Phase 2 of the ATTRACT Project closes with a great gathering in Brussels and opens the doors for the next chapter. With the curtain now drawn on its second phase, the ATTRACT initiative—an expansive endeavor funded by Horizon 2020—has fulfilled its goal of accelerating next-generation detection and imaging technologies, forging a bridge from fundamental science to deployable solutions. EYE4NIR participates in this project together with partners IMASENIC, IHP, and IDNEO, contributing to the development of next-generation sensor technologies.

EYE4NIR, whose pioneering work on germanium-on-silicon visible and short-wave infrared detectors is redefining the frontiers of imaging, has definitely joined at a 100% the Phase 2 vision.

By delivering broad-spectrum visibility, the firm reveals what once lay hidden, guiding applications in industrial automation, automotive sensing, and security.

Just before the official conclusion, EYE4NIR’s co-founders Andrea Ballabio and Andrea De Iacovo took part in the final review meeting in Geneva, where they showcased the outcomes of the VISIR2 project—our Horizon 2020-funded effort to scale sensor technology capable of capturing both visible and short-wave infrared (SWIR) light.

Through the ATTRACT ecosystem, EYE4NIR has developed its VIS/SWIR platforms from laboratory proof to commercially viable. The final event—held at SPARKS, Brussels, on 23 July 2025—celebrated the outputs of all eighteen Phase 2 consortia. Researchers, industry, and policymakers gathered to demonstrate results, discuss remaining hurdles, and map the way ahead for European deep-tech innovation.

The gathering demonstrated once more the ATTRACT paradigm’s ability to blend cross-sector collaboration, iterative prototyping, and upstream investment into a single, scalable acceleration engine.

While Phase 2 reaches its official conclusion, the ATTRACT spirit continues to thrive. The initiative has laid a solid foundation for future endeavors, collaborations, and technological breakthroughs that the vibrant ecosystem it fostered is sure to nurture.