The optical sensor technology specialist NEXTSENSE GmbH is expanding globally and has received a multi-million euro grant from the SME section of the Horizon 2020 Programme to do just that. The innovative edge and the ambitious globalisation plans of the high-tech company were enough to convince the EU Commission auditors. Thanks to the latest CALIPRI Smart generation, Nextsense will open in additional international markets, increasing its headcount significantly and tripling its turnover.

The optical profile measuring devices of the Nextsense CALIPRI product family are an international success. Now, thanks to a multi-million euro grant, the EU Commission is accelerating the market launch of the latest generation of devices and, as a result, the international growth of the Company headquartered in Graz, Austria. Clemens Gasser, Managing Director of NEXTSENSE GmbH, stated: "To launch the new CALIPRI Smart Range onto the market we will open new subsidiaries in the USA and in China, while significantly developing our resources and infrastructure in Austria at the same time. As a result, we will create more than 90 new jobs from here to 2020."

The 2-million euro-strong grant from the SME instrument of the EU Commission's Horizon 2020 Programme is therefore a good investment, both in terms of value creation and Austria as a business hub. The figures show how sought-after the subsidy was: at the call for tenders in February, over 550 European SME projects were submitted. Nextsense was the only Austrian company to be awarded the grant. Gasser commented: "This success is based on the strength of our innovation capabilities and the fact that our market opportunities are global, which we managed to present in a very plausible manner in our grant application. We also have to thank the Land and Federal Funding Agencies SFG and FFG, which advised us and coached us incredibly well throughout each stage of the application process."

At the basis of all CALIPRI equipment is the so-called laser light sheet technology, which supports the contactless measuring of practically any type of profile by projecting laser lines. The hallmarks of the next generation of CALIPRI measurement devices are integration and miniaturisation. The now cable-free and ergonomically optimised system delivers ease of handling, as well as ease of use. The attractive price point, moreover, is a declaration of war on established competitors. During the internationalisation and the market launch of the CALIPRI Smart Range, the company will also enlighten other market segments about the advantages of the Nextsense contactless measurement technology. Gasser commented: "Up until now our devices have been particularly sought-after in the car and railway industry. However, the aviation industry, with its very high expectations in terms of tight manufacturing tolerances, is an ideal application segment." As a result of the company's expansion, management expects a marked increase in its turnover over the next five years. "Due to our innovation-based competitive advantage and the EU grant, we can realistically envisage our turnover growing from the current 8 million euros to 30 million euros in 2020," commented Gasser.

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 726903.