News

University Spin-off DataThings Partners on Computer Vision Research

  • Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SnT)
    University / Central Administration and Rectorate
    30 July 2020
  • Category
    Research, University

The University of Luxembourg’s Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SnT) has signed a partnership with DataThings to conduct research on intelligent software systems for unique industry challenges. 

The first research project of this partnership between SnT and DataThings will explore how computer vision technology can be adapted to support quality control in industrial applications. This is a natural evolution of DataThings’ business, which currently uses artificial intelligence and machine learning technology to process numerical data to deliver operational insights and efficiencies to their clients. 

The core of DataThings software systems is their Greycat technology, Made In Luxembourg. Greycat provides machine learning tools to process live data and deliver business analysis and predictions. Clients of DataThings use this domain-specific artificial intelligence to monitor their infrastructures and production systems. It allows them to detect issues more effectively or predict outcomes faster, enabling them to reorganise resources to maintain efficient operation.

Adding computer vision capabilities to the Greycat technology will expand its capabilities as it currently relies on numerical data. There are many potential applications for visual data processing and recognition technology to be used for improving industrial systems. As a first use case the research project will focus on how visual data can be used to automatically identify flaws in products being made in a production line, to strengthen quality control processes. 

“Using computer vision technologies for automatic quality control in industrial manufacturing is necessary to meet the demands of modern manufacturing or the so-called Industry 4.0. This partnership project is unique because it will allow us to execute the research in context, giving us access to proprietary domain knowledge and data that we otherwise wouldn’t have,” says Prof. Djamila Aouada, Principal Investigator of the project at SnT. “Research partnerships with companies are so important to push technology innovation forward, and it is significant to have one of our own spin-offs collaborate with us in this way.” 

DataThings was launched in 2017 and is a spin-off of the research centre. The partnership marks the first time an SnT spin-off has become an industry partner. The creation of a partnership agreement between DataThings and SnT confirms the success of the start-up and SnT’s technology transfer programme. SnT focuses on bringing innovative technology research from the laboratory to the market, by encouraging a spin-off culture within the research centre.

“Since launching our start-up we have experienced first-hand how research can inform solutions that give a competitive advantage to our clients. This partnership will open up a new branch of technology for us, which will allow us to gain experience and find unique solutions for our clients,” says Grégory Nain, Co-Founder and Head of Operations of DataThings. “SnT is a unique family of innovators and we have never lost contact with the people we did research with while we were there, including Djamila. It means a lot to our entire team to be in a sense ‘coming home’ now as a partner.” 

About DataThings

DataThings is a spin-off company of SnT at the University of Luxembourg, incorporated in 2017. It is specialised in machine learning and software engineering. Made in Luxembourg, DataThings provides dedicated data analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence software solutions to a wide range of industries and public bodies, to improve their daily operational decision-making, enhance and maintain the quality of their production, or process the extensive and continuous flows of data available to them to extract insights and value.

Contact: Grégory Nain, T. 20 60 03 15, E. contact@datathings.comdatathings.com

About the University of Luxembourg

The University of Luxembourg is an international research university with a distinctly multilingual and interdisciplinary character. The University was founded in 2003 and counts more than 6,700 students and more than 2,000 employees from around the world. The University’s faculties and interdisciplinary centres focus on research in the areas of Computer Science and ICT Security, Materials Science, European and International Law, Finance and Financial Innovation, Education, Contemporary and Digital History. In addition, the University focuses on cross-disciplinary research in the areas of Data Modelling and Simulation as well as Health and System Biomedicine.  Times Higher Education ranks the University of Luxembourg #1 worldwide for its “international outlook,” #12 in the Young University Ranking 2019 and among the top 250 universities worldwide.

Contact: Laura Bianchi, T. 46 66 44 9451, E. laura.bianchi@uni.lu 

About SnT 

The Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SnT) at the University of Luxembourg conducts internationally competitive research in information and communication technology. In addition to long-term, high-risk research, SnT engages in demand-driven collaborative projects with industry and the public sector through its Partnership Programme. The resulting concepts present a genuine, long-lasting competitive advantage for companies in Luxembourg and beyond.