Ams OSRAM Wraps Digital Systems Business Divestiture: Week in Brief: 04/07/23

Electro Optic Systems (EOS) secured a conditional contract to supply remote weapon systems (RWS) to Ukraine valued at up to $80 million. EOS’ Defence Systems business secured the contract with SpetsTechnoExport, a Ukrainian state-owned foreign trade enterprise to supply up to 100 of its heavy RWS to Ukraine, including spares and related services. The contract envisions supply during 2023 and 2024, subject to demonstration testing over the coming weeks and other customary terms for military contracts.

EOS RWS firing off a Royal Netherlands Army 8 x 8 Boxer CRV. Courtesy of EOS.

PREMSTAETTEN, Austria — Optical technology company ams OSRAM finalized the divestiture of its digital systems business in Europe and Asia to Inventronics, a provider of LED drivers. This closing represents the completion of the communicated planned divestitures following the acquisition of OSRAM. With the acquisition, Inventronics expands both its regional presence and product portfolio.

CANBERRA, Australia — Australia’s Department of Defence awarded a $12.9 million contract to QinetiQ Australia to co-develop and manufacture a high-energy defensive laser system prototype capable of deployment in a wide range of operational environments. Laser technology company QinetiQ will work in collaboration with the Defence Science and Technology Group to establish a high-energy laser manufacturing capability in South Australia.

JENA, Germany — APEER and arivis will join together under the brand ZEISS arivis. The changes will take place in phases over the coming year, beginning in April 2023 with product renaming and the arivis website. Arivis AG will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH, which will be called Carl Zeiss Microscopy Software Center Rostock GmbH.

The ZEISS arivis software product line provides users with advanced technologies that help them to extract and visualize relevant data more efficiently regardless of its complexity. Courtesy of ZEISS.

OBERKOCHEN, Germany — ZEISS is investing in life science startup InSphero AG, a developer of 3D spheroid and cell-based assays in pharmaceutical drug discovery and safety testing. InSphero has raised an eight-figure amount in its latest funding round. InSphero will use the proceeds to commercialize its cryo-preservation technology to enable further growth and scalability. ZEISS Ventures is participating in the financing round along with internal and external investors.

PALO ALTO, Calif. — Hesai, a provider of high-performance lidar sensors, and Inertial Labs, a provider of inertial sensing and navigation technologies, formed a multiyear strategic partnership to advance autonomous technologies. Inertial Labs selected Hesai’s sensors to provide perception and navigation capabilities for its navigation systems for autonomous marine, land, and air-based robotics systems. The collaboration between Hesai and Inertial Labs will see the development of innovative solutions for autonomous vehicles, drones, and robotics.

MUNICH — After being acquired by Instrument Systems in 2022, display measurement technology developer Kimsoptec changed its named to Instrument Systems Korea. The company supplies display test systems to Korean display manufacturers and system integrators.

GRÄFELFING, Germany — TOPTICA opened its new facility in Gräfelfing. The facility includes a reception area, customer lounge, showroom, and meeting rooms with state-of-the-art presentation technology. The site also features an additional 2000 m of office and laboratory space. In addition, 5800 m of new production space has been created near the company’s headquarters. The existing building has already been gutted and remodeled and is being prepared for production and development. Several cleanrooms will be created, in addition to over 1000 m of new office space.

TOPTICA management board and supervisory board (from left): Thomas Weber, Dieter Schenk, Thomas Renner, Wilhelm Kaenders, Simon Grimminger, and Martin Hohla. Courtesy of TOPTICA.

PARIS — Oledcomm’s LiFi module SatelLife has been integrated into the LATMOS Laboratoire Atmosphères, Observations Spatiales INSPIRE-SAT 7 nanosatellite, set to launch April 9 with SpaceX. INSPIRE-SAT 7 is a French 2-Unit CubeSat (11.5 × 11.5 × 22.7 cm) primarily designed for Earth and sun observation. INSPIRE-SAT 7 is one of the missions of the International Satellite Program in Research and Education (INSPIRE).