Nonprofit research institute RTI International has launched SWIR Vision Systems Inc., a spinout venture company that aims to commercialize breakthrough IR camera technology developed for applications in the industrial machine vision, security systems, agricultural, automotive, and other global imaging markets.

“Commercializing our most promising discoveries is an important aspect of our mission to improve the human condition by turning knowledge into practice,” said Wayne Holden, president and CEO of RTI International. “RTI has a deep history of innovations, and establishing new businesses like SWIR Vision Systems that leverage RTI’s technology is a great way to extend our impact.” RTI’s patented infrared camera technology, based on commercially scalable image sensor materials, was advanced with a combination of grant support from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and internal development, management, and financial support from RTI. The technology was licensed exclusively to SWIR Vision Systems, which plans to commercialize its Acuros SWIR-band cameras in 2018 and manufacture the cameras at its Research Triangle Park, N.C., operations center.

George Wildeman, a photonics industry executive and entrepreneur with more than 25 years of technology commercialization experience, has been named CEO of SWIR Vision Systems. Ethan Klem will transition from RTI to become SWIR’s chief technology officer. Klem led the innovative research and development program for the sensors during his tenure at RTI and will continue to spearhead the technical program with the new company.

"Acuros cameras will dramatically expand the imaging toolkit for machine vision integrators, disrupting the cost and performance curve for vision systems design,” Wildeman said. “We look forward to witnessing the impact of the technology as it is adopted in our target applications and markets."