The project will aim to create a strategic and competitive advantage for leading European manufacturers and equipment makers and reduce dependence on critical technologies and capabilities from outside the EU.

The program was launched on February 11, 2025, with an opening ceremony at the facilities of Teledyne e2v, a member of the consortium, in Saint-Egrève, near Grenoble, France. Its objective is to validate a scalable, large-area, high-resolution, radiation-tolerant, customizable, and affordable 180 nm CMOS detector, incorporating the key technical characteristics of a 24K x 16K, 400-megapixel stitched CMOS array. A smaller 4K x 4K stitched CMOS array will also be designed and manufactured.

The project has several industrial partners, each contributing valuable expertise. Teledyne e2v Semiconductors SAS (France) and Teledyne Innovaciones Microelectrónicas SL (Spain) will oversee the project and design the detectors, including the pixel, while imec (Belgium) will manage the development of the optical stack on the CMOS detector, including the filters and optical microlenses.

Meanwhile, Airbus Defence and Space SAS (France) will lead the development of the test equipment and evaluate the performance of the detector prototypes. Alter Technology TÜV Nord (Spain) will validate the smaller 4K x 4K detector for use in the space environment.

“TENSIS will lead to the development of advanced imaging sensors for space that are high-resolution and durable under space conditions,” says Marc Iliozer, project and engineering director at Teledyne e2v. “The project will help establish a strategic capability in Europe and ensure independence in space technology in the coming years.”.

The project will run until December 31, 2027. The 24k x 16k stitched CMOS array is expected to reach Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6, with a prototype sensor tested in a relevant environment. The 4k x 4k CMOS detector will reach TRL 7, bringing it one step closer to final product development.

“The partners are thrilled about collaborating on the TENSIS project,” Marc adds. “It’s a company that embodies the European spirit of innovation and cooperation.”.