• Thales contributes technologies and enters the capital structure of the new company specialising in baggage and parcel inspection

Vigilance last week learnt that Thales had entered the capital structure of MultiX, an innovative high-tech company serving the needs of airport security. Basing its capabilities on world-class expertise in the field of x-ray spectroscopy, MultiX was founded in October 2010 by Jacques Doremus and Patrick Radisson, both from the Thales Group, with the support of the French atomic energy commission (CEA).

According to inside sources, Thales’ subsidiary, Thales Electron Devices, a world leader in the electron tube market, has developed a complete range of x-ray detectors for medical imaging applications. Based on this core activity, the Thales and CEA teams evolved this technology to develop x-ray spectroscopy, paving the way for a new generation of devices to detect illicit substances. These technologies are now part of MultiX’s portfolio.

Marko Erman, SVP Research & Technology at Thales remarked: “It’s particularly gratifying to see technologies that were first developed at Thales now being exploited by such a groundbreaking company as MultiX. Erman said further, “Thales’s proactive engagement with the innovation ecosystem involves interacting with public research bodies as well as smaller innovation-driven companies. In the years to come, we intend to support MultiX’s global market development as the evolving regulatory context continues to drive growth in demand.”

It is said that Thales Corporate Ventures, the Group’s venture capital subsidiary, has assisted the MultiX team in this new stage of its development and holds a 20% stake in the company, alongside various key partners.