Website: http://www.iris.cat/

IRIS is an advanced engineering company specialised in process monitoring and control, and process optimisation. Our Commercial Division develops and integrates turnkey advanced process monitoring and control solutions based on: NIR chemical monitoring (handheld device and in-line solutions); hyperspectral imaging solutions for foreign body detection and chemical composition analysis; data management solutions for data processing, decision support, automation and data analysis (big production data). Our ambition is to be the first choice for industry who want to transition their product models to the Industry4.0 paradigm, whereby real-time access to data about critical process parameters and product quality attributes can contribute to improved quality, and process efficiencies.

Our Innovation Division has four core research lines that we are actively persuing as part of our Innovation Roadmap for generating new knowledge and IPRs that we can channel into new products, services and solutions for our Commercial Division in the future:

1. Optical and spectroscopic technologies for process monitoring for in/on-line and PAT applications in food, pharmaceuticals, the process industries, environmental monitoring and other applications
2. Data Processing & Information Systems
3. Novel processing technologies (ultrasound, plasma, microwave…) for extraction process intensification
4. Sustainable processing technologies: waste valorisation strategies, biocompounds and biopackaging and new bio-based materials for the Circular Economy

The company was established in 2007 and currently employs 60+ staff with a turnover of > €4 M. We are based over Barcelona and we are fully equipped with our engineering and production workshops, food testing and wet chemistry laboratory, optics labs, and an electronics/telecommunications lab.

IRIS is ISO 9001:2008 certified and also is certified under UNE-EN-ISO 166002: Management Systems R&D&i. IRIS is an industry member if the following sectorial networks: SPIRE, SPIE and SECPHO in additional to regional industrial collectives such as AEBALL- the industry association of Baix Llobregat and Smart Space (Association of companies and organisations that specialise in ‘smartification’).

IRIS will be leading WP1 in which the selected non-thermal technologies will be applied to fresh cut products and juices and smoothies. Tests will be performed at bench and lab scale (TRL 3-4) in different experimental configurations. The outcomes of these activities will be validated at higher scale in WP4, in which IRIS will provide support to the involved partners also transferring the results achieved.

IRIS will also contribute with its knowledge in /IPR management, as well as in commercial branding, reaching industry and business planning. They will also contribute to knowledge transfer and training activities and gearing up for the post-project phase. Finally IRIS has extensive expertise in collaborative R&D project (FP7, H2020, BBI) and industry-driven business-to-business actions. Their project management procedures are ISO and UNE certified, and they have an internal PMO that has the necessary resources and skills to ensure smooth administrative and financial reporting to the project coordinator.