The Fourth Law and Odd Systems launch thermal sensor manufacturing project in Europe and the US

Ukrainian companies The Fourth Law and Odd Systems are launching Project Foundation, a semiconductor initiative to mass-produce thermal imaging sensors in Europe and the US, the companies said in a joint press release.

The project will establish an extensive manufacturing network combining foundry lines with proprietary production facilities. The first sites, First Foundation and Second Foundation, will be located in Europe and the US, respectively, with production scheduled to begin in 2027.

The initiative aims to quadruple thermal imaging sensor production in Europe and double it in the US within three years, creating a new industrial base to serve both defence and civilian markets.

Project Foundation will be funded through investments from The Fourth Law and Odd Systems, external equity, debt financing, grants and customer pre-orders. The founders say the initiative has already attracted interest from investors and partners, but they will announce specific financial agreements only once finalised.

Project Foundation will be headquartered in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, which the founders describe as one of Europe’s leading semiconductor hubs.

What are the sensors, and why do they matter?

The project’s main goal is to strengthen European and US sovereignty in thermal imaging sensors by developing proprietary uncooled long-wave infrared (LWIR) sensors, also known as microbolometers, and building the capacity to manufacture them at scale. The initiative aims to provide affordable sensors for drone, automotive, and robotics manufacturers.

Project Foundation CEO Ihor Nakonechnyi said manufacturers need sensors that combine high performance and reliable supply with competitive pricing as production scales.

“We are building Project Foundation around these requirements. Sovereign manufacturing must be commercially competitive to achieve widespread adoption,” he said.

The network will share a common technology platform while developing its own sensor designs. Yaroslav Azhnyuk, CEO of The Fourth Law and co-founder of Odd Systems, stressed that establishing sensor sovereignty for the EU and the US as quickly as possible is critical.

The founders say the initiative is backed by a team of engineers with extensive expertise in thermal imaging cameras, microbolometer development and advanced manufacturing technologies. They have also established technology partnerships with leading laboratories specialising in semiconductors and microbolometers, as well as major thermal imaging camera users worldwide.