duration is scheduled for 42 months.
While M3NIR aims at developing a core photonics technology, it’s application
and market orientation, the vast experience of partners from Belgium,
Austria, Germany, Greece, Spain, Czechia, Cyprus, Lithuania and Switzerland
and their expertise in the individual fields will be capitalized. The M3NIR
consortium is led by IMEC.