Partners

Zippermast is an innovative SME based in Bad Reichenhall, Germany, which has established itself as a partner in the fields of security and defence as well as security-related industry since 2014. With a focus on defence technology, Zippermast supports armed forces in integrating sensors and effectors in preparing for the battlefield of the future. Its key technologies meet the individual requirements of modern armed forces in terms of reliability, modularity, interoperability and flexibility. Zippermast strives to provide solutions that contribute to responsiveness and superiority in modern battlefield scenarios. The focus is on developing systems that directly support forces in harsh operational conditions and provide a bridging function between tactical and operational levels.

Fraunhofer has been performing applied R&D since its foundation in 1949 as non-profit organisation in Germany. The Fraunhofer Institute for High-Speed Dynamics, Ernst-Mach Institute (EMI), Freiburg, has been an internationally renowned institute for defence-related research in Germany since 1959, with specific expertise in high-speed measurement techniques, acceleration and shock testing, ballistics, and explosion mechanics. It’s close ties with the German Ministry of Defence through institutional basic research funding and projects as well as contributions to numerous EU framework and Horizon programs highlight the expertise of the EMI. The facilities at Efringen-Kirchen include equipment most suitable for studying electronic parts in the high-g-regime: pressurised air gun to generate high loads and an autonomous data recorder “g-rec” to monitor forces during a shock. Complementary to the laboratory facilities, the institute features experience in numerical analysis and shock hardening electronics.

T-Minus Engineering B.V. is a Dutch SME founded in 2011 at Delft and has steadily grown to employ a full time equivalent (FTE) of 10 persons. We aim at growing the company further to 20 FTE by 2024. TME focuses on the design of rocket systems and is unique in the way that it works on rocket systems from concept to operations. The conceptual stage includes simulations relevant for structural and operational safety of the rocket system. Over the past 10 years TME has launched over 100 rockets, including space capable rockets from Australia (2020), Norway (2021) and the UK (2022). TME produces its own rocket motors ranging from 100 g spin motors to 100 kg rockets motors. The largest rocket motors carry payloads of 20 kg to 200 km apogee. Nearly all the engineering work and production on the propellant, motors, structures, ejection systems, control systems and electronics is performed inhouse.

UTEK is a Spanish SME based in Madrid and specialised in the development of unmanned systems as well as electronics and software design. It has experience in defence solutions in maritime, aerial and ground domain. UTEK’s solutions are focused on high reliability and advanced performances to meet the most demanding user requirements. The company has also a strong background in European Defence Projects (EDIDP) and has a close contact with the Spanish Ministry of Defence.

With Microflown AVISA, the consortium includes NATO’s frontrunner in battlefield acoustics.

By exploiting the unique benefits of its own proprietary acoustic particle velocity sensor (the Microflown), AVISA developed advanced low SWaP acoustic sensor nodes, so-called Acoustic Multi Mission Sensors (AMMSs). The AMMS is acoustically speaking broad banded and hears all around. When the AMMSs are networked, sheer firmware defined capabilities can be loaded, for instance:

• to detect, locate and categorize indirect fires
• for short range air-defense
• tank hunting

The ambition of Microflown AVISA is to bring its acoustic sensors into enemy terrain with unmanned systems.

TECHNIKON is an independent, privately owned research service company in Austria. TEC combines engineering competence with knowledge in security requirements, technology roadmaps and IT infrastructure services. TEC drives European innovation by managing the planning, budgeting and execution of industrial driven research. TEC spotlights technology by designing, animating, and illustrating novel concepts and products and by creating audio-visual material about research and innovation. TEC ensures responsible research by guarding ethical principles, diversity measures, inclusion, privacy and by mitigating associated risks. TEC will support ZM with its engineering know-how and profound experience in managing/coordinating European funded research projects (WP1 & WP2). TEC will also contribute with its engineering know-how in WP3 “System specification and analysis”.