About Us


Cooperation and innovation as our cornerstones

AmiNIC is a Danish tech development startup, who is founded based on a patented and innovative solution for a problem everybody is trying to solve. AmiNIC works in close conjunction with knowledge institutions, as well as the industry, and possesses a broad pamphlet of competencies for achieving success.

Getting an idea

2015


Jeanette Hvam, PhD in Physics, and Elizabeth Robertson, PhD in biology, collaborated in the course ‘Science Innovator’. They spent the course researching food waste and found that a lot of the meat and fish is wasted due to incorrect freshness assessment or because of an overcautious best-before date.

The research into food waste sparked the idea and concept of measuring the freshness of meat and fish.

Working on the idea

2016


Jeanette Hvam and Roana de Oliveira Hansen, PhD in Nanotechnology, started developing the concept and a prototype in collaboration with SDU and Fraunhofer. Together they developed a Proof of Concept and submitted a patent.

The prototype was at this point a large setup that included optical lasers, so Jeanette and Roana began prototyping a handheld version that would be suitable to use in businesses.

Development and Media Coverage

2017


The determined efforts of Jeanette and Roana were rewarded with the Sønderborg Entrepreneurship Prize. (Link)

LogiCon Nordic became one of the first investors in AmiNIC and the product.

Students from SDU got to test out an early version of the device at a supermarket on Danish TV. (Link)

Making a handheld sensor

2018


AmiNIC applied and received funds from Innovationsfonden in an Innoboster project, so we were able to hire several engineers for the team this year.

We also produced the first version of our handheld device. Our developmental focus was from that point on the chemical binder and the inner components of the sensor.

Validation trials

2019


In 2019 we were able, through an extensive collaborative process, to make validation trials on pork and tuna. This was done in collaboration with Aarhus University, Copenhagen University, Danish Meat Research Institute, Tulip and Flying Seafood.

In addition to that AmiNIC received more funds from SME Instrument and Danish Food Innovation. We shared the win of an award for innovative businesses called the Agro Business Park-Innovation Prize.

We were featured in a news story on TV2 Fyn you can watch here.

DTC and binder improvements

2020


The team has now gone through different versions of the chemical binder in the sensor, but with a breakthrough from Lawrence Nsubuga, we were able to make a much more stable and usable version.

AmiNIC took part in and became one of the finalists in the Danish Tech Challenge 2020.

We received funds from Danish Food Innovation, EuOPstart, Otto Bruuns Fond and S3Food.

Pilot testing

2021


We were able to conduct our first pilot tests with several companies in the production and dining sector. The companies got to try out the sensor in their own environment and report feedback.

Our device got an upgraded look that was made with the help of industrial designers and food equipment specialists.

Conferences and focus on software

2022


We got to present and show our sensor at several conferences including R22, Spisbar’ and 30Now. This also resulted in a presentation video you can watch here.

Jeanette stepped down and Flemming Jensen joined as our new CEO.

We also expanded our team with an Embedded Systems Engineer. This meant we could further focus on the software and hardware working together.


New technology requires new knowledge

In AmiNIC we know that when working with new technology and need state-of-the-art knowledge, you must go to the source. From the get-go, we have been working with Southern Danish University and Fraunhofer Institute in Germany in developing the sensor technology. With Technological Institute in developing the chemical binder, as well as Force Technology regarding hygienic design and electronics. Furthermore, we have been cooperating with Århus University, Copenhagen University and Danish Meat Research Institute regarding validation of technology: Study of microbiology, chemical compounds and a sensory expert panel assessment.


The Team

It all began with an idea about a sensor for measuring freshness and expiration, developed by PhD in physics Jeanette Hvam and PhD in biology Elizabeth Robertson. Elizabeth chose to continue as a scientist. Jeanette founded the company AmiNIC ApS in collaboration with the competent and commercially talented Jesper Haugaard. In the following time the owners circle was expanded with profiles who have expert knowledge – Bjarne Dahl – as well as experience in international marketing – Martin Vasarhelyi. Recently, as representative for a private investor, Michael Løvbjerg from LogiCon Nordic og Peter Madsen from Syddansk Innovation joined the team.

Flemming Jensen

CEO

Experienced CEO both in start-ups and larger corporations, in the food technology and pharmaceutical industries

Jesper Haugaard

Co-founder and chairman of the board.

Former CEO, member or the chairman of the board in some of Denmark's largest companies - e.g. TDC, Dong, Bravida, ABB, Kamstrup, Delta, Force Technology and others.

Peter Madsen

Representative for the investor Syddansk Innovation. Peter has vast experience with scaling tech development start-ups.

Bent Ole Nørregaard

Representative for the investor LogiCon Nordic.

Bent Ole has many years of experience with sales management to the
food industry in Scandinavia.


The operational Team

Apart from very competent commercial competences, AmiNIC work closely together with University of Southern Denmark in Sønderborg, NanoSyd, which gives us a unique opportunity to recruit competent engineers. All of whom are skilled in the newest technological developments. Also, of importance is the access to sparring with experts in mechatronics, as well as the impeccable facilities and equipment at the university. Our dedicated team of engineers is the key to success.

Lawrence Nsubuga

Cand.Polyt in mechatronics.

Part time-Development Engineer with responsibility for system testing and signal processing.

Tatiana Marcondes

PhD and experience with semiconductor micro- and nano systems. Industriel PostDoc with responsibility for the sensor unit.

Simon Overgaard Høegh

Cand.Polyt in Physics and Technology.

Development Engineer responsible for system tests and signal processing.

Tugbars Heptaskin

Embedded Systems Engineer

Tugbars has worked in software development and civil engineering since 2014 and has two bachelors in Civil Engineering and Software Technology Engineering.

Maria Møllebjerg Pedersen

Marketing Project Leader

Maria has experience in running social media and marketing campaigns. She has a bachelor in Digital Concept Development.


Thank you