Measuring the shelf life of coffee, beer, or yogurt will soon be as easy as hitting a button. A next-gen device invented by SpinMagIC, a University of Stuttgart spin-off, makes this possible using a quantum sensor that fits in the palm of your hand. Having received support from Germany’s Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK) through the EXIST research transfer program, the start-up secured funding for two years of work to bring their product to market.
“This quantum sensor technology is just around the corner,” said Jens Anders, supervising professor of two SpinMagIC’s founders, Belal Alnajjar and Anh Chu. Together with Berlin-based researchers Michele Segantini and Jakob Fitschen, the duo are working on a device to measure reactive molecules, or free radicals, which cause substances to degrade. Unlike traditional bulky equipment, an innovation developed by the start-up uses a featherlight 3D-printed magnet and a microchip-integrated circuit for precise yet budget-friendly measurements.
Possible applications of the invention extend far beyond food, with potential uses in pharmaceutics, eco-monitoring, and even rechargeable battery analysis. “Extremely small, incredibly affordable, and highly accurate,” Anh Chu summarised, describing the device’s appeal. SpinMagIC aims to launch pilot tests within two years, bringing the project into the food industry market with full momentum.
