Whether for funding projects, infrastructure or technical obstacles – SAL supports partners like WILD in developing innovative solutions.

Silicon Austria Labs GmbH (SAL) is the country‘s cutting edge research centre for electronic and software-based systems, the technological backbone of numerous sectors like medical diagnostics, environmental analysis or quality control. SAL pairs up industry players like the WILD Group with scientists. Together, they conduct application-oriented research along the ESBS value chain. In the following interview, Thomas Ladstätter, Senior Business Development Manager for sensor systems explains how WILD customers can  benefit from this.

Where do you see the challenges in the development of highly precise spectroscopy systems, and how can SAL help WILD customers better manage these?
”A central challenge in system development is the minimisation of environmental impacts such as temperature fluctuations, which can compromise measurement accuracy. Moreover, the selection and integration of high-performance laser sources can be technically very demanding. In order to measure very small concentrations, for instance, SAL is currently conducting research on how to transfer high-performance methods already established in scientific applications to industrial applications. With regard to their sensitivity and selectivity, these methods outperform any systems available on the market today by a multiple. The techniques tested here include CARS, SFG and multiphoton spectroscopy approaches, in combination with powerful algorithms for a precise analysis of large data volumes. SAL supports partners like the WILD Group and its customers in integrating such novel components on a system level, focusing both on the final application and on the cost aspects.“

What makes the infrastructure of your institution so outstanding?
”Our services in connection with the use of infrastructure range from simulation and modelling of (micro)optical systems such as wavefront  analyses to optical measurement technology and characterisation. We now have a brand-new test and validation laboratory in Graz, where we can conduct vibration and temperature tests at component and system level, as well as accelerated ageing tests. Moreover, a corrosion test chamber was recently added to our portfolio.

Are there any special funding projects which could be interesting for WILD customers?
„We can co-finance projects of industry partners with public funds as part of our ”SAL Cooperative Research“ programme. SAL covers 50% of the overall project costs. The industry partner contributes its share of 25% in cash and another 25% in kind.