A European Consortium, led by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, is developing a miniature gas sensor to detect greenhouse gases.
The Minigas project, funded by the European Union, seeks to develop a sensor less than 2cm in length and at least twice as sensitive as other sensors of its size.
In addition to greenhouse gases, the sensor will also be able to detect explosives vapours and chemical agents such as nerve gases when integrated into homeland security sensor systems.
VTT is leading the programme, with Gasera - a spin-out company from the University of Turku - providing the core photo-acoustic gas sensing technology, the Loffe Institute in Russia providing LED technology, and Qinetiq bringing its miniaturisation expertise in addition to leading on exploitation.
Two other multinational companies complete the team - Doble to market the sensor for greenhouse gas applications and Selex to sell Minigas to homeland security markets.
